First Ladies of the United States: Frances Cleveland

Frances Clara Folsom (“Frank” to her family) was born in Buffalo, New York, on July 21, 1864, to attorney Oscar Folsom and his wife, Emma Hamon Folsom. When Oscar Folsom died in an accident in 1875, his law partner, Grover Cleveland, became administrator of the estate. Frank was well educated as a child and enrolled in Wells College in 1832. “Uncle Cleve” kept up a lively correspondence with her while she was away at school. With her mother, she visited the White House following Cleveland's election as president in 1884. President Cleveland's sister, Rose Elizabeth Cleveland, served as his official hostess with the assistance of Harriet Lane, hostess for the previous bachelor, President James Buchanan. In August 1885, Grover Cleveland proposed to Frances, and she accepted (with her mother's approval). They were married in a small ceremony in the White House on June 2, 1886. At 21, she was the youngest first lady in history. They gave two receptions following the wedding—one for the diplomatic corps and one for the general public. Soon after they were married, they moved out of the White House to a small farmhouse just outside the city. They used the White House for work and official entertaining.