How Folsom, NJ Got Its Name
Thomas A. Thomas   February 20, 2008

Folsom Borough was formed from Buena Vista Township and incorporated on May 23, 1906. Folsom was named for Francis Folsom Cleveland, wife of President Grover Cleveland.

Born Frank Clara Folsom on July 21, 1864 in Buffalo, New York, she was the only child of Oscar Folsom and Emma Harmon. She was nicknamed “Frankie” by her father who was an attorney in Buffalo and who became Grover Cleveland’s law partner. Oscar died tragically on July 23, 1875 from an accident while riding too fast in his buggy, which skidded throwing him into the street where he suffered massive head injuries. Grover Cleveland was appointed by the Court as the administrator of Oscar Folsom’s estate and served as “Frank’s” unofficial guardian.

Emma and Frankie moved to Medina New York to live with Oscar’s parents, John and Clara Hernden Folsom at their home called Folsomdale. In 1876, Emma and Frankie moved to Saint Paul Minnesota for 6 months to live with Emma’s sister; then returned to Buffalo.

At age 17, Frankie was engaged to Charles Townsend of Buffalo. The engagement lasted about one year. Frankie did not finish high school but did receive a certificate of completion and in February 1882 was admitted to Wells College in Aurora New York. It was in college that “Frankie” began to be called “Francis”.

While in college, Francis corresponded with Cleveland who was elected Governor of New York in 1883. On March 4, 1885, Cleveland became President. During spring break in 1885, Cleveland invited Francis and Emma to the White House for a visit. Francis graduated from Wells College in June 1885 and again visited the White House where she accepted Grover’s proposal for marriage. The engagement was kept secret. In September 1885, Francis and Emma sailed to England and toured Europe. They returned in May 1886 and upon their return again visited the White House.

On June 2, 1886, Francis and Grover were married in the Blue Room at the White House with 30 relatives, friends and cabinet members in attendance. It was the only wedding of an incumbent President. Francis was 21 years and 10 months old and Grover was 51. Francis was the youngest wife of a President to be a First Lady. “Mrs. Cleveland's unaffected charm won her immediate popularity. She held two receptions a week--one on Saturday afternoons, when women with jobs were free to come.” 

“After the President's defeat in 1888, the Clevelands lived in New York City, where “Baby” Ruth was born. With his unprecedented re-election, the First Lady returned to the White House as if she had been gone but a day. Through the political storms of this term, she always kept her place in public favor. People took keen interest in the birth of Esther at the mansion in 1893, and of Marion in 1895. When the family left the White House, Mrs. Cleveland had become one of the most popular women ever to serve as hostess for the nation. 

She bore two sons while the Clevelands lived in Princeton, New Jersey, and was at her husband's side when he died at their home, "Westland," on June 24, 1908. 

In 1913, she married Thomas J. Preston, Jr., a professor of archeology, and remained a figure of note in the Princeton community until she died. She had reached her 84th year-nearly the age at which the venerable Mrs. Polk had welcomed her and her husband on a Presidential visit to the South, and chatted of changes in White House life from bygone days.”

Francis died on October 27, 1947 in Baltimore, Maryland. She is buried in the Princeton Cemetery next to Grover and her daughter “Baby” Ruth only one block from the home where she and Grover lived when they moved to Princeton following his second term as President.