Richard Falley Cleveland

Richard Falley Cleveland (June 19, 1804 – October 1, 1853) was an American minister associated with both Congregationalist and Presbyterian denominations. He graduated from Yale College and subsequently attended Princeton Theological Seminary. Cleveland dedicated most of his life to pastoral work, with a brief period serving as a district secretary for the American Home Missionary Society.

Born in Norwich, Connecticut, Cleveland was the son of William Cleveland, a watchmaker, and Margaret (née Falley). His maternal grandfather, Richard Falley Jr., participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Cleveland's family reportedly decided at his birth that he would become a minister. As a child, he was described as thin, pale, and intelligent by historian Allan Nevins. Before entering Yale, Cleveland worked at an uncle’s cotton mill and as a store clerk.

He graduated from Yale College in 1824 as a summa cum laude graduate. Following graduation, Cleveland moved to Baltimore, Maryland, to teach at a private school while beginning advanced theological studies. He initially studied under a local minister and later enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey for a brief period.

Cleveland was ordained as a Congregational minister on October 18, 1829. His first pastoral assignment was at the First Congregational Church in Windham, Connecticut. His tenure there was not particularly successful; local parishioners criticized his wife’s attire and their decision to bring an African-American woman from Maryland as a maid. In 1833, Cleveland left Connecticut and moved to Portsmouth, Virginia, where he served as an acting minister at a Presbyterian church.

In November 1834, Cleveland took a position as a pastor in Caldwell, New Jersey. During his time there, he oversaw church remodeling, repairs, and helped the congregation grow by approximately 109 members over five years. Subsequently, Cleveland accepted a pastoral role in Fayetteville, New York, where he remained until 1850.

In 1850, Cleveland became a district secretary for the American Home Missionary Society, which required a move to Clinton, New York. He enjoyed the role but experienced health issues related to a gastric ulcer, worsened by frequent travel on poorly maintained roads. In September 1853, Cleveland accepted an appointment at a Presbyterian church in Holland Patent, New York. He preached only one sermon before passing away in October 1853 at the age of 49.

Cleveland married Ann Neal in Baltimore on September 10, 1829. Neal was the daughter of a wealthy bookseller. Together, they had nine children born across various states. Cleveland maintained a frugal lifestyle, influenced by his religious beliefs and modest income, which never exceeded $1,000 annually. He was a strict observer of the Sabbath, dedicating Sundays entirely to worship and prayer.

At the time of his death, seven of Cleveland’s children were still living at home. The congregation in Holland Patent supported the family by purchasing their house and allowing them to reside there rent-free. Through his children, Cleveland was the father of Grover Cleveland, who served as the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, becoming the only U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms. Grover Cleveland was 16 years old when his father died and reportedly learned of his father's death from a boy selling newspapers. Grover Cleveland later praised his father’s piety and devotion to family and named a son, Richard F. Cleveland, in his memory. Cleveland's youngest child, Rose, acted as First Lady during Grover Cleveland's initial presidency, occasionally assisted by her sister Mary Hoyt, before his marriage to Frances Folsom.

Cleveland is sometimes noted as a distant cousin of Moses Cleaveland.