Francis Cleveland

Francis Grover Cleveland was born on July 18, 1903, in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, a locality within the town of Bourne. He was the son of Grover Cleveland, who served as the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, and Frances Folsom Cleveland, who held the position of First Lady during her husband's presidencies. Cleveland was one of five children; he had a brother named Richard and three sisters named Ruth, Marion, and Esther. His father was 66 years old at the time of his birth, and Cleveland lived approximately one century after his father’s first term in office. In a 1987 interview, Cleveland stated he had never visited the White House.

Cleveland attended Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. He later enrolled at Harvard College in Massachusetts but did not graduate. His career was primarily in the performing arts and local politics.

As a stage actor based in New York City, Cleveland performed for seven years. His notable performances included roles in Sidney Kingsley's "Dead End" and Thornton Wilder’s "Our Town," in which he played the character Sam Craig. His involvement on Broadway contributed to his recognition in theatrical circles.

In 1931, Cleveland co-founded The Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth, New Hampshire, alongside his wife Alice Erdman and producer Edward P. Goodnow. The theatre company originated from performances in a barn located behind the Tamworth Inn and gradually expanded to perform in a dedicated theater built in the back of a store purchased by Cleveland’s mother in 1935. This facility became the company's permanent home. Cleveland directed numerous productions for the troupe and was responsible for selecting the plays performed, with an estimated total exceeding 400 by 1993. The company's ongoing performances contributed significantly to the regional cultural scene.

In addition to his theatrical pursuits, Cleveland was active in local governance. In 1950, he was elected to the board of selectmen in Tamworth, serving as a member of the Republican Party upon the advice of a friend, due to the area's political leanings. He held this position until 1962.

Cleveland married Alice Erdman in 1925. The couple resided in Tamworth, New Hampshire, and had a daughter, Marion C. Cohen, who later lived in Baltimore. His wife predeceased him in 1992.

Throughout his life, Cleveland received recognition for his contributions to the state of New Hampshire. In 1989, he was awarded the Granite State Award by Plymouth State College. Later in life, Cleveland experienced degenerative eye disease, leading to legal blindness by 1993. He died on November 8, 1995, in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, at the age of 92.