Alec -- What really frosts me is when a seller has identical lots ending simultaneously. I only want one, but if I get sniped it's too late to bid on another. I don't know what a seller is thinking to set them up that way, but it costs him bids and sales, that's for sure.
Jaywild -- Tyler actually served in the Confederate House of Representatives, in fact! He was much neglected after his presidency, probably the poorest ex-President, eking out a menial living. He may have been the richest in domestic bliss, however, as by all accounts his marriage to the much younger Julia, as well as his first wife who died, were quite happy, evidenced in part by his FIFTEEN children! His youngest daughter, born when he was 71, survived until 1947! (She celebrated her father's 156th birthday!)
I knew Tyler's death had been all but unnoticed, but wasn't aware of Van Buren's overshadowing, which may have contributed. A similar thing happened in Russia in 1953. Sergei Prokofiev, arguably one of the greatest composers of the 20th century, went almost unnoticed when he died, because he died the same day as Stalin!
You have the Cleveland stories mixed up. In his younger days he acknowledged paternity and sent support to a woman named Halprin for an out of wedlock child, even though history notes he was one of many candidates, and may well not have been the actual father. All the lines are known, and I keep hoping a DNA check on descendants may yet clear it up some day. When he was in line for the Presidency, his opponents dug up the old story and made posters as you described, chanting, ''Ma, Ma, where's my Pa?'' After he was elected despite the slander, they added the rejoinder, ''Gone to the White House, ha ha ha!''
His wife Frances was the daughter of a good friend. He knew her all her life, had even bought her first baby carriage as a gift to the family! He helped put her through college and proposed when she was 22 and he was in the White House as a bachelor. All very up-and-up, no scandal there. She was an extremely popular first lady. She also lived until 1947, same year as Tyler's daughter! Their oldest daughter Ruth, the namesake of the Baby Ruth candy bar, tragically died at 13. Their youngest son (b 1903) lived until 1995, and was even active on the internet! All in all, Cleveland and Tyler are two of the more fascinating Presidents, as far as personal family life goes.
To try to call the above on topic, feel free to use it for write-ups for a Prexie display! I'll try to watch for a Frances Folsom Cleveland Free Frank for a 4-F (or canceled Feb Fourth!) on a future run through the alphabet! :-) (Wouldn't mind having one, actually.)
Bob in WA
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