American political scandal figure. As Maria Halpin she became a nationally known figure during the 1884 presidential campaign. After Grover Cleveland became the Democratic nominee, it came to light that he had fathered an illegitimate child with her. The widow of Frederick Halpin and the mother of son Frederick Halpin, Jr. and daughter Ada, she was an experienced dressmaker and retail store sales clerk and department manager. In September, 1874 she gave birth to a son named Oscar Folsom Cleveland. He was placed in an orphanage and later adopted by Dr. James E. King and his wife Sarah. When the events came to light in 1884 Maria Halpin's version indicated that Cleveland had forced himself on her, and later failed to make good on a promise to marry her. In a version generally accepted by historians, Maria Halpin had been intimate with more than one man, including Cleveland. Several of them were married, and as the only bachelor, Cleveland acknowledged paternity to protect them. She later relocated to New Rochelle and was married twice more, first to James Albert Seacord, who died in 1894, and then to New Rochelle stove, furnace and hardware dealer Wallace Hunt, who survived her. Her daughter Ada died in 1882. Maria was survived by her son Frederick, Jr., who resided in Pennsylvania and was present at her death. The son adopted by Dr. Hunt, James E. Hunt, Jr. also became a physician, and was a prominent gynecologist in Buffalo and Professor of Medicine at the University of Buffalo.∼Mother of Grover Cleveland's illegitimate child. She was married twice, but never to Cleveland.
American political scandal figure. As Maria Halpin she became a nationally known figure during the 1884 presidential campaign. After Grover Cleveland became the Democratic nominee, it came to light that he had fathered an illegitimate child with her. The widow of Frederick Halpin and the mother of son Frederick Halpin, Jr. and daughter Ada, she was an experienced dressmaker and retail store sales clerk and department manager. In September, 1874 she gave birth to a son named Oscar Folsom Cleveland. He was placed in an orphanage and later adopted by Dr. James E. King and his wife Sarah. When the events came to light in 1884 Maria Halpin's version indicated that Cleveland had forced himself on her, and later failed to make good on a promise to marry her. In a version generally accepted by historians, Maria Halpin had been intimate with more than one man, including Cleveland. Several of them were married, and as the only bachelor, Cleveland acknowledged paternity to protect them. She later relocated to New Rochelle and was married twice more, first to James Albert Seacord, who died in 1894, and then to New Rochelle stove, furnace and hardware dealer Wallace Hunt, who survived her. Her daughter Ada died in 1882. Maria was survived by her son Frederick, Jr., who resided in Pennsylvania and was present at her death. The son adopted by Dr. Hunt, James E. Hunt, Jr. also became a physician, and was a prominent gynecologist in Buffalo and Professor of Medicine at the University of Buffalo.∼Mother of Grover Cleveland's illegitimate child. She was married twice, but never to Cleveland.
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See more Halpin Hunt or Hovenden memorials in:
- Beechwoods Cemetery Halpin Hunt or Hovenden
- New Rochelle Halpin Hunt or Hovenden
- Westchester County Halpin Hunt or Hovenden
- New York Halpin Hunt or Hovenden
- USA Halpin Hunt or Hovenden
- Find a Grave Halpin Hunt or Hovenden
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