Happy 123rd to the only presidential White House baby — White House Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin

Today, the White House Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin remembers the birth of the Esther Cleveland in the White House.

Though several babies arrived into the world in the early days of the White House, only one arrived whose father was president at the time.

In the periodical, Timely Topics, September 1899, Henry Romaine Pattengill included an article from the Washington Post about the Babies of the White House:

=====

In the various biographies of Miss Julia Dent Grant, the future Princess Cantacuzene of Russia, the reading public is informed that the bride was born in the White House, but few persons are aware that this distinction is shared by only two other living persons.

Miss Grant, who is the daughter of Colonel and Mrs. Frederick Dent Grant, was born during the closing days of her grandfather’s second term.

Her mother was Miss Honore of Chicago, and came to Washington a bride when the social life of the administration was at its height.

The President and Mrs. Grant had become grandparents several years before this event, but of their early numerous descendants only this one girl made her first appearance in the historic old mansion which has been the home of Presidents for ninety-nine years.

Miss Grant’s companions in the category of White House babies are James Madison Randolph, son of Martha Jefferson Randolph, born during the second term of his maternal grandfather; Mary Louise Adams, born in 1829, the daughter of John Quincy Adams, Jr., and granddaughter of President John Quincy Adams; the three children of Colonel and Mrs. Andrew Jackson Donelson, born during the Jackson administration; two grandchildren of President Tyler; a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Tyler, Jr., in 1842; and a son to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lightfoot Jones, in 1843.

Last, but most important of all, inasmuch as she was the first child ever born to a President during his term of office, Esther Cleveland, born Sept. 9, 1893.

This last White House baby is the second child of the former President and Mrs. Cleveland, and one of the three little girls who made the White House ring with childish laughter and occasionally with shrieks of a less attractive quality throughout the last administration.

Her eldest sister, Ruth, was born at the New York residence of her distinguished parents in the interval of the Harrison administration, but was a very important member of the family at the time of her father’s second inaugural.

Marion Cleveland might have shared her sister Esther’s honors in regard to the place of her birth, as she also entered this busy world during the time her father was chief executive, but her advent took place at Gray Gables during the July days of 1895.

Mrs. Mary Emily Donelson Wilcox of this city is the sole living representative of her generation of White House babies, and is a very interesting old lady, who enjoys a wide popularity among the Older order of Washington society.

Mrs. Wilcox is the daughter of Colonel and Mrs. Andrew Jackson Donelson, her mother being the niece and adopted daughter of General Jackson, and the mistress of the White House throughout all his administration.

Colonel Donelson was the President’s nephew and private secretary. Three of his four children were born in the White House and always regarded as a part of the executive family.

When the cornerstone of the Treasury was laid, President Jackson was asked to supply some memento in addition to the newspapers of the day and the coin of the realm usual on such occasions.

He complied by clipping a sunny strand of hair from the head of baby Mary Donelson, with the remark that “that was something precious in his eyes.”

Years later, when this baby girl had passed through many stages of life, and seen the Nation shaken to its center by a war that reduced her from affluence to poverty, she came back to Washington, a widow, with children dependent upon her for even more than a mother’s care, and accepted a clerkship in the department whose cornerstone held her lock of baby hair.

Mrs. Wilcox was the new woman of her day, although she never wore a golf skirt or joined a club.

Without any reference to her former greatness, she proceeded to earn her salary, and continued in office until relieved of her duty as breadwinner by her daughter.

Miss Mary Wilcox, now of the pension office, who is her mother’s main support and devoted companion.

They have a pleasant, hospitable home on Corcoran street, just off New Hampshire avenue, and are thoroughly typical of the gentlewomen of their respective generations.

Mary Louise Adams, the first girl born in the White House, seems to have gone through life in the same happy strain with which her birth was welcomed.

Her christening in the Green room was the closing function of her grandfather’s administration, and was attended by the Secretary of State and other members of the Cabinet, with the addition of many other distinguished guests.

Among them was General Stephen Van Rensselaer, “the last of the patroons” and hero of the war of 1812, who acted as godfather.

This daughter of the house of Adams grew to womanhood and married her cousin, William C. Johnson of Massachusetts.

Her christening robe and many of the presents given on that occasion are among the valued possessions of her family.

The Tyler grandchildren were not so happy in after life, Robert Tyler Jones having died in this city less than ten years ago, after half a century of life saddened by a series of calamities and threatened by want.— Washington Post.

======

The White House Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin shows with an image of Esther Cleveland, circa early 1900s.

White House Commemorative Silver Dollar Coin