Florence Harding
Encyclopedia
Florence Mabel Kling "Flossie" Harding (previously DeWolfe; August 15, 1860, Marion, Ohio
– November 21, 1924), wife of President Warren G. Harding
, was the First Lady of the United States
from 1921 to 1923.
Pregnant at age 19, Harding eloped with Henry "Pete" Athenton DeWolfe, her childhood friend and neighbor, in 1880. To date, scholastic researchers have been unable to locate official documentation or a legal marriage license for the couple, leading to the belief that DeWolfe and Harding were never civilly married, but instead declared common law marriage as allowed at the time in Ohio. DeWolfe proved a spendthrift
and a heavy drinker. Shortly after the birth of their son Marshall Eugene DeWolfe
(also known as Marshall Eugene Kling) in 1880, Harding left her husband and returned to Marion. She divorced DeWolfe in 1886 and resumed her maiden name; he died at age 34.
She refused financial help from her wealthy father and supported herself, and for a time, her son by giving piano lessons; she had studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
before her marriage. Eventually, she let her parents raise the boy.
Florence met "Wurr'n" -- as she pronounced his first name -- in 1890. Harding, the young publisher of the town's only daily newspaper, the Marion Daily Star
(now the Marion Star) soon found himself engaged to be married. Her father, Amos Kling, was displeased with Harding's choice. He even accosted his future son-in-law on the street, calling him names and threatening his life if he did not leave his daughter alone.
Warren Harding, aged 25, married Florence Harding, aged 30, at his home in Marion, Ohio, on July 8, 1891. The couple did not have children of their own; however, Flossie's son lived with them from time to time. The young man idolized his stepfather, and hoped to become a newspaperman himself one day.
The marriage was less than happy. Harding neglected her and sought refuge from her demands in the camaraderie of his friends and the arms of other women. But her martial demeanor and managerial skills helped him build his newspaper into a financial success.
As circulation manager of the Marion Star for 14 years, Mrs. Harding saw that the paper was distributed efficiently and subscriptions were paid up. "Mrs. Harding in those days ran the show," recalled one of her newsboys, Norman Thomas
, later the Socialist presidential candidate. "Her husband was the front,...it was she who was the real driving power in the success that the Marion Star was unquestionably making its community."
She had never been a guest at the White House
; and former President Taft, meeting the President-elect and Mrs. Harding, discussed its social customs with her and stressed the value of ceremony. Writing to his wife Helen Taft, he opined that the new First Lady was "a nice woman" and would "readily adapt herself." As First Lady, Mrs. Harding hosted elegant garden parties and mixed readily with guests.
In Washington, Mrs. Harding became deeply interested in astrology. Early in 1920, when Harding was still a dark-horse contender for the Republican presidential nomination, she visited Madam Marcia, a noted clairvoyant in the capital, who predicted that her husband was a shoo-in, but added that he would die suddenly in office. Mrs. Harding embarked with her husband on his nationwide "Voyage of Understanding" in the summer of 1923. She was at his side when the President died in San Francisco, California
on August 2,1923.
Following the death of President Harding, the former First Lady set about making a new life for herself. Her intention was to remain in Washington, temporarily staying at Friendship, the estate of her best friend, Evalyn Walsh McLean
, best known as the owner of the Hope Diamond
. However, when Mrs Harding's long-standing kidney ailment flared up, her friend and the former Surgeon General, Dr. Charles E. Sawyer
, insisted that Mrs. Harding return to Marion for treatment and recovery. She died there of renal failure
less than 16 months later, and is buried next to her husband.
Marion, Ohio
Marion is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Marion County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio, approximately north of Columbus....
– November 21, 1924), wife of President Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
, was the First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
from 1921 to 1923.
Early life
She was born Florence Kling, the daughter of Amos Kling, a prominent Marion, Ohio banker, and Louisa Bouton Kling.Pregnant at age 19, Harding eloped with Henry "Pete" Athenton DeWolfe, her childhood friend and neighbor, in 1880. To date, scholastic researchers have been unable to locate official documentation or a legal marriage license for the couple, leading to the belief that DeWolfe and Harding were never civilly married, but instead declared common law marriage as allowed at the time in Ohio. DeWolfe proved a spendthrift
Spendthrift
A spendthrift is someone who spends money prodigiously and who is extravagant and recklessly wasteful, often to a point where the spending climbs well beyond his or her means...
and a heavy drinker. Shortly after the birth of their son Marshall Eugene DeWolfe
Marshall Eugene DeWolfe
Marshall Eugene DeWolfe was the only child of future First Lady Florence Kling and a man reputed to have been her first husband, Henry Athenton DeWolfe...
(also known as Marshall Eugene Kling) in 1880, Harding left her husband and returned to Marion. She divorced DeWolfe in 1886 and resumed her maiden name; he died at age 34.
She refused financial help from her wealthy father and supported herself, and for a time, her son by giving piano lessons; she had studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music was a conservatory, part of a girls' finishing school, founded in 1867 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It merged with the College of Music of Cincinnati in 1955, forming the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, which is now part of the University of Cincinnati.The...
before her marriage. Eventually, she let her parents raise the boy.
Mrs. Harding
Marion Daily Star
The Marion Star is a newspaper in Marion, Ohio. The paper is owned by the Gannett Newspaper organization, the paper is also notable as having once been owned and published by Warren G...
(now the Marion Star) soon found himself engaged to be married. Her father, Amos Kling, was displeased with Harding's choice. He even accosted his future son-in-law on the street, calling him names and threatening his life if he did not leave his daughter alone.
Warren Harding, aged 25, married Florence Harding, aged 30, at his home in Marion, Ohio, on July 8, 1891. The couple did not have children of their own; however, Flossie's son lived with them from time to time. The young man idolized his stepfather, and hoped to become a newspaperman himself one day.
The marriage was less than happy. Harding neglected her and sought refuge from her demands in the camaraderie of his friends and the arms of other women. But her martial demeanor and managerial skills helped him build his newspaper into a financial success.
As circulation manager of the Marion Star for 14 years, Mrs. Harding saw that the paper was distributed efficiently and subscriptions were paid up. "Mrs. Harding in those days ran the show," recalled one of her newsboys, Norman Thomas
Norman Thomas
Norman Mattoon Thomas was a leading American socialist, pacifist, and six-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America.-Early years:...
, later the Socialist presidential candidate. "Her husband was the front,...it was she who was the real driving power in the success that the Marion Star was unquestionably making its community."
The First Lady
He became United States Republican Party nominee for President in 1920 and "the Duchess", as he called her, worked tirelessly for his election. In her own words: "I have only one real hobby—my husband."She had never been a guest at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
; and former President Taft, meeting the President-elect and Mrs. Harding, discussed its social customs with her and stressed the value of ceremony. Writing to his wife Helen Taft, he opined that the new First Lady was "a nice woman" and would "readily adapt herself." As First Lady, Mrs. Harding hosted elegant garden parties and mixed readily with guests.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
on August 2,1923.
Following the death of President Harding, the former First Lady set about making a new life for herself. Her intention was to remain in Washington, temporarily staying at Friendship, the estate of her best friend, Evalyn Walsh McLean
Evalyn Walsh McLean
Evalyn Walsh McLean was an American mining heiress and socialite who was famous for being the last private owner of the Hope Diamond as well as another famous diamond, the Star of the East...
, best known as the owner of the Hope Diamond
Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond, also known as "Le bleu de France" or "Le Bijou du Roi", is a large, , deep-blue diamond, now housed in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. It is blue to the naked eye because of trace amounts of boron within its crystal structure, but exhibits red...
. However, when Mrs Harding's long-standing kidney ailment flared up, her friend and the former Surgeon General, Dr. Charles E. Sawyer
Charles E. Sawyer
Charles Elmer Sawyer, also known as Dr. C. E. Sawyer , was a homeopathic physician who is blamed for giving a false diagnosis of U.S. President Warren G. Harding that led to Harding's premature death....
, insisted that Mrs. Harding return to Marion for treatment and recovery. She died there of renal failure
Renal failure
Renal failure or kidney failure describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood...
less than 16 months later, and is buried next to her husband.