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Florence Kling De Wolfe Harding
Florence Mabel Kling was born in Marion, Ohio on August 15, 1860.
Her father, Amos King was a banker and was the richest man in Marion at that time.
Florence studied music at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
At 19 she eloped with Henry De Wolfe. Henry later deserted her and their baby.
In 1890, she met Warren Harding who owned the newspaper in Marion. Florence help him run the newspaper.
Library of Congress
In 1914, Harding was elected to the US Senate and the Hardings move to Washington.
Harding won the election for President in 1920 by a large margin.
She was the first First Lady to be able to vote for her husband.
She was called "the Duchess.
She was strong willed and sometimes overbearing.
During her time as First Lady she suffered from a kidney ailment.
The Harding Administration was popular but suffered from corruption.
On a trip to the west coast of Alaska, Harding suffered a heart attack and died on August 2, 1923.
Florence moved back to Marion and died of kidney disease on November 21, 1924. She is buried next to President Harding in Marion, Ohio.
Sources of Information:
Books:
Barden, Cindy,Meet the First Ladies
Gormley, Beatrice,First Ladies: Women Who Called The White House Home (First Ladies)
Smith, Carter, Editor,Smithsonian Presidents and First Ladies
Web Sites:
The White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/
Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/odmdhtml/