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Marshall Eugene DeWolfe (September 22, 1880 – January 1, 1915) was the only child of future First Lady Florence Harding (then, Florence Kling) and her first husband, Henry Athenton "Pete" DeWolfe (March 4, 1859 – March 8, 1894).
Marshall Eugene DeWolfe (September 22, 1880 – January 1, 1915) was the only child of future First Lady Florence Harding (then, Florence Kling) and her first husband, Henry Athenton "Pete" DeWolfe (March 4, 1859 – March 8, 1894).
Son of First Lady Florence Kling Harding and her first husband, Henry (Pete) DeWolfe. Marshall was the step-son of President Warren G. Harding. Abandoned by his father, his mother gave custody of Marshall to her father Amos Kling and the boy was raised in the Kling household as Kling's son.
Apr 4, 2024 · Who was 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 "Pete" DeWolfe. Born in Galion, Crawford County, Ohio, young DeWolfe was primarily raised by his mother; his father was a chronic alcoholic who was absent from the home ...
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Marshall Eugene DeWolfe (September 22, 1880 – January 1, 1915) was the only child of future First Lady Florence Kling and a man reputed to have been her first husband, Henry Athenton "Pete" DeWolfe (4 March 1859 - 8 March 1894). Born in Galion, Crawford County, Ohio, young DeWolfe was primarily raised by his mother; his father was a chronic alcoholic who was absent from the home for days at a time.
Those doing research on the Hardings, including John Dean and Robert Ferrell among others, have never been able to find concrete proof of Kling-DeWolfe marriage, leading to the conclusion that the future First Lady and DeWolfe likely established a common law marriage. However divorce papers on file in Marion County Ohio do grant a divorce for Florence from Henry "Pete" DeWolfe, which suggests that a formal marriage did take place at some undocumented time.
Following the divorce of his parents, young Marshall was raised by his grandparents, Amos Hall Kling and Louisa "Louise" Mabel (Bouton) Kling, while his mother lived independently and earned an income as a piano teacher in Marion, Ohio. As part of the agreement with her father, Florence would not have a role in her own son’s upbringing. Throughout his life, Marshall used either his Kling or DeWolfe surname.
Florence Kling DeWolfe married newspaper publisher Warren G. Harding in 1891, however Marshall remained under his grandfather's control and roof. While a room was set aside for him in the Harding home, Marshall never felt at home under his mother's roof, and never comfortable under his grandfather's strict control.
DeWolfe studied journalism at the University of Michigan from 1899 to 1903. While attending Michigan, he played football as a quarterback on the Michigan Wolverines all-freshman football team in 1899.
DeWolfe aspired to be a newspaperman like his stepfather Warren G. Harding. By all accounts, his relationship with Harding was closer than the relationship that he had with his mother. After his graduation from Marion High School, DeWolfe was given a job at the Marion Daily Star. DeWolfe eventually purchased a struggling newspaper in Colorado, moving there with his young family. The venture was unsuccessful, as was a later farming attempt, due in part to his problem with alcoholism.
1.General catalogue of officers and students, 1837-1911, by University of Michigan, page 678.
2."1899 Michigan Wolverines football roster". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. http://141.211.39.65/allroster/FMPro?-DB=allrost.fp5&-Format=fbresult.htm&-SortField=name&-SortOrder=Ascend&year=1899&-max=170&-Find.
3."First Lady Biography: Florence Harding". National First Ladies' Library. 2009. http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=30. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
•Anthony, Carl S. (1998). Florence Harding: The First Lady, the Jazz Age, and the Death of America's Most Scandalous President. William Morrow & Co. ISBN 0-688-07794-3.
Marshall developed tuberculosis and went to live in Colorado where the muntain air was considered healthful. He married Esther Neely and had two children. He died before Harding became president. Sources. Anthony, Carl Sferrazza.
Marshall Eugene DeWolfe (September 22, 1880 – January 1, 1915) was the only child of future First Lady Florence Harding (then, Florence Kling) and her first husband, Henry Athenton "Pete" DeWolfe (March 4, 1859 – March 8, 1894).
