The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1920-07-20
SOME EVENTS IN '''T'
r. MRS. HARDINC,S LIFE


@. Harding, wife Of the Republican
presidential nominee, was born and.
reared In this city and was married
to Senator Hariing in the house on
Mt. Vernon avenue where the Hard.
ings now live.
While few residents Of Marion say
they ever thought Of Warren Harding,
when a boy, az president of the Unit.
ed States. many of them. and partic-
ularly the women, say they pictured
Mrs. Harding as the first lady Of the
land.
Many Of Mrs. Harding's childhood
chums are still living in Marion. They
all speak Of her as Florence" She
never had nickname, they say, but
, Most everyone spoke Of her when q
girl as "tomboy," "Harum.Scarum."
Stubborn" "Jolly. or daredevil"
One thing is certain. however--Mar.
ion women are roofing for Mrs. Hard.
ing. They are roofing for her, they
say, because "she has mind of her
own, generally manages to get what
she wants. is thoroughly democratic,
like to give and go to parties, is in.
,terested in hundred and one things,
knows how to talk to everyone, Tin
Guiding mem and once she knows
you, she always knows you"
Mrs. Harding in Marion has repu-
tation of being real woman" Many
residents congratulate Warren Hard.
ing more on his wife than his political
career and some of them who are
roofing a little harder than others
for her say "she is the real power be-
hind the throne"
Mrs. Harding was born August Is,
1850, and is five years Senator Hard.
fngs senior. She attended the public
schools and high school in Marion and
afterward studied music at the Cinsin-
natl Conservatory of Music. AS a lit
tie girl she is known in Marion as
having preferred to play with boys
than girls Many recall her dressed
in full skirt and pantalettes of the
time and picture her with one pantal.
cite up and the other down."
Florence King MRS. Harding's
name before her marriage) was one
OF the greatest horsewomen have
ever seen," said Mrs. Margaret Youn.
kins. Marionite who has known Mrs,
Harding since her childhood. "She
rode and drove more like a man than
a girl"
Mrs. Younkins says Florence could
curry horse. hitch up and drive tust
as we'll as any man. Marion was more
accustomed to seeing Florence Rins
dashing madly up the street on Billy
her saddle horse, than walking de-
murely along like the other girls Of
her "set" she added.
Mrs. Frank Johnson and Mrs. Laurs
Dombaugh, girihood friends Of Mrs
Harding, both attested to the fact that
"she had will Of her own" and told
of the days when they piled into Flor
.ence's phaeton and rode with perfect
confidence behind Florence's speedy
: Billy" ,,s.,,,s.,,.
Residents of Marion still talks Of
the displeasure OF her father, Amos
Killing, over her flrst marriage to Hen.
ry De Wolfe and her later determine
tion to marry Warren G. Harding in
1891, after her first husbands death
Mrs. Harding's two grandchildren are
George Warren and Jean De Wolfe of
Marion.
Warren and Florence Harding were
married in their present home on Mt.
Vernon avenue. For more than twelve
years until illness prevented, Mrs.
Harding was circulation manager of
The Star-her husbands newspaper.
In addition she was the registration
bureau of complaints, advertising man.
sger and angel to the newsboys.
When Mrs. Harding returns to Mar
ion and meets any of tho boys who
carried papers for Senator Harding
when she was circulation manager,
she pats them on the back, 1t is said
and remarks. "Here is one of my boys
he will be famous some day"
Mrs. Harding has been member
OF The Twigs," card club of Mar
ion for many years.
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