MRS. HARDING DEAD: FORMER 1ST LADY DIES OF CHRONIC NEPHRITIS
Marion, Ohio (JFK+50) On November 21, 1924, the wife of the 29th POTUS, Mrs. Florence Kling Harding*, "died peacefully" at White Oaks Farm, a sanitarium** here in Marion where she had been living for several months.
Mrs. Harding, in poor health for some time, recently developed kidney problems. The official cause of death was given as "chronic nephritis*** with myocarditis and hydronephorsia."
*Florence Mabel Kling-Harding (1860-1924) was born in Marion, Ohio & attended Cincinnati Observatory. She married Warren G. Harding in 1891.
The President called her 'The Duchess'. They had no children. FKH served as 1st Lady 1921-1923. She once said, "I have only one real hobby--my husband."
**sanitarium is a hospital specializing in treating chronic illness or providing a place for patients to recover. "Sanitas" is Latin for health.
***chronic nephritis causes inflamation in kidney tissues resulting in difficulty in filtering waste from the blood.
