Marshall Eugene DeWolfe

Marshall Eugene DeWolfe was born on September 22, 1880, in Galion, Crawford County, Ohio. He was the only child of Florence Kling, who later became Florence Harding, and her first husband, Henry Athenton "Pete" DeWolfe. Henry DeWolfe was born on March 4, 1859, and died in 1894.

DeWolfe's early life was marked by his family's turbulent circumstances. After his father's death in 1894, he was primarily raised by his maternal grandparents, Amos Hall Kling and Louisa Mabel (Bouton) Kling. His mother, Florence Kling, lived independently in Marion, Ohio, maintaining her career as a piano teacher. Following her divorce from Henry DeWolfe, Florence's relationship with her son was limited, and she did not partake in his upbringing due to an agreement with her father. Throughout his life, Marshall used either his Kling or DeWolfe surname.

Florence Kling married Warren G. Harding in 1891, who later became the 29th President of the United States. Despite this marriage, Marshall remained under the care and control of his grandparents and did not reside with his mother. He was provided a room in the Harding household but did not feel at home there, nor under his grandparents' strict supervision.

DeWolfe pursued higher education in journalism at the University of Michigan, attending from 1899 to 1903. During his time at Michigan, he played as a quarterback on the Michigan Wolverines all-freshman football team in 1899. His aspiration was to become a newspaperman, akin to his stepfather Warren G. Harding. After graduating from Marion High School, he obtained a position at the Marion Daily Star.

In pursuit of his career ambitions, DeWolfe purchased a struggling newspaper in Colorado, relocating there with his family. This enterprise was unsuccessful, and he later attempted farming, both ventures hampered by issues including alcoholism. His health and personal struggles contributed to his death.

Marshall Eugene DeWolfe married Esther Naomi Neely. They had two children: a son, George Warren DeWolfe (1914–1968), and a daughter, Eugenia DeWolfe (1911–1978). These children were the principal heirs to the estate of Florence Harding after her death on November 21, 1924.

DeWolfe died at the age of 34 on January 1, 1915, in Colorado, from the combined effects of alcoholism and tuberculosis. He is interred in an unmarked grave in the DeWolfe family plot at Marion Cemetery.

Following Warren G. Harding's presidential campaign in 1920, his wife, Florence Harding, concealed details of her past marriage to DeWolfe and her previous widowhood from the press. She successfully avoided mention of her former husband and son during her tenure as First Lady, maintaining a carefully curated public image.