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President Harding's Funeral in Marion
11-11-2001
| Harding's Funeral
The following letter was written by F. R. Rees of Bolivar, Missouri to his wife and children on August 10, 1923. Rees had been visiting his parents in Patriot, Ohio and decided to travel to Marion for the funeral of President Warren G. Harding on August 9, 1923. The letter was recently donated to The Marion County Historical Society by Rees's daughter, Charleen Kenney of Appleton City, Missouri. It is an excellent first-hand account of the experiences of the many average citizens who attended the President's funeral.
Columbus, Ohio
August 10th 1923
Dear Golden and Babys
I am in Col tonight. Will get out in the morning at 6:50. I have seen several of my old friends here. I haven't had much sleep. Caught train for Marion this morning at 9:10. Got there about 11. Streets crowded from depot to [George T., the President's father] Harding's home both sides. When we got off of train every body you would ask would say no earthly chance to get to see him. They were lined up for 1½ to 2 miles just as thick as they could stand on the sidewalk. People stood in line from early morn until 2 or 3 o'clock and there were a lot of people that didn't get to see him at all.
I think half of the flags in U. S. A. were there and all the flowers in Ohio and many from other states.
People began to pour into town yesterday. There were a lot of them got to see the remains yesterday. Last night they could get no beds. They slept in cars on the streets, in doorways, and in the yards, and some still sleeping in yards today. Those lawns look like a picnic ground. I don't think I noticed a fence along any yard along this particular street.
Well I walked 3 or 4 miles and it begun to look like I come a long ways to see the remains of Mr. Harding and would have to come back and tell you I didn't get to see him, so I begun to try and figure out a way. They U. S. soldiers from everywhere and the Boy Scouts directing traffic and people they keep you on the run all the time. That's all you could hear - "Keep moving."
So I decided I was going to get in that line if possible and if you didn't get up at the head end of line you never would get in the house, so I went two squares back of the Harding house climb back fences and thru back yards and finally got in the back yard of home that was beside the Harding home. There were several people sitting in the front yard and they two or three empty chairs there. So just walks up and sits down and rests a while and after I sit there about 15 min I just gets up and slips in line and I was in the house in 5 min after I got in line. After they got in the yard they marched twos and after they got the back porch they went in one at a time. He was in the front froom. The casket sit to the right as you come in at the back door. In the room were only 3 men - 2 soldiers and a detective or took him to be. They told you to step fast. It was a mighty fine casket. Mr. Harding I believe look as natural as any any (sic) corps I ever viewed.
You left the room out at the front door. There were a yard of about a 30 or 40 foot front. This front yard was full of flowers of every kind. It looked to me there were circling porch to front. They were a lot of the guests were sitting out there but didn't notice Mrs. Harding out there.
Well after I got thru the house thought it would be crowded out to cemetery. I started out there and this street crowded I got out there. It is a mighty nice cemetery. There is a lot of old veterans buried there. There is only one vault in the cemetery and here is where they put the remains. There were ropes stretched for a ways around it. The vault on both sides were covered with flowers. The whole front except walk way was covered with flowers and the top was mostly covered. They were several wreaths that layed flat down to ones that stood 6 feet high.
There were one in particular I will try to describe but will explain more about it when I come home. It look to be a box about 6 feet long 6 inches high covered with purple velvet. At one end an altar. On this alter was a cross made with roses 3 colors about 4 feet high. At the other end a lady kneeling as in prayer. This was also composed of three colors of roses, white, purple, and lavender. It think it was the most beautiful thing I ever seen of the kind.
The casket was sit in front of vault. There was a song. I couldn't hear what song it was. There were a short talk and prayer by the Pastor of the Baptist Church of which Mr. Harding was a member. Then there was another song, "Near My God to Thee." I could hear this singing. It was fine.
President Coolidge special train came in after I got over to Marion. I was located good to see all that come on this special train: President Coolidge & wife, Taft, Daugherty, Hughes, Henry Ford, General Pershing, Hoover, and several . It was awful hot and close so many people. They were two ladies over come with heat near me where I was standing. They layed them out on the ground and fanned them, got them some water, and they got all right in a few minutes.
I started back to depot to get train back to Columbus and it was a jam all the way back and the same way on the train and not much better here in Columbus. It is hard to get a room here. I got the last room they had left at the State Hotel and several sleeping on cots in the halls.
Well Dearie I must go to bed. It is about 1 or 2 o'clock and have to get up at 6. Tell Campbell, Charleen, and Elizabeth to be good babys while I am gone and you rite a long letter telling me how everything is and how you all are and all the news.
Golden, Ralph Gravely wanted me to rite him soon as funeral was over so if you care to you can copy this letter and take it in to him and if you care to add or detract any part of it you can do so. You can tell him you want to keep original.
Well be awful good and rite every day if you have time.
Will say good night.
With love to all,
Your hubby FR
Oh I forgot excuse the pencil I run out of ink. |
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