Many children love dolls, however today few children have toys or dolls that aren’t for play like China Dolls. This week’s What’s New Wednesday comes from Neva Whaley Harding. An early resident of De Smet, Harding received this China doll when she was 8-years-old. Her mother, Susan (Bean) Whaley sewed the petticoat and dress, in an 1880s fashion, complete with a ruffled flounce on the bottom of the dress.
Harding was born in Illinois (1873) and moved to De Smet in 1880. She graduated from South Dakota State College in 1897 and married Albert Harding in 1898. Albert Harding taught history for the College. They had one son and lived in Brookings for the remainder of their lives. Harding, a contemporary of Laura Ingalls Wilder, authored De Smet settlement stories of her own. Harding died at 105 years-old on Jan. 5, 1978. This doll had special meaning to an 8-year-old child, especially because her mother made the beautiful dress, certainly a prized possession.