Honeymoon Block

February 10 1899, Herbert married Lou Henry, a fellow geology student he’d met at Stanford. After they tied the knot the young couple embarked on a honeymoon cruise to China where Herbert had accepted a position as mining consultant to the emperor. Before their first anniversary Herbert and Lou were caught up in the Boxer Rebellion. They were besieged with 800 other westerners in the city of Tientsin. Herbert built barricades while Lou served as a hospital volunteer. After the rebellion was put down the couple divided their time between their homes in London and California. Herbert was secretary of commerce in the 1920’s while Lou presided over the Women’s Division of the National Amateur Athletic Federation and helped build the Girl Scouts of America. Together they engaged in refugee relief work and raised two sons. March 4 1929, with Lou by his side, Herbert Hoover became 31st president of the United States.