Henrietta King was a remarkable woman who played a vital role in the history of Texas and the King Ranch, the largest ranch in the United States. She was the wife of Richard King, the founder of the ranch, and after his death in 1885, she took over the management of the vast estate and expanded it to over a million acres. She was also a generous philanthropist who supported many causes, such as education, health care, and church building. She died in 1925 at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy of courage, wisdom, and benevolence. But what was the cause of her death? And was there any foul play involved?
The Official Cause of Death
According to her obituary, Henrietta King died of pneumonia at her home on the King Ranch on March 31, 1925. She had been ill for several weeks and had suffered a relapse after a brief improvement. She was surrounded by her family and friends, and her funeral was attended by thousands of people who came to pay their respects. Her body was buried in a mausoleum next to her husband’s in Kingsville, Texas
The Rumors of Poisoning
However, not everyone accepted the official cause of death as the truth. Some people speculated that Henrietta King had been poisoned by someone who wanted to get rid of her and take over the ranch. One of the suspects was her son-in-law, Robert Justus Kleberg, who had married her daughter Alice and had been her trusted assistant for many years. Kleberg was the one who had handled most of the ranch’s business affairs and had a lot of influence and power. Some people believed that he had grown tired of Henrietta’s interference and had decided to eliminate her
Another suspect was her grandson, Richard Mifflin Kleberg, who was the son of Robert and Alice. He was also involved in the ranch’s operations and had a close relationship with his grandmother. However, some people suspected that he had a secret motive to kill her. According to a rumor, Henrietta had discovered that Richard had fathered an illegitimate child with a Mexican woman and had threatened to disinherit him. Richard, fearing that he would lose his share of the ranch, had allegedly poisoned his grandmother to prevent her from changing her will
The Lack of Evidence
However, these rumors were never proven and there was no concrete evidence to support them. No autopsy was performed on Henrietta’s body, and no traces of poison were found in her belongings or food. Moreover, there was no clear motive for either Robert or Richard to kill her, as they both stood to inherit a large portion of the ranch anyway. Henrietta had made a will in 1919, in which she divided her estate equally among her five children and their spouses. She also left a trust fund for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Robert and Richard were both named as executors of her will, and they had no reason to fear that she would change it
Furthermore, there was no indication that Henrietta had any enemies or rivals who wanted her dead. She was widely respected and admired by the people of Texas and beyond, and she had many friends and allies in the political and social circles. She was also a devout Christian who had a strong faith and a peaceful disposition. She had lived a long and fruitful life, and she had faced many challenges and hardships with grace and courage. She had no regrets or resentments, and she was ready to meet her Maker
The Conclusion
Therefore, it is most likely that Henrietta King died of natural causes, as the official records state. She had contracted pneumonia, a common and deadly disease at the time, and her old age and frailty had made her more vulnerable to it. She had received the best medical care available, but it was not enough to save her. She had passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of greatness and goodness. She was the queen of King Ranch, and she was loved and honored by many
