S1: Florence Edna Smith(1892-1937)
Florence Edna Smith
Florence Edna Smith (1892-1937) (S1)
Birth: March 19th, 1892 in Mitteneague, West Springfield, MA
Father: Merrick Luther Smith (1856-1934) (S2)
Mother: Catherine Ellen McCann (1861-1937) (S3)
Married: David Sanders Wright (1887-1967) (S1) on August 16th, 1919 in Great Barrington, MA.
Children:
Death: November 28th, 1937 in Northampton, MA
Possibly Florence Edna Smith, 1892
1892-1900
Florence Edna Smith was born in Mitteneague, West Springfield, MA on March 19th, 1892 to Merrick Luther Smith and Catherine Ellen McCann. We have one document that lists her birth location as Somerville, MA but that doesn't match with where the family was living at the time. She had an older sister, Estella L. Smith.
The 1900 census shows the family living in West Springfield, MA with Florence's Uncle Grove C. Smith. They were renting a house at 73 Front St. Florence is listed as being 8 years old, Estella is 13, Merrick is 40 and Katherine is 37. Grove is older then Merrick at age 43.
Florence Edna Smith
1901-1910
Sometime between 1901 and 1910 the family moved to Great Barrington, MA. The 1910 census shows them renting on Park Street. Florence's father, mother, sister and uncle are still living with her. The household also has a lodger, Margeret Scanlon, living with them.
Florence Edna Smith Graduation Photo, 1915
1911-1920
From around 1913-1915 Florence went to College at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA. According to my mother, she was studying English. Her family owned a grocery store in Great Barrington, and whenever Florence wanted to through a dinner party for her friends the food would be shipped down from Great Barrington by train.
ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCED
Miss Florence Edna Smith of Risingdale, teacher in the Searles school at Great Barrington entertained the teachers of Searles at her home on Thursday evening. During the evening announcement of her marriage engagement to David Sanders Wright of Northampton was made public. Mr. Wright is a graduate of Amherst college and previous to his entering the service of the national army taught science in Searles and was also atheletic instructor. He is now at Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Ga. Miss Smith is a graduate of Searles and of Mount Holyoke college. No date has been set for the wedding.
She married David Sanders Wright on August 16th, 1919 in Great Barrington, MA. By 1920, they had moved to Northampton, MA. According to the 1920 Census they where renting at 101 West Street. They then moved to 67 West Street.
Mount Holyoke parade, 1914
Mount Holyoke 1915 Yearbook
Mount Holyoke Graduation, 1915
The wedding of David Sanders Wright and Florence Edna Smith, 1919
Florence Edna Smith and George Wright
1921-1930
Her children were born between 1920 and 1930. The 1930 Census shows the first four children living with her and her husband at the 67 West Street house. Her youngest daughter was born after the census in 1930.
Florence Edna Smith with Caroline Wright
Wright Family, 1932
1931-1937
Florence was very active during the Great Depression. We know she invited people into the house to teach them how to can and encouraged people to grow vegetable gardens. We also know she was the head of the Woman's group at their church. David, Florence and family would have experienced the flood that took place in the Connecticut River Valley in the spring of 1936. Here are some pictures of that flood.
Unfortunately, her life was cut short. On November 28th, 1937, she passed away from pneumonia leaving her five children to be raised by David Joy Wright and his brother. She is buried at Bridge Street Cemetery in Northampton, MA.
OBITUARY
MRS. DAVID S. WRIGHT
Mrs. Florence Edna Wright, 45, wife of David S. Wright, Northampton high school faculty member and athletic director, died yesterday morning at her home, after an illness of two days. A graduate of Mount Holyoke college, Mrs. Wright was prominent in women's club affairs in this city and in the affairs of the Mount Holyoke Alumnae association in Hampshire county. She was born March 19, 1892, in West Springfield, the daughter of Merrick and Catherine (McCann) Smith. She was graduated from Mount Holyoke college in 1915 and taught at Great Barrington high school until her marriage. She was a member of the Edwards Congregational church and was a past president of the Mothers' club, serving as a press chairman and chairman of the scholarship committee of that organization. She leaves her husband; her mother, Mrs. Catharine McCann Smith; two daughters, Catharine S. And Carol Wright; three sons, David J., Charles M., and George E., all at home, and one sister, Mrs. H. V. Bradbury, of Dalton. The funeral will be held in Edwards church at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Bridge street cemetery. Friends will be received this evening at the Ely home, 2 Pomeroy terrace.
Branch
Generation 1 (Grandparents): David Sanders Wright and Florence Edna Smith
Generation 0: Robert Ervin Putnam and (Florence) Caroline Wright
Sources
1900 Untied States Federal Census: Year: 1900; Census Place: West Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; Roll: 653; Page: 24B; Enumeration District: 0612; FHL microfilm: 1240653
1910 United States Federal Census: Year: 1910; Census Place: Great Barrington, Berkshire, Massachusetts; Roll: T624_572; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0036; FHL microfilm: 1374585
1920 United States Federal Census: Database online. Year: 1920; Census Place: Northampton Ward 2, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: T625_705; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 165; Image: 646.
1930 United States Federal Census: Database online. Year: 1930; Census Place: Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; Roll: 912; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 27; Image: 638.0; FHL microfilm: 2340647.
Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980: Vol 71, Page 117, Index Volume Number 99, Ref Number Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980
Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988:
Mount Holyoke College 1913 and 1915 Yearbooks
Estella Smith and Henry Bradbury Wedding, left-Florence Edna Smith, Estella L. Smith, Henry Bradbury, June 1st, 1918
Jane Reed Wright, David Wright, Florence Smith Wright, Catherine Wright, and three unknown, May 1921
Florence Smith Wright and Catherine Wright, 1921
Catherine, Charles, David Wright and Florence Smith, 1924
Charles Wright and Florence Smith. 1924
Car at 306 Maple St, abt 1923
Catherine McCann Smith, Catherine Wright, David Sanders Wright, David Joy Wright, Florence Smith Wright and Merrick Smith at the 306 Maple St house in Great Barrington, MA, abt 1923
Florence Smith and 5 unknown friends
Unknown Friends and Florence Smith with Flower hats
Photo postcard of 3 unknown friends and Florence Smith
Florence Smith and four unknown friends (and a dog)
Florence Smith and friends at a lake
Florence Smith and Friends
Old Man of the Mountain
Florence Smith, 2nd from left, abt 1917, Housatonic, MA
Florence Smith on right, abt 1918, Housatonic, MA
Seated Florence Smith, abt 1918, Housatonic, MA
Photo of Unknown Group at the House in Housatonic, MA
Cat at 306 Maple St house in Housatonic, MA, abt 1919
Unknown Person and Dog at 306 Maple St house in Housatonic, MA, abt 1919
Unknown Girl at 306 Maple St house in Housatonic, MA, abt 1919
Two unknown people at 306 Maple St house in Housatonic, MA, abt 1919
Florence Smith and Catherine McCann Smith with friends, from the Smith Family photos, around 1917
Florence Smith on left with Friends. Smith Family Photos, around 1917
Florence Smith on right, Smith Family Photos, around 1917
Florence Smith with two friends, Smith Family photos, around 1917
Florence Smith with friends in the woods, Smith family Photos, around 1917
2nd from left Catherine McCann, 4th Florence Smith, abt 1917, Housatonic, MA
Group of Friends with Florence Smith in the middle, 1917, Great Barrington, MA
The Honeymoon of David Sanders Wright and Florence Edna Smith, 1919