S1: Florence Edna Smith(1892-1937)

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:

• Catherine Sanders Wright(1920-2017)

• David Joy Wright (1922-1991)

• Charles Merrick Wright (1924-2008)

• George Edward Wright (1927-2019)

• Florence Caroline Wright(1930-2016)

Death: November 28th, 1937 in Northampton, MA

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.

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.

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.