S3: Catherine Ellen McCann(1861-1955)

Catherine Ellen Smith, July 1st, 1934

Catherine Ellen Smith, July 1st, 1934

Catherine Ellen McCann(1861-1955)(S3)

Birth: June 3rd, 1861 in Lee, MA


Father: John McCann (1831-1910) (S6)

Mother: Mary Clasby (1834-1880?) (S7)


Married: Merrick Luther Smith(1856-1934)(S2) on October 18th, 1883 in Lee, MA


Children:


Death: November 30th, 1937 in Northampton, MA

1861-1880

Catherine Ellen McCann was born to John McCann and Mary Clasby in Lee, MA.  We believe that she was the third of four children but have some conflicting information.  He little sister Lizzie Ann was born sometime in 1862 and her father, John, Enlisted in the northern army on July 17th, 1862.

Catherine and the other children drop out of the records after John enlists.  The only sign of any of the family is Mary Clasby living alone in the 1865 Massachusetts census.  The family legend says that some of the children where adopted out to some of John's sibling and Catherine was bound out to a cook.  Given that she was three or four when this occurred,  It is likely that she wouldn't even remember her parents.

Catherine does not show up again until the 1880 census under the nickname of Kate McCann.  She is living in Lee, MA as a boarder with a family consisting of Edward Dowd, Laura Down and their two children.  She is listed as working in a paper mill.  This is likely how she met her future husband. As a interesting note, her mother is listed as being from Ireland.  Some of the other census records say that she was from Massachusetts.

1881-1900

On October 18th, 1883 she married Merrick Luther Smith in Lee, MA.   The marriage was conducted by Reverend D. McCartney, pastor of the Methodist Church.  Merrick is listed as being a mill operator, likely at a paper mill.  Their first child, Estella L. Smith was born in Lee, MA on August 15th, 1886.  By 1889, the family had moved to West Springfield, MA and are living at 73 Front Street, in the Mitteneague neighborhood.

On June 23rd, 1889, they lost a baby daughter in childbirth.  Their last daughter, Florence Edna Smith, was born in West Springfield on March 19th, 1892.  The 1900 U.S. Census and the 1900 City Index shows that family still living at the 73rd Front Street address.  The census states that By 1901, they had moved to Housatonic village of Great Barrington, MA.


Letter from Merrick to Catherine

Mitteneague July 21, /97

My Dear Wife


1

I now set down with pen in hand

To write you a letter as long as I can

Which wont be very long you can bet your old hat

But you probably already know about that


2

A I am writing this letter I've not much to tell

Only that I am getting along nicely + feeling quite well

I do my own house work + feed my self

and I am living up on the top shelf


3

For my supper tonight I has a squash frye

With a pan of Bonnams sitting close by

And the Biscuit was fine that I got at the start

and this isn't all but I wont tell any moor


4

For you might think I am living quite a fast life

Down here all alone with out any wife

But you know I am alone + can do as I please

And I don't I live on crackers and cheese


5

Now I will try to show you the house as it looks

With my cloths on the floor instead of the hooks

The coal hod is full + the lamps are all black

and I am going to leave it like that until you get back


6

The flys + cob webs are on windows + wall

The car dust is all over the floor in the hall

The stove is heaped up till it wont hold any moor

And now it falling all over the floor


7

And as I was looking at the floor tonight

I had to acknowledge it was quite a sight

With the greese spots all over + the dirt an inch thick

And I though if you could see it it would make you sick


8

But don't get scart beforr you hirt

For I am going to dig out all the dirt

And I will clean it all + make it all write

But it does look like the very deveal tonight


9

Now this letter I close for I can't write any morr

So I put out the Fuiter + lock up the door

And to bed I will go as soon as I can

And I think of you sleeping without any man


10

But never mind dear I make it all wright

For we sleep together the very first night

And bring that along you said you keep

For without that I know I could not sleep


11

So I bid you goodnight + go off to bed

And wad up my pillow + lay down my head

And sleep the sleep of the happy + free

And dream all the night that you are with me


Give my love to all + kiss the little Dincks for me

Your mhast

M. L. Smith

The Old Man

1901-1937

The 1910 U.S. Census shows the family renting a house on Park Street with a lodger, Margaret Scenlon.  The 1920 U.S. Census shows them still living on Park Street.

By 1926, Catherine and Merrick had moved to a house on Maple Street.  The 1930 U.S. Census shows Merrick owning a house at 306 Maple Street, Housatonic, MA.  Merrick passed away on October 3rd, 1934 in Pittsfield, MA.  Catherine 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.

Catherine moved in with her daughter, Florence Edna Smith at the 67 West Street house in Northampton, MA. She lived there until her death on November 30th, 1937.  She is buried with her husband in Fairmont Cemetery, Lee, MA.

Merrick Luther Smith and Catherine Ellen McCann and eight grand children

Merrick Luther Smith and Catherine Ellen McCann and eight grand children

306 Maple St house

306 Maple St house

Merrick Luther Smith

Merrick Luther Smith

Newspaper Articles on Visits to Merrick and Catherine

June 30th, 1931

Elizabeth and Allen Bradbury have returned to their home in Dalton after spending a few days with their grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Merrick L. Smith in Risingdale.

June 1st, 1932

Mrs. Mary Kroh of Springfield is spending the week with Mr. and Mrs. Merrick L. Smith in Risingdale.

August 9th, 1932 

Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Buddington and children have returned to their home in SPringfield after spending a week with Mr. and Mrs. Merrick L. Smith in Risingdale.

July 20th, 1933

Mr. and Mrs. David Wright have returned to their home in Northampton after spending several days with Mrs. Wright's parents, Mr. and Mrs. M.L. Smith in Risingdale. George and Charles Wright are remaining here for a few more days.

October 30th, 1933

Housatonic

Mr. and Mrs. Merrick L. Smith of Risingdale left Saturday for a few days visit with Mr. and Mrs. Henry V. Bradbury in Dalton before going to Northampton where they will spend the winter.

Merrick's Car Accident

August 27th, 1932

The civil cases of John Scarmana vs. Merrick Smith and of Merrick and Catherine Smith vs John Scarmana were heard in the district court Friday and the court will render a decision Friday of next week. The cases were brought as a result of an automobile accident at the subway in Housatonic sometime in June. Attorney Frank H. Wright appeared for the plaintiff Scarmana in the case against Merrick Smith and the attorneys in the other case of Mr. and Mrs. Smith against Scaramana were Paul Stoezel of Adams and C.E. Bigg of Springfield who represented insurance companies.


September 2nd, 1932

Defendants Win

Judge W.B. Sanford this morning found the defendants without costs in the civil cases of John Scarmana against Merrick L. Smith, both of Housatonic, and Merrick L. Smith and his wife, Catherine Smith against John Scarmana, which were tried in the district court earlier this week. The cases grew out of automobile accident which occurred at the underpass in the village of Housatonic on June 1 and the court in rendering it's decisions stated that the accident was due to the failure of both parties to exercise ordinary care.

Obituary

Mrs. Catherine Ellis Smith, 77, widow of Merrick L. Smith, died today at the Florence Lying-in hospital after a short illness.  She was born in Lee, Jan. 3, 1860, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Gillespie) McCann. During most of her life she was a resident of Housatonic, coming to Northampton three years ago to make her home with her daughter, Mrs. David S. Wright. She leaves one daughter, Mrs. H.V. Bradbury of Dalton, and eight grandchildren. She was a member of the Housatonic chapter of the Eastern Star.  The body was removed to the Ely funeral home, 2 Pomeroy terrace, and committal service will take place Thursday afternoon at 2:300 in Lee cemetery, Lee.

A couple of things I noted in this.  First, the misspelled her middle name as Ellis instead of Ellen.  I also believe they got her mother wrong.  I have a birth record showing that her mother was Mary Clasby, and I have not been able to find any record of Elizabeth Gillespie.

Branch

Descendants

Sources

Catherine McCann, Catherine Wright, and Merrick Smith, 1920

Catherine McCann, Catherine Wright, and Merrick Smith, 1920

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

Catherine McCann Smith,  Catherine Wright, David Sanders Wright, David Joy Wright, Florence Smith Wright and Merrick Smith at the 306 Maple St house in Housatonic,  MA, abt 1923

The 306 Maple St house in Great Barrington, MA abt 192

The 306 Maple St house in Housatonic, MA abt 1923

Catherine Ellen McCann and six unknown women

Catherine Ellen McCann and six unknown women

Photo of Catherine Wright and Catherine McCann Smith at 306 Maple St, Housatonic, MA, abt 1922

Photo of Catherine Wright and Catherine McCann Smith at 306 Maple St, Housatonic, MA, abt 1922

Florence Smith and Catherine McCann Smith with friends, from the Smith Family photos, around 1917

Merrick Smith and Catherine McCann Smith Picnicking with Friends, abt 1917

Merrick Smith and Catherine McCann Smith Picnicking with Friends, abt 1917

2nd from left Catherine McCann, 4th Florence Smith, abt 1917, Housatonic, MA

2nd from left Catherine McCann, 4th Florence Smith, abt 1917, Housatonic, MA

1919-Smith: Group Photo, Housatonic, MA

Group Photo, Housatonic, MA, abt 1919