Mary the oldest child of Mary Carbine and William H. Smith was called May by her family. When her brother Fred was asked during the probate proceedings of his father William H. Smith if her name was Mary or May, he said, "May." But throughout her father's probate record and years later in her mother's probate record, she is referred to officially as Mary. She is also referred to as Mary in all US Census records but she is named as May in her marriage record. So, goes the official name verses the nickname. Of course, I can easily see why her family called her May, since her mother's name was Mary, as well. Trying to make things less confusing.
Mary was born 12 April 1873 Chicago, Illinois. She was baptized (christened) 20 April 1873 at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Michigan Ave in Chicago. Her baptismal sponsors were Owen J McMahan and Kitty Carbine and the priest was P. M. Noonan - the same priest that married her parents, William H Smith and Mary Carbine.
Mary was married to William M. Hight by a Justice of the Peace in Chicago 21 January 1895. They were not married by a Catholic Priest but chose instead for middle ground with the Justice of the Peace to unite them as husband and wife.
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| Mary A Smith and William M Hight 1895 Marriage Chicago |
The Hight family came to Illinois from Pennsylvania. His father was Henry A. Hight Sr. and his mother was Mary A. Paynter. All of William's siblings - Mary Virginia 1843; Henry A Jr. 1845; and Ida 1850 - were born in Pennsylvania except for William, who was born in Illinois April 1864. William was a Civil War baby. His father Henry A. Hight Sr. served in the 155th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry as a private. His regiment even fought in the famous battle of Gettysburg. Henry was apparently discharged in the later part of 1863, thus enabling William to be born in April 1864.
The Hight family had an interest in the "arts". William's father Henry was a wagon or coach maker by profession but in the 1870 US Census he is listed as an actor along with his daughter Jessie (which must be also known as Ida) is listed as an actress. And in the 1880 Census, William's brother Henry Jr. is listed as a traveling actor.
William also had an interest in the arts but with a different slant. He was listed in the 1900 and 1910 US Census as an advertising agent. And in the 1920 US Census, William is listed as providing publicity for motion pictures and Mary is working as a lecturer in a studio. This was 1920, so film or motion pictures as it was called was in its early stages of development - certainly from what we now know movies to be.
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| Mary and William's home 1910 |
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| Mary and William's home 1920 |
Mary and William never were able to have any children together. So I am sure that Mary had some time available to pursue some of her interests and talents. I do not know what she was lecturing about in 1920 nor do I know what kind of studio she lectured at. I have a feeling that Mary had many personal skills that she developed. I wish I had a clearer picture of Mary's life in Chicago.
I have not been able to find Mary and William in the 1930 or 1940 US Census. I do know that Mary was still alive in 1934 when her sister Adelyn died. Mary is listed in Adelyn's obituary as a surviving sibling. I don't know why I can't find her?? I also know that when her brother Fred died in 1953 that Mary had passed away. Roberta was the only sibling left after Fred died.
Okay - I have now uncovered all sorts of information about Mary Smith Hight. Please refer to my post about her.
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