Catherine Smith 1878-1936
Catherine Smith was born in November of 1878 in Peoria County, Illinois, to John B. and Mary Hill Smith. She was their 7th child. Her father, John Bernard Smith, was a farmer. By 1885, the family was living in Marysville, Marshall County, Kansas. By then, Catherine had 7 sisters and 4 brothers, though one brother and one sister had died before 1885. At some time in 1888, Catherine had either a serious illness or a serious accident that left her “feeble-minded”.
Before the 1900 census, another sister and brother were born. By this time, Catherine had seen one brother and one sister pass away. Catherine was the 7th of 14 children her parents had. The family remained in Marshall County, Kansas, although over the years, most of the grown children moved away.
In the 1900 Census, Catherine’s family was listed with 8 children living with her parents. Her father continued farming. Catherine was listed as age 21. By 1905, only 2 of the children were living with their parents: Catherine, age 26, and Robert, age 22.
The 1910 Census showed Catherine and Robert still living with their parents, along with a granddaughter, Gladys Smith, age 9. In April of 1915, Catherine’s mother died. Catherine was about 36 years old at that time. I can't imagine how hard that must have been for the family, especially Catherine. By the 1920 Census, father John, age 77, was listed with Catherine, age 40, and Robert, age 27. He was still farming. At some point before 1924, Catherine’s father had both legs amputated.
Catherine’s father, John Smith, died in October of 1924. He was 82 years old. Catherine was about 45 years old then. After her father’s death, Catherine moved in with her brother Robert, who had married in 1920. The 1925 Marshall County Census listed Catherine as living with Robert, his wife, and his 2 young daughters.
[In the 1925 Census, Catherine was listed as Kath. It seems she was called Catherine until then. After that, every record refers to her as “Katherine”. I have kept her name shown as Catherine in respect to her parents, who called her that until her father’s death.]
It appears that the death of her father triggered what happened to Catherine after that. I would guess Robert and his family were growing, and they may have found it difficult to care for Catherine.
On 7 February 1927, Robert E. Smith (Katherine’s brother and executor of John Smith’s estate) filed a formal complaint stating Katherine Smith was feeble‑minded. She could not manage her affairs. She owned about $1,500 in personal property. A guardian was required to manage her estate. The $1,500 is the exact amount she received from her father’s will. The guardianship was probably initiated because of the inheritance.
That same day, the judge summoned two physicians from Marysville. They were sworn in and examined Katherine. Their report concluded Katherine Smith was feeble‑minded; she was incompetent to manage her affairs, and a guardian was necessary. The court approved their findings. The court then appointed M. L. Griffin as guardian of Katherine Smith, a person of feeble mind. Robert testified about Catherine: “…such condition of feeble‑mindedness has existed for 38 years last past.” That means her disability began around age 10, around 1889. It was lifelong, not age‑related. The community recognized it for decades.
The “38 years last past” detail shows that Katherine was not born disabled. Something happened around age 10. Possibilities include illness (meningitis, scarlet fever), injury, or congenital developmental delay that became more apparent with age. This explains her lifelong living situation.
Sometime in late 1927 or early 1928, Catherine was in the hospital. The bill presented was for Marysville Hospital Charges (Room 209). This portion is a hospital billing statement for Katherine Smith. The charges listed were for the Operating Room, Laboratory, Anesthesia, X-ray, and her room.
I can’t even imagine how frightened she must have been with all of the court proceedings and then being in the hospital. Her parents, whom I am sure she depended on greatly, were both gone. It’s so sad.
Katherine’s medical needs were significant. Hospitalization + doctor visits + dental work + medicines + clothing + two years of board = a substantial burden on Robert before the guardianship funds were available.
The records show Katherine’s condition required: hospital care, physician visits, transportation to hearings, and ongoing support
They confirm the guardianship was necessary. Her medical needs were beyond what she could manage, and beyond what Robert could continue paying alone.
Robert sought reimbursement for personal expenditures made on Katherine’s behalf before and during the guardianship proceedings.
Itemized Expenses
Each entry documents a specific cost Robert covered while caring for Katherine — medical, dental, transportation to court, clothing, and two years of board. That is a significant amount for 1927-1928, especially for a man with a growing family. Quantifies her cost of care: $532.85 ≈ $10,000 today — a substantial sum for rural Kansas in the 1920s.
I think that this confirms Robert’s role as caretaker. He personally paid for Katherine’s living and medical expenses for two years before the guardianship funds were available.
Catherine’s brother Robert was reimbursed for this claim in April 1928. Robert’s claim illustrated a compassionate sibling relationship. He cared for Katherine financially and legally, then sought reimbursement through proper channels.
In 1930, Kate Smith was listed in the Marysville County Poor Farm. She was listed as age 44, single, and could read and write. She was born in Kansas. It also states that her parents were born in Kansas, which is not correct.
Catherine Smith died on the 26th day of December, A.D. 1936.”
She died in Marysville Township, Marshall County, Kansas. This aligns with her residence at the Marshall County Poor Farm during her final years. Robert states: “…having made no Last Will and Testament.” Kansas intestacy law must distribute her estate. Robert reports: “…personal property… of the probable value of $650.00.”
This is the estate’s starting value before funeral expenses, administrator fees, attorney fees, and the county’s large claim for her care.
The petition lists all of Catherine’s surviving siblings, including ages and residences:
Brothers:
Robert E. Smith, Axtell, Kansas
John Smith, Center, Colorado
Sisters
Mrs. W. F. Doering, Axtell, Kansas
Mrs. Ella Whittaker, Kansas City, Missouri
Mrs. Maggie Peterson, Atchison, Kansas
Mrs. John Yoder, St. Joseph, Missouri
Mrs. J. R. Ruggles, St. Paul, Minnesota
Mrs. Horace Tribby, Blue Springs, Nebraska
This is the full sibling set that was living—eight children of the Smith family.
On 5 February 1938, a court order allowed the claim.
The claim is described as: “care at county fa…” This refers to Care at the Marshall County Poor Farm. The county operated this institutional home for indigent, disabled, or elderly residents. The amount — $1,605 — represents years of room, board, and care provided to Catherine before her death. The court allowed the claim in full. The “county farm” reference is decisive: Katherine was living at the Marshall County Poor Farm at the time of her death or shortly before it.
$1,605 was a substantial sum in the 1930s — equivalent to roughly 32,000–35,000 today. This indicates Long-term residence, Continuous care, and significant dependency; Marshall County provided institutional support, and the estate was legally obligated to reimburse the county.
Catherine’s guardianship remained open after her death. Even though Catherine died in December 1936, the guardianship could not close until the administrator settled her probate estate (April 1939). The court reviewed Griffin’s final accounting; all funds were transferred, and all claims were resolved. The guardianship officially ended in June 1939.
This story saddened me. Whatever had caused her disabilities had changed the trajectory of her life. It appears as if Robert was the only sibling who stayed in Marshall County. Catherine isn’t listed in 5 of her siblings’ obituaries, even one who died in the same year as her. The only obituary that I have found her listed in is her sister Rosie’s. [I have not found obituaries for 4 of the siblings, and the one for Anna Smith Tribbly did not mention any survivors at all.] I know the obituaries I found were probably written by family members, but it saddens me that they did not include (or possibly even remember/know) that their loved one also had another sibling.
