William Herman Smith was born on October 7, 1880, in Washington, DC. He was the son of Herman and Elizabeth Schmidt Smith, according to the District of Columbia, Select Deaths and Burials Index, 1769 - 1960.
His father died before 1900. In the Federal census for that year, William Smith was living with his mother Elizabeth Brunger aged 39 and stepfather George Brunger aged 23 in Washington, DC. William was a newspaper dealer and was aged 19.
He married Charlotte Yarnell Hanby about the year 1902. Their eldest daughter was Helena Mask Smith, born in 1904 in Washington, DC. Their second daughter was born about 1905 and may have been named Martha. She died young, possibly in 1905. Their youngest daughter was Kathryn Elizabeth Smith, born in 1907, who later became the famous singer Kate Smith.
According to the Wikipedia article on Kate Smith, William Smith owned Capital News Company, which distributed newspapers and magazines in the greater DC area.
In the 1910 and 1920 Federal censuses, William Smith, wife Lottie Smith; and daughters Helena and Catherine lived at 227 B St NW, Washington, DC. William Smith was listed as a wholesale news dealer.
In the World War I draft registration, serial number 4892, William Herman Smith stated he was born on Oct 7, 1880 in Washington, DC; was the proprietor of Capital News Co; nearest relative Lottie Smith, who also lived at their address 227 B St NW; and described himself as a white male, short and stout in build, with brown hair and blue eyes.
William Smith was listed in the 1930 Federal census as divorced, living at 109 Mass. Ave NW, Washington, DC, as the head of house. He was still self-employed as a dealer in newspapers. He had several lodgers living in the same house: Josephine Sprague, aged 35; Eleanora Sprague, aged 17; Iva Vaugh, aged 30; Robert B Hammer, aged 56; and Melvin Long, aged 58. This particular census was taken on April 3, 1930.
OBITUARY:
William Smith died on June 20, 1930. He left a widow, Lottie Hanby Smith; and two daughters: Helena Mask Smith and Kathryn Elizabeth Smith.
Funeral services were scheduled on June 23, 1930, at 9 a.m. at Gawlers's Chapel, 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC. Internment was private.
Information from the obituary published on June 22, 1930, The Washington Post, page not given.
An article about William Smith's will was published in The Washington Post on June 25, 1930, page not given. He left an estate worth $76,000, in addition to his business The Capital News, including real estate valued at $31,000 and personal property estimated at $45,000.
In addition to a number of bequests, his executors were to pay forty percent of the residuary estate to his daughters Helen Smith and Kate Smith, with the remaining twenty percent to Josephine Van Horne Sprague, a friend, in repayment for cash advances and services in operating the business. She also received $20,000, an automobile, and the property at 720 New Jersey Avenue, where the business (Capital News) was located. Helen Smith was willed $20,000 and a six-carat diamond ring, while Kate Smith was given $10,000. Mrs. Lottie Y Smith was given a portion of the share of proceeds from the sale of two houses, and that she had already received $21,000. An employee, Bob Hummer, was left $2,000 for the many overtime hours of work he performed at the business and a maid, Iva Voight, was left $500. Charitable bequests were made to The Episcopal Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital; Providence Hospital; and St Mary's Catholic Church for the care of his grave and that of his mother.
His father died before 1900. In the Federal census for that year, William Smith was living with his mother Elizabeth Brunger aged 39 and stepfather George Brunger aged 23 in Washington, DC. William was a newspaper dealer and was aged 19.
He married Charlotte Yarnell Hanby about the year 1902. Their eldest daughter was Helena Mask Smith, born in 1904 in Washington, DC. Their second daughter was born about 1905 and may have been named Martha. She died young, possibly in 1905. Their youngest daughter was Kathryn Elizabeth Smith, born in 1907, who later became the famous singer Kate Smith.
According to the Wikipedia article on Kate Smith, William Smith owned Capital News Company, which distributed newspapers and magazines in the greater DC area.
In the 1910 and 1920 Federal censuses, William Smith, wife Lottie Smith; and daughters Helena and Catherine lived at 227 B St NW, Washington, DC. William Smith was listed as a wholesale news dealer.
In the World War I draft registration, serial number 4892, William Herman Smith stated he was born on Oct 7, 1880 in Washington, DC; was the proprietor of Capital News Co; nearest relative Lottie Smith, who also lived at their address 227 B St NW; and described himself as a white male, short and stout in build, with brown hair and blue eyes.
William Smith was listed in the 1930 Federal census as divorced, living at 109 Mass. Ave NW, Washington, DC, as the head of house. He was still self-employed as a dealer in newspapers. He had several lodgers living in the same house: Josephine Sprague, aged 35; Eleanora Sprague, aged 17; Iva Vaugh, aged 30; Robert B Hammer, aged 56; and Melvin Long, aged 58. This particular census was taken on April 3, 1930.
OBITUARY:
William Smith died on June 20, 1930. He left a widow, Lottie Hanby Smith; and two daughters: Helena Mask Smith and Kathryn Elizabeth Smith.
Funeral services were scheduled on June 23, 1930, at 9 a.m. at Gawlers's Chapel, 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC. Internment was private.
Information from the obituary published on June 22, 1930, The Washington Post, page not given.
An article about William Smith's will was published in The Washington Post on June 25, 1930, page not given. He left an estate worth $76,000, in addition to his business The Capital News, including real estate valued at $31,000 and personal property estimated at $45,000.
In addition to a number of bequests, his executors were to pay forty percent of the residuary estate to his daughters Helen Smith and Kate Smith, with the remaining twenty percent to Josephine Van Horne Sprague, a friend, in repayment for cash advances and services in operating the business. She also received $20,000, an automobile, and the property at 720 New Jersey Avenue, where the business (Capital News) was located. Helen Smith was willed $20,000 and a six-carat diamond ring, while Kate Smith was given $10,000. Mrs. Lottie Y Smith was given a portion of the share of proceeds from the sale of two houses, and that she had already received $21,000. An employee, Bob Hummer, was left $2,000 for the many overtime hours of work he performed at the business and a maid, Iva Voight, was left $500. Charitable bequests were made to The Episcopal Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital; Providence Hospital; and St Mary's Catholic Church for the care of his grave and that of his mother.
William Herman Smith was born on October 7, 1880, in Washington, DC. He was the son of Herman and Elizabeth Schmidt Smith, according to the District of Columbia, Select Deaths and Burials Index, 1769 - 1960.
His father died before 1900. In the Federal census for that year, William Smith was living with his mother Elizabeth Brunger aged 39 and stepfather George Brunger aged 23 in Washington, DC. William was a newspaper dealer and was aged 19.
He married Charlotte Yarnell Hanby about the year 1902. Their eldest daughter was Helena Mask Smith, born in 1904 in Washington, DC. Their second daughter was born about 1905 and may have been named Martha. She died young, possibly in 1905. Their youngest daughter was Kathryn Elizabeth Smith, born in 1907, who later became the famous singer Kate Smith.
According to the Wikipedia article on Kate Smith, William Smith owned Capital News Company, which distributed newspapers and magazines in the greater DC area.
In the 1910 and 1920 Federal censuses, William Smith, wife Lottie Smith; and daughters Helena and Catherine lived at 227 B St NW, Washington, DC. William Smith was listed as a wholesale news dealer.
In the World War I draft registration, serial number 4892, William Herman Smith stated he was born on Oct 7, 1880 in Washington, DC; was the proprietor of Capital News Co; nearest relative Lottie Smith, who also lived at their address 227 B St NW; and described himself as a white male, short and stout in build, with brown hair and blue eyes.
William Smith was listed in the 1930 Federal census as divorced, living at 109 Mass. Ave NW, Washington, DC, as the head of house. He was still self-employed as a dealer in newspapers. He had several lodgers living in the same house: Josephine Sprague, aged 35; Eleanora Sprague, aged 17; Iva Vaugh, aged 30; Robert B Hammer, aged 56; and Melvin Long, aged 58. This particular census was taken on April 3, 1930.
OBITUARY:
William Smith died on June 20, 1930. He left a widow, Lottie Hanby Smith; and two daughters: Helena Mask Smith and Kathryn Elizabeth Smith.
Funeral services were scheduled on June 23, 1930, at 9 a.m. at Gawlers's Chapel, 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC. Internment was private.
Information from the obituary published on June 22, 1930, The Washington Post, page not given.
An article about William Smith's will was published in The Washington Post on June 25, 1930, page not given. He left an estate worth $76,000, in addition to his business The Capital News, including real estate valued at $31,000 and personal property estimated at $45,000.
In addition to a number of bequests, his executors were to pay forty percent of the residuary estate to his daughters Helen Smith and Kate Smith, with the remaining twenty percent to Josephine Van Horne Sprague, a friend, in repayment for cash advances and services in operating the business. She also received $20,000, an automobile, and the property at 720 New Jersey Avenue, where the business (Capital News) was located. Helen Smith was willed $20,000 and a six-carat diamond ring, while Kate Smith was given $10,000. Mrs. Lottie Y Smith was given a portion of the share of proceeds from the sale of two houses, and that she had already received $21,000. An employee, Bob Hummer, was left $2,000 for the many overtime hours of work he performed at the business and a maid, Iva Voight, was left $500. Charitable bequests were made to The Episcopal Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital; Providence Hospital; and St Mary's Catholic Church for the care of his grave and that of his mother.
His father died before 1900. In the Federal census for that year, William Smith was living with his mother Elizabeth Brunger aged 39 and stepfather George Brunger aged 23 in Washington, DC. William was a newspaper dealer and was aged 19.
He married Charlotte Yarnell Hanby about the year 1902. Their eldest daughter was Helena Mask Smith, born in 1904 in Washington, DC. Their second daughter was born about 1905 and may have been named Martha. She died young, possibly in 1905. Their youngest daughter was Kathryn Elizabeth Smith, born in 1907, who later became the famous singer Kate Smith.
According to the Wikipedia article on Kate Smith, William Smith owned Capital News Company, which distributed newspapers and magazines in the greater DC area.
In the 1910 and 1920 Federal censuses, William Smith, wife Lottie Smith; and daughters Helena and Catherine lived at 227 B St NW, Washington, DC. William Smith was listed as a wholesale news dealer.
In the World War I draft registration, serial number 4892, William Herman Smith stated he was born on Oct 7, 1880 in Washington, DC; was the proprietor of Capital News Co; nearest relative Lottie Smith, who also lived at their address 227 B St NW; and described himself as a white male, short and stout in build, with brown hair and blue eyes.
William Smith was listed in the 1930 Federal census as divorced, living at 109 Mass. Ave NW, Washington, DC, as the head of house. He was still self-employed as a dealer in newspapers. He had several lodgers living in the same house: Josephine Sprague, aged 35; Eleanora Sprague, aged 17; Iva Vaugh, aged 30; Robert B Hammer, aged 56; and Melvin Long, aged 58. This particular census was taken on April 3, 1930.
OBITUARY:
William Smith died on June 20, 1930. He left a widow, Lottie Hanby Smith; and two daughters: Helena Mask Smith and Kathryn Elizabeth Smith.
Funeral services were scheduled on June 23, 1930, at 9 a.m. at Gawlers's Chapel, 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC. Internment was private.
Information from the obituary published on June 22, 1930, The Washington Post, page not given.
An article about William Smith's will was published in The Washington Post on June 25, 1930, page not given. He left an estate worth $76,000, in addition to his business The Capital News, including real estate valued at $31,000 and personal property estimated at $45,000.
In addition to a number of bequests, his executors were to pay forty percent of the residuary estate to his daughters Helen Smith and Kate Smith, with the remaining twenty percent to Josephine Van Horne Sprague, a friend, in repayment for cash advances and services in operating the business. She also received $20,000, an automobile, and the property at 720 New Jersey Avenue, where the business (Capital News) was located. Helen Smith was willed $20,000 and a six-carat diamond ring, while Kate Smith was given $10,000. Mrs. Lottie Y Smith was given a portion of the share of proceeds from the sale of two houses, and that she had already received $21,000. An employee, Bob Hummer, was left $2,000 for the many overtime hours of work he performed at the business and a maid, Iva Voight, was left $500. Charitable bequests were made to The Episcopal Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital; Providence Hospital; and St Mary's Catholic Church for the care of his grave and that of his mother.
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