SMITH, EARL AND KATHERINE (ADAMS)

by Allen Smith

Entry F395 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Katherine and Earl Smith and granddaughter Gloria Ann Smith, 1944.

Katherine Adams Smith was born at Green
Center, Indiana on May 23, 1891; She moved
to Cherry County, Nebraska where she
homesteaded in 1915.

(Melvin) Earl Smith was born in La
Grange, County, Indiana March 22, 1890. He
moved to Cherry County, Nebraska in 1916
and he and Katherine were married June 3,
1916. They had two children, Evelyn and
Allen; Both went to grade school in Cherry
County and graduated from High School at
Mullen, Nebraska Evelyn in 1935 and Allen
in 1940.

Katherine and Earl moved to Mullen in
1942 and operated the Mullen Beer Parlor,
in the building west and adjoining to Dr.
Walkers office, until 1945. They lived above
the Beer Parlor at this time. After selling the
Beer Parlor they bought Jim Brennans
House in the northwest part of town. Earl
worked for Ed Macke in the Mullen Cafe for
two or three years, then bought a Liquor
Store that he ran for several years in the
building now belonging to the Historical
Society.

They rented their basement room of their
house and boarded different people through
the years. Katherine kept Mrs. Morrow and
took care of her for a few years until Mrs.
Morrow passed away at just a few months
under one hundred years old.

After Earl sold the Liquor Store to his son,
he and Katherine managed the Mullen
Legion Club until the time of Earl's death in
November 1961.

Katherine continued to rent to boarders
until she suffered a stroke in the late sixties.
In1974 she entered the Pioneer Memorial
Rest Home where she resided until her death
in January 1976.