This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: PatMcCormick5194 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.michigan.counties.wayne/7323.4/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Her names was Marie Jendnoraski General. From the Fall 2009 "Polish Eaglet", journal of the Polish Genealogical Society of Michigan, www.pgsm.org. I have photos but contact me at [email protected] MARIE GENERAL SMITH - FIRST LADY OF DETROIT By Kenneth A. Merique For many years there had been much conjecture regarding the ancestry of John W. Smith, former mayor of the city of Detroit. Smith, who was elected mayor of Detroit 4 November 1924 to fill the unexpired term of Frank Doremus and then was reelected 3 November 1925 for a two-year term, was long rumored to be of Polish lineage. It was, in fact, Marie General Smith, wife of the mayor, who was of Polish heritage. Marie General was born 13 December 1886 in Detroit, the daughter of John W. General, originally Jednoralski, and Rose Heinz (Hintz), both Austrian Poles. The General family were parishioners at St. Albertus Roman Catholic Church, Detroit, and Marie and her sisters, Rose and Elizabeth, and their brothers, John and Michael, attended St. Albertus School. The General Family resided at 1102 Dubois, Detroit, and prior to her marriage Marie was employed as a cigarmaker in one of Detroit's many east side cigar factories. General (Jednoralski) family; (back row) son, John, Jr.; dght., Marie, wife, Rose; (frt. row) dght., Rose, father, John and ? In 1908 Marie General married John W. Smith, a man who was destined to have an illustrious career in Detroit politics. It was written that Smith had organized the Polish wards for Truman Newberry in the 1918 senate race against Henry Ford. This act could have been construed as one to benefit Smith's own ethnic group. The marriage of Marie General and John W. Smith produced two children: a daughter, Dorothy, and a son, John W. Smith, Jr. During this period, the Smith family became parishioners at St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church, Detroit, and it was here that Dorothy Smith married George Michael Faust, 9 November 1940. Marie General Smith passed away Tuesday, 4 November 1941, at the family residence, 3538 Oakman Boulevard, Detroit. She was survived by her husband, John, daughter, Dorothy Faust, son, John W. Smith, Jr., brothers, John and Michael General, and sisters, Rose Staley and Elizabeth Patras, all of Detroit. Marie General Smith's funeral Mass was conducted at St. Cecilia Church with interment following at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Detroit; oddly, not with her husband, and she does not have a headstone, though financially able to afford one. Shortly after her death, the newly-widowed mayor lost both his son and daughter. Grief stricken, the mayor succumbed 17 June 1942 in Detroit. Within a seven-month period, the entire immediate family had passed away. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.