Margaret
Madeline Chase was born on December 14, 1897. Her father and
mother were George and Carrie Chase. Her brothers and
sisters were Wilbur, Evelyn, and Laura. She also had two
younger brothers that died very young. She was the oldest of
all six.
She
lived on North Avenue in downtown Skowhegan when she was
growing up. Her father didn't make much money at his barber
shop. He only got fifteen cents per haircut. At the age of
thirteen she got a job at "Green Brothers Five and Ten Cents
Store." She worked after school and on Sundays. She got .10
cents per hour. She went to school in Skowhegan from
Kindergarten through second grade. In third grade she went
to Garfield School. She started high school in 1912 at
Bloomfield Academy High School. During her four years at
high school she played basketball and was the captain. She
graduated in 1916.
After
she graduated she worked as a teacher, a telephone operator,
a commercial manager, circulation manager of weekly
newspaper, office manager of woolen mills, and as a
treasurer for a waste process company. On April 14, 1930,
she married Clyde Smith. Soon after, Clyde died of a heart
attack. He died on April 7, 1931. Margaret didn't die until
May 29, 1995 ...on Memorial Day.