Mary Catherine Smith was born in April 1843 in Pennsylvania (possibly in Manheim, don't know which one). Lacking her maiden name we have no information on her early life. Mary Katy Smith appears in the MD 1860 Federal Census Index living in 12 W. Baltimore in Baltimore County, Maryland. This would indicate that she was already married to Mr. Smith or her maiden name was Smith. Either way her only child was born 15 July 1862 and he retained the surname Smith throughout his life. It seems likely that the young Mr. Smith served in the Civil War and was killed.
In 1865 Katy married Ferdinand Fredrick Broll who was born in Hesse Cassel, Germany. He fought in the Civil War with the rank of Landsman from 12 Aug 1862 to 7 Feb 1863 when he deserted. His parents came to the US just before/after his birth in 1843, as his younger siblings were born in Maryland. The 1870 census shows that Ferdinand is a cooper with both parents foreign born; Kate keeps house and was born in Pennsylvania as was her son Elmer; their home is valued at $4,000. The 1880 census adds that both Kate's parents were born in Pennsylvania, that Elmer is also a cooper, and that the family lives at 47 Central Ave SE, Baltimore City.
The 1900 census shows Ferdinand and Kate Broll living in a house owned by Pastor Karl Schaper at 1417 Millikin Street in Baltimore. Ferdinand is still employed as a cooper. Kate died in 1905 at age 62. The 1910 census indicates Ferdinand has been widowed and is an inmate of Bay View Asylum. He died the following year.
It is suspected, but not confirmed, that Ferdinand and Kate Broll are buried in the same family plot as Elmer and Lillian Smith, however, their names are not on the headstone. Elmer is buried in the Rose Hill Section, Plot 748, of Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland.