That she was a nurse is confirmed by a descendant.
Class of 1913
Mary DeWitt was born on September 26, 1891 in Irvona, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. Her parents were George D. DeWitt, born in Canada, and Emeline McCallister, born in Clearfield County. The parents, both 23, were married at Irvona on September 11, 1888. George was a resident of Irvona, and Emeline was a resident of nearby Berwinsdale (Clearfield County), according to their marriage record.
In the 1900 Federal Census, Mary DeWitt, 8, born September 1891, was residing with the family of aunt and uncle, Ellary [Ellery Bert] and Nancy [McCallister] Litz. By 1910, the Litz family had moved to Davis, Tucker County, West Virginia.
At the time of the 1910 census, Mary DeWitt, 21, born in Pennsylvania, was employed as a nurse at North Wheeling Hospital in Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia. Despite the age conflict, this is the same Mary DeWitt. Gertrude Voellinger, also a graduate of the St. Francis School of Nursing Class of 1913, is listed as a nurse at Wheeling Hospital, as well. The Wheeling City Directory of 1911 indicates that both nurses, and numerous other nurses, lived at 109 Main Street in Wheeling.
Mary DeWitt and Gertrude Voellinger had probably been working as nurses in some capacity, but eventually, they needed a license. A bill requiring state registration of nurses was approved in West Virginia on July 1, 1907, at which time nurses could become registered by applying for a wavier, or they could take an exam. Many early nurses had simply learned "on the job" and had no formal training. After licensure became required - which took years to fully implement - some of the nurses entered schools of professional nursing. It is likely that Gertrude L. Voellinger and Mary DeWitt entered the school of nursing at St. Francis and graduated in the class of 1913. (Wheeling Hospital, a Catholic institution, always had an affiliation with St. Francis Hospital.)
Mary A. DeWitt, 24, married James G. Harkins, 32, at St. Veronica's Church in Davis, Tucker County, West Virginia, on June 28, 1916. The marriage record indicates that Mary was born in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and was a resident of Tucker County (At least the Litz family lived there.). James was born in, and was a resident of, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
The WWI Draft Registration Card of James Gregory Harkins gives his birth as November 4, 1883. He and Mary lived on West Street, Homestead, Allegheny County.
Mary gave birth to their first child, James Gregory Harkins, Jr., on August 27, 1919.
On January 16, 1921, Mary, the infant daughter of James and Mary, died at the age of 3 months. She was buried at St. Mary's Cemetery, Pittsburgh. At the time, the family lived in Mifflin Township, Allegheny County.
Mary Dewitt Harkins died on February 7, 1929 from complications of appendicitis. She is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery, Pittsburgh.
That she was a nurse is confirmed by a descendant.
The 1930 census finds James G. Harkins and his children, among others, living in the Munhall home of Genevieve M. Warner, the "sister" mentioned in Mary's death notice. It appears that James and Mary (DeWitt) Harkins had two more daughters, Margaret E. and Ruth C.
