Bertha (Texter) Bast

Ancestors

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Biography

Bertha Mae Texter was born on Thursday, January 16, 1879, in Canton, Stark County, Ohio. Her parents were August Texter (Thursday, November 4,1852 - Sunday, December 12, 1915) and Mary P. Schauer Texter (Friday, May 28,1858 - Friday, September 7, 1928). Her father was a carpenter.

On Tuesday evening, May 5, 1891, in Canton, at the Catholic lyceum in St. Cecelia Hall, a vocal duet by Mary and Bertha Texter received hearty applause. On Friday, February 12, 1897, at the regular meeting of the Franklin Literary Society in Canton, Bertha Texter was one of three members of the Class of '99 to give extemporaneous speeches. Canton's Central High School' fourteenth graduating class had fifty nine students in 1899. In 1917 it was replaced by McKinley High School. From 1898 to 1901 Bertha Texter served as recorder for the Golden Rod Camp No. 1301 of the Royal Neighbors of America.

At a bazaar held on Monday evening, November 28, 1899, by the new Immaculate Conception Catholic church, Bertha Texter was one of five young ladies in charge of the fish pond. The pond proved a strong attraction with a large crowd gathered around it all evening hooking packages of all descriptions.

It was announced on Saturday, August 30, 1902, on page 4 of the Canton Repository that Bertha Texter would be one of seven local thespians acting in The Charles Flory Comedy Company's first performance, "Partners, or the Hand of Fate." During the first week of August 1904 Bertha Texter represented St. Mary's Church at the triennial convention of the Ladies Catholic Benevolent Association (L.C.B.A.) held in St, Paul, Minnesota.

St. Mary's Branch 705 of the L.C.B.A. on Tuesday, December 12, 1905, chose Bertha Texter as its head and past-president for 1906. On Wednesday, January 8, 1908, the Golden Rod Camp No. 1301, Royal Neighbors of America, presented Bertha Texter, their retiring oracle, a handsome parlor clock.

Bertha Mae's marriage date was Thursday, January 7, 1909, in Canton, Stark County, Ohio. Her husband Frank John Bast (Saturday, October 20, 1877 - Monday, September 19, 1955) at Massillon, Stark County, Ohio. Following the wedding the couple moved to Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania where Frank Bast was employed as a buffer for Bed Works. Frank worked in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio as a millwright and nickel plater for Ohio Crane Company before becoming self-employed as the owner of Lake Erie Plating. They had two children: Gertrude E. Bast Kidwell (Saturday, October 2, 1909 - Friday, June 19, 1970) and Paul Francis Bast (Friday, May 26, 1916 - Thursday, April 14, 1932).

While visiting her parents in Canton a month later Bertha attended the Monday, February 15, 1909, Red Clover Club. They devoted their evening to fancy work.

Bertha passed away on Friday, July 28, 1933, in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio.

- - - The Canton Repository, Sunday, July 30, 1933, page 3 - - - MRS. BERTHA TEXTER BAST Funeral Services to Be Held at a Church in Bucyrus - Funeral services for Mrs. Bast will be held Monday at 9 a.m. from Holy Trinity church in Bucyrus. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Mrs. Bast was a resident of Canton for many years and died Friday morning in Aultman hospital after an extended illness.

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