Bertha (Herling) West (1890 - 1920)

Born 20 Sep 1890 in Missouri, United States

Wife of John Thomas West — married 14 Aug 1906 in East St. Louis, St. Clair County, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 17 Dec 1920 at age 30 in St. Louis City, Missouri, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ron Johnson [send private message]

Biography

Bertha Herling, the daughter of George Herling (1868-1925) and Mary Scanlan (1872-1934), was born September 20, 1890 in Missouri (probably in St. Louis).

Her siblings were:

• Clara Herling (1892–Deceased)
• Rose Herling (1893–1978)
• George Herling (1895–Deceased)
• Charles William Herling (1898–Deceased)
• Mary Herling (1901–Deceased)
• William Herling (1903–Deceased)
• Arthur Herling (1905–1958)
• Peter C. Herling (1908–1990)

Bertie married John Thomas West (1885-1950), the son of John C. West and Jane T. Pedigo, on 14 August 1906 in East St. Louis, St. Clair County, Illinois. ^{[1] [2]}

John and Bertha had 7 known children:

• Jacob H. West (1908-1984)
• John Thomas West Jr. (1910-1983)
• Mary G. West (1912-1992)
• James C. West (1914-1978)
• Charles Edwin West Kelting (1916-1995)
• Alberta West (c.1918-Deceased)
• Arthur Garfield West Hicks (1920-1999)

In April 1910 John West, his wife Bertha, and son Jake were living at 1243 Rutger Street in St. Louis City, Missouri. ^[3]

In January 1920, Thomas West (30, driver for ice & coal company) was living at 2817 10th Street in the 2nd Ward, St. Louis City, Missouri. Also in the home were his wife Bertha (30), and children Jacob (11), Thomas (9), Minnie (7), James (5), Charles (3 yr 6 mo), and Alberta (12 mo). (Note that Bertha's parents and brothers were living on the same street.) ^[4]

Bertie was living at 2817 N. 10th Street in St. Louis, Missouri when she died of diphtheria at the age of 30 on 17 December 1920 at St. Louis City Hospital in St. Louis. ^[5]

She was buried in Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis City. ^{[5] [6]}

Research Notes

CENSUS: 1900: Bertha Herrling, dau, b Sep 1890, ag 9 b. MO parents b MO, at school

Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940 ^[1]

• Name: Thomas West
• Sex: Male
• Age: 22
• Birth Year (Estimated): 1884
• Spouse's Name: Bertha Herling
• Spouse's Sex: Female
• Spouse's Age: 18
• Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1888
• Event Type: Marriage
• Event Date: 14 Aug 1906
• Event Place: East Saint Louis, St. Clair, Illinois, United States

United States Census, 1910 ^[3]

• West, John J.W., head of house, male, age 25, married 1 time, born in Indiana, father born in Missouri, mother born in Kentucky, speaks English, occupation: electrician in foundry, can read, can write, rents house
• West, Bertha B.W., wife, female, age 19, married 1 time, married 4 years, mother of 1 child, 1 child living, born in Missouri, father born in Missouri, mother born in Missouri, speaks English, occupation: none, can read, can write
• West, Jake J.W., son, male, age 2, single, born in Missouri, father born in Indiana, mother born in Missouri, occupation: none

1920 Census ^[4]
Census date 1 January 1920, actual enumeration date 11 January 1920
NOTE: surname indexed incorrectly as "Wise" on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org

• Thomas West, head of house, rents, male, age 35, married, can read, can write, born Indiana, father born Kentucky, mother born Kentucky, speaks English, occupation: chauffer for ice & coal co.
• Bertha West, wife, female, age 30, married, can read, can write, born Missouri, father born Missouri, mother born Missouri, speaks English, occupation: none
• Jacob West, son, male, age 11, single, attended school, can read, can write, born Missouri, father born Indiana, mother born Missouri, speaks English, occupation: none
• Thomas West, son, male, age 9, single, attended school, can read, can write, born Missouri, father born Indiana, mother born Missouri, occupation: none
• Minnie West, daughter, female, age 7, single, attended school, can read, can write, born Missouri, father born Indiana, mother born Missouri, occupation: none
• James West, son, male, age 5, single, did not attend school, born Missouri, father born Indiana, mother born Missouri, occupation: none
• Charles West, son, male, age 3 yrs 6 mo, single, born Missouri, father born Indiana, mother born Missouri, occupation: none
• Alberta West, daughter, female, age 12 mo, single, born Missouri, father born Indiana, mother born Missouri, occupation: none

Per Mary Miles Hicks, she died when Bud was about 6 weeks old, falling down stairs. Death certificate does NOT bear this out. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} FamilySearch Record: Q28G-NX51 (accessed 14 June 2023), Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940, Thomas West and Bertha Herling, 14 Aug 1906; citing East Saint Louis, St. Clair, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 2,148,880.
2. ↑ Marriage Licenses issued, "Marriage Licenses", St. Louis (MO) Globe-Democrat, 15 Aug 1906, Wed, Page 14, Column 2 (clipped 5 Jul 2023)
   
   

   Marriage License - Thomas West and Bertha Herling (Courtesy of Newspapers.com)

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} United States Census, 1910 (accessed 23 June 2023), Citing St. Louis City, Ward 7, Missouri. ED 117, page 10A, family 203. NARA Series T624 roll 814
   
   

   1910 census. 7th Ward, St. Louis City, Missouri. ED 117 page 10-A (Courtesy of NARA)

4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} United States Census, 1920 (accessed 4 July 2023), Thomas West, St. Louis City, Missouri. Citing ED 34, page 12-A, family 268. NARA Series T625, roll 948
   
   

   1920 census. 2nd Ward, St. Louis City, Missouri. ED 34 page 12-A. (Courtesy of NARA)

5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Missouri Death Certificates database (accessed 16 June 2023). Bertha West, Certificate #38376 1920
   Image of original certificate.
   
   

   Death certificate for Bertha West (Courtesy of the Missouri Archives)

6. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #47056370 (accessed 16 June 2023), memorial page for Bertha West (unknown–Dec 1920), citing Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum, Saint Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri, USA; Maintained by T.V.F.T.H. (contributor 46496806).

• Much of this information was derived from many conversations with "Tom"'s daughter-in-law, Mary (Miles) Hicks, and "Tom"'s granddaughter Debra (Hicks) Johnson Johnson-66920 22:50, 19 August 2019 (UTC)