There have already been at least two posts on this blog about women whose maiden names were Bertha Mueller. That does not count those who had the married name of Bertha Mueller. It also does not count my grandmother whose maiden name was Bertha Mueller. You will be reading yet another Bertha Mueller story today.

Bertha Mathilda Mueller was born on August 28, 1876, thus making today her special 150th birthday. Bertha was the daughter of George and Magdalena (Seibel) Mueller. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. We can view her baptism record below. It spills over two church book pages, so I have to display it in 2 images.

Before I move on, let me say that my grandmother, Bertha Mueller, was born 2 years later in 1878 and was also baptized at Trinity, Altenburg. So, for a time, there were two children named Bertha Mueller found in the pews at Trinity.

Bertha is found in the 1880 census at the age of 3. Her father was a merchant in Altenburg.

Since we cannot view the 1890 census, I cannot say where the Mueller family was living at that time. However, when we look at the 1900 census, we find the Mueller’s living in St. Louis. This time, Bertha’s father was called a carpenter. Bertha, at the age of 23, was a dressmaker.

Since Bertha got married later in 1900, we will now take a look at the man who would become her husband. It will be a quick look, because I could find very little about his early life. His name was William Friedrich Meyer, who was born on March 30, 1877. Different documents say that William was born in Germany or America. The only parent I can identify is his father, who also was identified as either William or Conrad in different places. According to a later census entry, William came to America in 1889. When we find him in the 1900 census, he was living in St. Louis. He is found as a boarder in the Elizabeth Zumsteg household. William, at the age of 23, was working as a stone cutter. This entry says that William was born in Missouri, and there were plenty of William Meyer’s living in St. Louis, so I had doubts that this was the correct person, but the fact that he was called a stone cutter makes me pretty sure this is the man who would marry Bertha Mueller.

William Meyer married Bertha Mueller on October 18, 1900 at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Louis. We can view this couple’s church marriage record here in 2 images. This is a document that says William’s father was named Conrad. It also states that the groom was born in St. Louis.

The St. Louis marriage record below says they were married by Rev. C.J. Otto Hanser. I found evidence that Rev. Hanser was an assistant pastor at that Trinity, St. Louis for short interims during those years.

According to Family Search, William and Bertha had 4 children, two of whom must have died early. In the 1910 census, the Meyer’s are found with one son. Included in their household was Bertha’s brother, Adolph, and her mother, Magdalena. William was a stone cutter, and Adolph Mueller was a shipping clerk for a furniture business.

The 1920 census turned out to be the last one in which we find William. Another son had been born into this family, so this entry shows 2 children. William continued his work as a stone cutter.

William Meyer died in 1929 at the age of 52. On his death certificate below, we see that he was once again called a stone cutter. This document says he was born in Germany, and his father’s name was William Meyer.

Bertha is found as a widow in the 1930 census. She was living with her son, Rolland, and a 60 year-old maid who was also a widow. Rolland was a cutter at a box company.

Bertha Meyer died in 1939 at the age of 62. She died 6 days before her 63rd birthday. Her death certificate says she died of lung cancer. It also says she lived in St. Louis for 40 years, which indicates that the Mueller family had moved to St. Louis around 1899.

William and Bertha Meyer are each buried in the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery in St. Louis.

Each of the Bertha Mueller’s that were baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg in the 1870’s died in St. Louis. My grandmother died there in 1954. Today’s main character was also buried in St. Louis. My grandmother’s body was brought back to be buried in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Altenburg.