Bertha Mae Simons1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 8991, (1880 - 1956)
FatherJohn Henry Simons4,2,3 (26 Nov 1854 - 5 Apr 1931)
MotherMary Catharine Riegel5,2,3 (23 Feb 1853 - 11 Feb 1918)

Key Events:

Birth: 16 Sep 1880, Milton, Pennsylvania6,7,8
Marriage: 1 Feb 1916, Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, Calvin David Meckley (16 Mar 1878 - 20 Mar 1955)9,10,11
Death: 23 Oct 1956, Kelly Twp., Union Co., Pennsylvania12,13
Burial: 26 Oct 1956, Harmony Cemetery, Milton, Pennsylvania3
ChartsDescendants of Jacob K. and Christiana Ohl Riegel
AncestryThe Reigel Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Bertha Mae Simons was born on 16 Sep 1880 in Milton, Pennsylvania.6,7,8
     She appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, in the household of her parents, John Henry Simons and Mary Catharine Riegel.4 She appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, in the household of her parents.14
     She was a housekeeper in 1900, at the age of 19. She was reported as not working in the 1910 census, when she was living with her parents, and in 1920 when she and her children were living with her father and a brother.15,14,16
     Bertha married Calvin David Meckley, son of Jeremiah S. Meckley and Annie R. Wirth, on 1 Feb 1916 in Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, with Rev. Joseph Anderson officiating. He was the widower of Flora Mabel Benfer.9,10,11
     Bertha and Calvin separated shortly after 1918, when they were living together at 140 Elm, Milton, but never divorced. Both continued to live in Milton. She seems to have remained on friendly terms, at least with his family, as some of his family members appear with her in the 1940 census.
     Bertha and her children Jay, Frances and Olan appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, in the household of her father.16
     Bertha appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, at 720 Shakespease Ave., enumerated 5 Apr 1930, reporting she was renting her home, for $14 per month, and owned a radio. Her children Jay and Olan were listed as living with her, as were Bertha Faust, age 21, a silk mill worker, and Leiser Heimbach, age 45, a fireman at an electric plant, who were listed a boarders.17
     Calvin was arrested 21 Dec 1938 in Milton on a charge of non support preferred by Bertha. Bail was set at $300. He was ordered 25 Jan 1939 to pay her $4 per week for support. He was arrested 5 Aug 1940 for failing to comply with the order and remained in jail until 6 Sep, when the order was cancelled after Bertha wrote a letter to the court stating she was employed on a WPA sewing project and "I am able to work and owe nobody."18,19 In 1940 she was a seamstress for the WPA, reporting she had worked 30 hours the last week of March, and 16 weeks the prior year, earning $175.20
     Bertha appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Milton, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, at 54 Elm St., enumerated 3 May 1940, reporting she was renting her home, for $16 per month. Her step-son, Paul William Meckley, was listed as living with her, as was Doris Munson, age 18, listed as a granddaughter but apparently the daughter of her husband's daughter Anna Margaret by his first marriage.20
     Bertha filed charges of desertion and non-support against Calvin in Northumberland Co. 17 Dec 1941. He was given a hearing and released on $500 bail pending the next term of the county court. The case was dismissed 28 Jan 1942 after she asked the court to release him from jail, stating that she was now working and able to take care of herself.21,22
     Neither Bertha nor her son Olan has been found in the 1950 census. His application for a marriage license in Sep 1951 shows both as living on RD#3 in Lewisburg. It seems likely they were both living in rural Union Co. in 1950, perhaps living together.23,24
     Her husband died on 20 Mar 1955 in Coal Twp., Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.25,26
     Bertha died on 23 Oct 1956 in Kelly Twp., Union Co., Pennsylvania, at age 76.12,13 She was buried on 26 Oct 1956 in Harmony Cemetery, Milton, Pennsylvania.3

Children:
     Children with an unknown father:

The father(s) of Bertha's first two children is unknown. In the 1930 census she reported her first marriage was at age 21, or about 1901. But no record of that marriage has been found, and she was shown as single with her maiden surname in 1910. She said in her 1916 marriage license application that was her first marriage. Both children were shown with surname Simons in 1920. See the "Research Note" on each child's page for further details.17,14,31,16,32

Children:
     Children with Calvin David Meckley:

Citations

  1. [S3133] John H. Simon household, 1900 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows name as Bertha Simon.
  2. [S6901] Calvin D. Meckley and Bertha Mae Simons, Application for Marriage License.
  3. [S5679] Bertha Mae Meckley, Certificate of Death.
  4. [S3133] John H. Simon household, 1900 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.
  5. [S3133] John H. Simon household, 1900 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows the girl as daughter of Mary's husband, and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  6. [S5679] Bertha Mae Meckley, Certificate of Death, shows date, town, and state.
  7. [S3133] John H. Simon household, 1900 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows month, year, age 19, and state.
  8. [S6901] Calvin D. Meckley and Bertha Mae Simons, Application for Marriage License, shows age 36 at marriage 31 Jan 1916, town, and state.
  9. [S6901] Calvin D. Meckley and Bertha Mae Simons, Application for Marriage License, shows date, town, state, and officiant.
  10. [S5687] Calvin David Meckly, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, shows her as his wife.
  11. [S3136] John H. Simons household, 1920 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows her as married, with surname Meckley.
  12. [S5679] Bertha Mae Meckley, Certificate of Death, shows date, as 23rd, township, and county.
  13. [S6835] Burkholder, "Re: Are we related?," e-mail to author, 22 May 2016, shows date, as 25th, town, as Lewisburg, and state.
  14. [S3135] John H. Simons household, 1910 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.
  15. [S3133] John H. Simon household, 1900 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows occupation as housekeeper.
  16. [S3136] John H. Simons household, 1920 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.
  17. [S5680] Bertha M. Meckley household, 1930 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.
  18. [S12727] "Arrested At Milton," Sunbury Daily Item, 22 Dec 1938, shows arrest and bail.
  19. [S12728] "Free Man, 63. On Wife's Plea," Sunbury Daily Item, 6 Sep 1940, shows order, arrest, and release.
  20. [S5692] Bertha Meckley household, 1940 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.
  21. [S12714] "Milton Husband Held on Desertion Charge," Sunbury Daily Item, 19 Dec 1941.
  22. [S12715] "Court Hears Family and Motor Cases," Sunbury Daily Item, 28 Jan 1942.
  23. [S6904] Olan D. Merkley and Mary Margaret Williams, Application for Marriage License and return.
  24. [S12730] Olan David Meckley, WWII Draft Registration Cards for Pennsylvania, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947, shows moved to Lewisburg RD#3 written in address field.
  25. [S6836] Charles D. Mackley, Certificate of Death, shows date, township, and county.
  26. [S12717] Calvin D. Meekly obituary, Sunbury Daily Item, shows died Sunday, at Northumberland County Home.
  27. [S3136] John H. Simons household, 1920 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows him and his brother as grandchildren, and her as daughter, of head of household.
  28. [S3136] John H. Simons household, 1920 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows the girl and her brothers as grandchildren, and her as daughter, of head of household.
  29. [S6902] Lester M. Aucker and Frances M. Simons, Application for Marriage License.
  30. [S6903] Chales J. Hauck and Frances M. Aucker, Application for Marriage License.
  31. [S6901] Calvin D. Meckley and Bertha Mae Simons, Application for Marriage License, shows as her first marriage.
  32. [S12717] Calvin D. Meekly obituary, Sunbury Daily Item, shows only Olan as his son, and mentions a step-son and step-daughter.
  33. [S7370] Olan David Meckley, Delayed Certificate of Birth.
  34. [S5681] Morris S. Meckley, Certificate of Death.