Tombstone Tuesday–David & Mary R. (Hiller) Berger

David & Mary R. (Hiller) Berter, Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2015 photo by Karen)

David & Mary R. (Hiller) Berter, Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2015 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of David and Mary R. (Hiller) Berger, located in row 8 of Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

BERGER
David
1869-1962
Mary R.
His Wife
1872-1921

Maria Rebecka “Mary” Hiller was born 17 September 1872 in Adams County, Indiana, the daughter of Jacob and Martha (Sundmacher) Hiller. She was baptized by Zion Chatt’s Pastor Schmidt on 27 October 1872 and her sponsors were Johannes Ganter and his wife. She was confirmed at Zion Chatt in 1886.

Mary Hiller married M. David Berger on 6 April 1893. [Berger was sometimes spelled Burger in the church records.] David was born in February 1869, the son of John and Rosa Berger, and was 24 years old when he and Mary wed. David lived in Berne, Indiana, [1] but he was born in Switzerland and immigrated in 1882. [2] Mary’s sister Lizzie and Lizzie’s future husband Fred Huffman were witnesses to their marriage, according to Zion Chatt’s records.

David and Mary lived in Wabash Township, Adams County, Indiana, when they were first married. [3]

By 1900 they resided near Mary’s parents, in Adams County, Indiana, and they had three children: Melia E, 6; Rosa, 4; and Willie Jacob, 3. David worked as a charcoal burner. [4]

By 1910 David, age 41, worked as a farmer. He and his family lived near Winfield and Jane Brewster in Adams County. David and Mary had seven children by 1910 and in their household was Mary, 39; Melia, 16; Rosa, 15; Willie, 13; Alma, 8; Edna, 6; Oma, 3; and Maryann, 11 months. [5]

The family resided on their family in Adams County through 1920 and likely lived there when Mary died in 1921. [2]

Mary died of tuberculosis on 21 March 1921, at the age of 55 years. She was buried on the 24th.

It appears that David, a widower at the age of 70, lived in Lakeville, Indiana, in 1940 and was employed as a house painter. He reported that he had lived in the same house in 1935. [6]

It appears that David never remarried and died in 1962.

David and Mary had the following children. Most were baptized and confirmed at Zion Chatt:
Elisabeth Emilie (1894-1963), married Jesse Bollenbacher
Rosa (1895-1980), married Laban Otto Fogel
Wilhelm Jacob (1897-1985), married Rose Marie
Emma Elma “Alma” (1901-1910)
Edna Maria (1902-1910)
Oma/Omma Viola (1907- )
Marianna Magdalena (1909- )
Anna Louisa (1911- )

 

[1] “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 10 Dec 2015), David Berger and Mary Rebecca Hiller, 6 Apr 1893, from Adams County, Indiana, Marriages Vol. 1, p.280.

[2] 1920 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams, Indiana, ED 4, p.7B, dwelling 147, family 157, David Berger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Dec 2015); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 420.

[3] Elizabeth Emilie Berger baptism record, Zion Lutheran Church, 24 Feb 1894.

[4] 1900 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams, Indiana, ED 4, p., dwelling & family 200, David Berger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Dec 2015); from FHL microfilm 1240357, from NARA microfilm ,T623 roll 357.

[5] 1910 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams, Indiana, ED 4, p. 2A, house & family 34, David Berger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Dec 2015); from FHL microfilm 1374351, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 338.

[6] 1940 U.S. Census, Lakeville, St. Joseph, Indiana, ED 71-45, p.6B, visited no. 122, David Berger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 Dec 2015); from NARA microfilm T627, roll 1093.

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