Bertha Olivia Wiles, daughter of Melissa (née Nelson) and Henry Greenberry Wiles, was born on 14 November 1873 in Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland, and christened on 8 December 1873 at Saint Paul's Methodist Episcopal.

Bertha O. Wiles and Oscar Bellman, Jr., were married on 24 September 1895 in Hagerstown. The couple were the parents of 10 children (3 of whom died in infancy; 1 at the age of 17).

The Bellman family moved around 1905 from Hagerstown to Mount Rainier, Maryland. The latter was a growing streetcar suburb bordering Washington, D.C.

Notes

Bertha W. Bellman's marker inscription subtracted 2 years from her date of birth. She was christened on 8 Dec 1873 at St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church in Hagerstown, Maryland. ("Maryland, Births and Christenings, 1650-1995," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V2W5-6GB: accessed 29 Sep 2012), Bertha Olivia Wiles, 8 Dec 1873; citing reference, FHL microfilm 893707.)

1880: omitted from enumeration of father's household.

Marriage license: Oscar Bellman, Jr. & Bertha O. Wiles, 24 Sep 1895, Washington Co., Maryland (license #4249). Groom, age 22, resident of Hagerstown; bride, age 21, resident of Hagerstown. Image of original. Washington County Free Library, "Washington County MD Marriages 1895 (3932-4490)."

1900 U.S. Census, E.D. 69, Election Dist. 3, Hagerstown (exclusive of Hagerstown City), Washington Co., Maryland; dwelling 158, family 165, lines 49-52, pp. 56-56B (printed), pp. 8-8B (written), 8 Jun 1900.
49. Bellman, Oscar, Jr., head, Dec 1874, 25, married 5 years; self and parents born in Maryland; plumbing.
50. ----- Bertha O., wife, Nov 1874, 25, married 5 years, 3 children (2 living), self and parents born in Maryland.
1. Bellman, Kathleen O., daughter, Jul 1895, 4, Maryland.
2. ----- unnamed, daughter, Nov 1899, 8/12, Maryland. [Consuelo]

1910 U.S. Census, E.D. 79, Ward 3, Mount Rainier, 17th District of Chillum, Prince Georges Co., Maryland; dwelling 210, family 213, lines 92-99, p. 156B (printed), p. 10B (written), 20 Apr 1910.
92. Bellman, Oscar, head, 35, first marriage, married 14 years; self and parents born in Maryland; steamfitter, houses.
93. ----- Bertha, wife, 35, first marriage, married 14 years, 9 children (6 living); self and parents born in Maryland.
94. ----- "Kathereen," daughter, 13, Maryland.
95. ----- "Consudelo," daughter, 9, Maryland.
96. ----- Alfred, son, 5, District of Columbia.
97. ----- Donald, son, 3, Maryland.
98. ----- Henri, son, 2, Maryland.
99. ----- [Dorothy] Bernadine, daughter, 6/12, Maryland.

1930 U.S. Census, E.D. 42, Ward 3, Mount Rainier, Chillum Twp., Prince Georges County, Maryland; dwelling 58, family 64, lines 57-60, p. 3B (written), 4 Apr 1930.
57. Bellman, Oscar, head, 53, first married at age 21; steam fitter, heating.
58. ----- Bertha W., wife,53, first married at age 21.
59. ----- Alfred H., son, 24, single, salesman, heating co.
60. ----- Robert, son, 17, single.
• All persons and their parents born in Md.
• Bertha's elder, three-quarters sisters, Laura Doretta Dayhoff (née Wiles) and Carrie Melissa Bodmer (née Wiles) also resided in Mount Rainier.

Died at George Washington Hospital; "mother of Alfred H., Donald H., Henry N. and Robert W. Bellman; Mrs. William A. Aberg and Mrs. Stanley M. Wilcox; sister of Charles E. Wiles." ("Deaths" (Bellman, Bertha W.), The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., 13 Jan 1948, p. A-12, col. 1.)

Reviewed 10 January 2022.