The family stated that Bertha was in Washington D.C. at the time of Lincoln's death and that she remembers the crowds in the city. Her death certificate states that she was born 28 February 1856 and she would have been of an age to remember and be impressed with an event of this magnitude. The family also stated that she sewed for a president's wife but so far no records have been located to confirm this. Living in the heart of Washington D.C. would make this story likely. She apparently had a reputation for her sewing skills. She was described as being very short and small and wore lots of petticoats. She was born in Pennsylvania according to her death certificate. Her father was listed as being named Murphy and her mother Kathryn Cook. Her last address in the city was in 1935 when she lived at 3313 20th St. NE. This is the address where her son Walter lived until his death. From there she went to Mother Jones Rest Home in Hyattsville, MD (also says Chillium) until her death on 19 January 1937. She was buried at Cedar Hill Cem. Sec. 25, Lot 257, site 1. Al and Bertha's granddaughter Virginia remembered her grandmother well and she lived with their family for a time. She said she vaguely remembered her grandfather but more likely she remembered stories about him as she would have been very young when he died. More likely her sister Helene remembered seeing him and described that he shook a lot and they were afraid of him.
The family stated that Bertha was in Washington D.C. at the time of Lincoln's death and that she remembers the crowds in the city. Her death certificate states that she was born 28 February 1856 and she would have been of an age to remember and be impressed with an event of this magnitude. The family also stated that she sewed for a president's wife but so far no records have been located to confirm this. Living in the heart of Washington D.C. would make this story likely. She apparently had a reputation for her sewing skills. She was described as being very short and small and wore lots of petticoats. She was born in Pennsylvania according to her death certificate. Her father was listed as being named Murphy and her mother Kathryn Cook. Her last address in the city was in 1935 when she lived at 3313 20th St. NE. This is the address where her son Walter lived until his death. From there she went to Mother Jones Rest Home in Hyattsville, MD (also says Chillium) until her death on 19 January 1937. She was buried at Cedar Hill Cem. Sec. 25, Lot 257, site 1. Al and Bertha's granddaughter Virginia remembered her grandmother well and she lived with their family for a time. She said she vaguely remembered her grandfather but more likely she remembered stories about him as she would have been very young when he died. More likely her sister Helene remembered seeing him and described that he shook a lot and they were afraid of him.
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