Bertha V. Mahan ^{3 4 5 6}

   Another name for Bertha was Bertha Macken.^{1 7}

   FamilySearch ID: 9C6N-249.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Census in 1870 in Hummelstown, Dauphin, PA. ⁸ The 1870 census recorded John Mahon, 42, living with wife Mary, 26; John, 8; Bertha, 4; and Fanny, 1. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

2. Census in 1900 in York, York, PA. ¹ In the 1900 Census is listed John Beecher, age 38 born Jan 1862, married for 6 years to Bertha, 34, born Aug 1865. She had 3 children with 2 still living in 1900. He is a cigar maker. Living with them is Ward H, born July 1888; and Grace R. born Sep 1890 and John C. born Sep 1896. Everyone and everyone's parents were born in Pennsylvania.

3. Newspaper: Harrisburg Daily Independent: "New Cumterland: Mrs. Beecher, daughter Grace, and son John, of York, are spending several days with the former's parents, Mr. And Mrs. John Mahan, of River street.", 17 May 1901, Harrisburg, Dauphin, PA. ⁹

4. Court: on 3 Sep 1901 in York, York, PA. Bertha Beecher residing at 391 S. 2^nd St. in Steelton, PA appeared before C. F. Keech, York Alderman, and swore a signed statement that: "John H. Beecher, her husband, has by his barbarous and cruel treatment, mad life burdensome and home unbearable, and has driven his said wife and their minor child John Carson Beecher five years of age from their home, and has neglected and refused to properly support and maintain their said minor child the said John Carson Beecher."

5. Newspaper: Harrisburg Daily Independent: "New Cumterland: Mrs. Beecher, of York, Mrs. Frank Mahan, of Camden, N. J., and Mrs. Clarence Zarker, of Harrisburg, were guests of Mr. And Mrs. John Mahan, of River street, Sunday.", 3 Sep 1901, Harrisburg, Dauphin, PA. ¹⁰

6. Court: On 23 Sep 1901 the quarter sessions court ordered John H. Beecher to pay $150 bail conditioned that he pay to his wife the sum of $1.50 per week for the support of his child. On 23 Sep 1901 in York, York, PA.

7. Court: Mrs. Bertha Beecher filed with the court that she and John H. Beecher were living together at 105 E. Princess Street in York for the last two weeks with their minor child and that the said Beecher is supporting said child at home with $1.50 a week payment on 17 Jan 1902 in York, York, PA.

8. Newspaper: Harrisburg Daily Independent: "New Cumterland: Mrs. Beecher, of York, is visiting her parents, Mr. And Mrs. John Mahan.", 11 Apr 1902, Harrisburg, Dauphin, PA. ¹¹

9. Newspaper: Harrisburg Daily Independent: "New Cumterland: Mr. And Mrs. Beecher, of York, were guests of Mr. And Mrs. John Mahan, on Saturday.", 20 Mar 1905, Harrisburg, Dauphin, PA. ¹²

10. Census in 1910 in York, York, PA. ¹³ John Beacher [indexed in census as Beacher but handwriting can be Beecher], janitor, 45, was living with Bertha, home cleaner working out, 45, and John, 13. Bertha had birthed 3 children and 2 were alive in 1910. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

11. She was divorced on 31 Mar 1913 in York, York, PA. ³

12. Newspaper: York Daily: Divorce Cases: Divorces were granted to Bertha V. Beecher from John H. Beecher, 1 Apr 1913, York, York, PA. ³

13. Newspaper: York Dispatch: TAKEN TO STATE HOSPITAL, 11 Nov 1916, York, York, PA. ¹⁴ TAKEN TO STATE HOSPITAL - Mrs. Bertha Gotwalt and Mrs. Emma K. Wilson, both of this city, who had been inmates in the insane ward of the York county almshouse, were taken to tne state hospital at Harrisburg on the 1:40 o'clock train this afternoon. The women were in charge of Steward and Mrs. Charles E. Kessler and their daughter, Miss Lillian K. Gelsler.

14. Cause of Death: Bertha died at Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital in Harrisburg from paresis. She had been here since 11 Nov 1916., 5 Jul 1917, Harrisburg, Dauphin, PA. ⁴

15. Obituary: Harrisburg Telegraph: obituary of Mrs. Bertha V. Gotwalt on 6 Jul 1917 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, PA. ⁵ DEATHS. GOTWALT. -- Died on July 5, 1917, Mrs. Bertha V. Gotwalt, in her 52d years. Funeral services will be held on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock, from the home of her brother, H. S. Mahan, 1610 North Fifth street, to which relatives and friends are invited to attend without further notice. Interment, Harrisburg Cemetery. York papers, please copy.

Bertha married John Henry Beecher, son of Paris Epler Beecher and Rebecca Guth, on 1 Jan 1895 in Glen Rock: Emmanuel United Methodist Church, York, PA.^{1 2 3} The marriage ended in divorce on 31 Mar 1913. (John Henry Beecher was born on 14 Jan 1858 in Wrightsville, York, PA ^{15 16 17}, christened in West Caln Twp.: St. John's Episcopal Church, Chester, PA, died on 26 Jan 1927 in York, York, PA ^{16 17 18} and was buried on 29 Jan 1927 in New Freedom: New Freedom Cemetery, York, PA ^{16 17 18}.)

Bertha next married Gotwalt.