Mary A. Bicher ^{2 3 4 5 6}

   Cause of her death was Congestive heart failure.

   FamilySearch ID: 9C6N-P6N.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Census in 1900 in Cumru Twp., Berks, PA. ³ John Beacher (as indexed in the census, but handwriting could even be John Beecher or John Bucher) appears in the 1900 Census in Cumru Township in Berks. He was born Aug 1851 and was living with his wife, Amanda, born Dec 1854. They had been married 26 years and gave birth to 10 children, 7 of whom were still alive in 1900. Recorded at home in the Census were daughter Ella, born Jun 1877; Mary born Sep 1882; Harry born Mar 1884; John born Jun 1888; Carrie born Oct 1890; Minnie born Jun 1895; mother-in-law Elizabeth Bitzer? born Sep 1825. John is employed as a hat stiffener.

2. Occupation: knitter on 20 May 1904 in Reading, Berks, PA. ¹

3. Residence: 315 Pear St., Reading, PA on 20 May 1904 in Reading, Berks, PA. ¹

4. Newspaper: Reading Times: "Barton Bitzer and Miss Mary Bicher were married on Saturday evening by Rev. U. S. G. Renn. The couple were unattended.", 24 May 1904, Reading, Berks, PA. ²

5. Census in 1910 in Mohnton, Berks, PA. ⁷ The 1910 census recorded at 174 Chestnut St: Barton Bitzer, grinder hardware works, 25, living with wife Mary, 27. They had been married 6 years and she had birthed no children by 1910. They and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

6. Residence: 224 N. Second St., Reading, PA on 12 Sep 1918 in Reading, Berks, PA. ⁸

7. Census in 1920 in Reading, Berks, PA. ⁹ The 1920 census recorded renting at 224 Second St: Barton Bitzer, boarder in hosiery mill, 35, living with wife Mary, 35; daughter Mildred, 9; and son Ralph, 3 months. Everyone and their parents were born in Pennsylvania.

8. Census in 1930 in Reading, Berks, PA. ¹⁰ The 1930 census recorded Burton S. Bitzer, 46, living with wife Mary A., 48; and son Richard W., 5. Also in the home is the family of their daughter, Mildred L. Powell, 19, with son-in-law Ronald A. Powell, 25; and granddaughter Nyla M. Powell, 7 months.

9. Residence: on 7 Sep 1934 in Gibraltar, Berks, PA. ¹¹

10. Census in 1940 in Shillington, Berks, PA. ¹² The 1940 census recorded two Bicher sisters living as neighbors with their husbands:
At 128 Philadelphia Avenue: Carrie's sister, Mary A. Bitzer (nee Bicher), office clerk in dept. store, 57, living with husband Bartson S. Bitzer, photo finisher in retail sporting store, 55; and son Richard, 15.
At 132 Philadelphia Avenue: Warren D. Kegerise, 50, living with wife Carrie E. Kegerise (nee Bicher), 49; Warren B., laborer in paint works, 19; Paul, 13; Harry L, 10; and Warren's father, Hiram P. Kegerise, widowed, 79.
Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.
.

11. Residence: 128 Philadelphia Ave., Shillington, PA on 27 Apr 1942 in Shillington, Berks, PA. ¹³

12. Occupation: clerk in 1944 in Reading, Berks, PA. She retired in 1944 after 30 years with Schaeffer Dry Goods.

13. Census in 1950 in Reading, Berks, PA. ¹⁴ The 1950 census recorded living at 1009 Pike Street: Barton S. Bitzer, photo finishing in sporting goods store, 65, living with wife Mary A., sales clerk in retail dry goods, 67; and son Richard W., sales clerk in music store, 25. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

14. Residence: in 1955 in Reading, Berks, PA.

15. Obituary: in 1964. Service for Mary A. Bitzer, 81, of 1009 Pike St., will be held Monday at 2 p.m. in the Gosnell Funeral Home, Shillington. The Rev. Luke S. Sweitzer will officiate. Burial will follow in Mohnsville Cemetery, Mohnton. Born in Ephrata Township, Lancaster County, Mrs. Bitzer was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John M. Bicher. Before retiring in 1944, she had been employed at the Schaeffer Dry Goods Store for 30 years. Surviving are her husband, Barton S. Bitzer, and a daughter, Mildred L., wife of Ronald A. Powell Sr., Reading. A son, Richard W. at home, and four grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and a brother, John Bicher, Shillington. Also two sisters: Minnie, widow of Elmer Bender, Mohnton, and Carrie, widow of Walter Kegerise, Reading.

16. Cause of Death: Mary died at Community General Hospital from congestive heart failure, hypertension, arteriosclerotic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, 12 Feb 1964, Reading, Berks, PA. ⁵

17. Residence: 1009 Pike St., Reading, PA on 12 Feb 1964 in Reading, Berks, PA. ^{5 15}

18. Obituary: Reading Eagle: obituary of Mrs. Barton S. Bitzer on 13 Feb 1964 in Reading, Berks, PA. ¹⁵ Mrs. Mary A. Bitzer, 81, wife of Bartin S. Bitzer, of 1009 Pike St., died last night in the Community General Hospital where she was a patient for three days.

Born in Ephrata Township, Lancaster county, she was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John M. Bicher. She was last employed by the Schaeffer Dry Goods Store, for 30 years, retiring in 1944.

Surviving in addition to her husband are a daughter, Mildred L., wife of Ronald A. Powell Sr., Reading; a son, Richard W., at home; four grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Minnie, widow of Elmer Bender, Mohnton, and Carrie, widow of Walter Kegerise, Glenside, and a brother, John, Shillington.

Services will be held on Monday at 2 p.m. in the Gosnell Funeral Home, Shillington, the Rev. Luke S. Switzer officiating. Burial will be made in Mohnsville Cemetery, Mohnton.

Mary married Barton Sylvester Bitzer, son of Jesiah M. Bitzer and Mary Sheaffer, on 21 May 1904 in Reading, Berks, PA.^{1 2} (Barton Sylvester Bitzer was born on 5 Jan 1885 in Terre Hill, Lancaster, PA,^{1 8 13 16 17} died on 1 Feb 1968 in Reading, Berks, PA ^{16 17 18 19} and was buried on 5 Feb 1968 in Mohnton: Mohnsville Cemetery, Berks, PA ^{17 18 19}.)