Bertha Kersting Overton, 1860–1959

Cousin Bertha, as she was known in our family, was nearly a centenarian when she died in 1959. She was born on the 7th of April 1860, most likely in St. Louis, Missouri, to Richard Kersting (ca. 1839–ca. 1864) and his wife Adolphine Billmeyer (1838–1893). Bertha had two sisters: Justina (1862–1945) and Louisa (1864–1905).

On Valentine’s Day in 1883, she married James Overton, who had been born in England. James died seven years later in 1890 in San Antonio, Texas, according to the Missouri Birth and Death Records Database. However, no record of this death appears in the Texas records. According to St. Louis records, he had consumption and Brights disease.

It appears that Bertha and James had three children, two of whom died just after their father. Jennie died in 1893 of diphtheria, and Laurence died of meningitis in 1898. Bertha was left to rear Walter John (1893–1949), her only remaining child. They were living at 1221 Grattan Street, and she was working at the Union Depot News, according to the 1890 city directory.

The 1900 census indicates that they were still at 1221 Grattan Street. She was the head of the household. The census indicates that she was born in April of 1840, which is clearly incorrect. She was a widow. In the same household was her sister Louisa, who was born in 1864. Bertha was single. Her son, Walter J., aged sixteen, was living with her. They had a boarder, Alexander Bultrus, who was German born.

The 1901 St. Louis city directory indicates that she was living with her sister, Justine Overton, at 2118 Waverley Place. Justine had married John Overton, who may have been a half-brother of James Overton, Bertha’s husband.

The 1910 census shows Bertha, age fifty, living in St. Ferdinand Township, Ferguson, Missouri. She may have been a housekeeper for Fielding [possibly Mansfield], age sixty-eight.

In 1915, her cousin from New Orleans, Julia Ward Watkins, visited Bertha. Julia was the daughter of Wilhelmina Kersting, the sister of Richard and Dietrich Kersting. Wilhelmina had married Frank Ward, and they lived in Gretna, Louisiana.

In 1917, Bertha was a seamstress living at 640 East Red Bud Avenue according to the city directory. Her sister Justina had become a widow and was still living at 2118 Waverly Place. By the 1920 census, Bertha was living in Waverley Place together with her sister Justine and half-brother Joseph H. Kersting. Both girls were widowed. Joseph H. said that he was married, but his wife was not in the same household. Bertha was fifty-nine and Justine fifty-seven.

The 1930 census indicates that Bertha was seventy years old and a widow. She was not employed. She was living at 5712 Prescott Street. The 1935 city directory reveals she was now residing at 5035 Alabama. James E. Overton, salesman, was living with her at that time. There was also Jennie B. Overton, typist at the Missouri Inspection Bureau residing in the same household. They were most likely her grandchildren.

At some point, she lived at 4448 Olive Street in St. Louis. The family believed this was when she was eighty-four years of age. Bertha died in March of 1959 of heart disease leaving an unproved will. She is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis.

Written by Beth Davis
March 2025

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