Bertha was the daughter of Jacob (1841-1909) and Elizabeth 'Eliza' Geiss (1847-1916) Young.

Bertha's siblings (12): William Michael Young (1868-1963); John Frederick Young (1869-1962); Elizabeth Christina 'Lizzie' Michelfelder (1871-1963); Anna Mary Dehne (1872-1939); Christian Francis 'Christy' 'Frank' Young (1876-1945); Catherine Louisa 'Kate' Drinkut (1878-1938); Lolo (nmn) Eckel (1880-1963); Caroline Ida 'Carrie' Meany (1881-1904); Susan Leona 'Leo' Akard (1884-1932); Florence Magdeline 'Maggie' Maloney (1885-1964); Emma Helena Young (1888-1896) and Georgia Henrietta Akard (1890-1974).

Bertha was raised Lutheran, but later in life she became a Christian Scientist.

Her mother died in 1916 leaving Bert (blind), Georgia, Maggie and Dan and their two daughters living together in the family home on Dorman St.

Georgia married in August of 1917 and it is probably at this time that Bert (who was blind) went to live with her sister, Leo, and her husband. (Bert was a Christian Scientist and didn't believe in having the surgery that would restore her sight.) Maggie and Dan moved to a house on New York St. Their sister, Kate, bought their parents' house on Dorman.

Before Dan and Maggie and family moved to the westside of Indianapolis in October of 1921 from the New York St address, Bert's niece, Margaret, used to walk Bert to the Christian Science reading room (about 1917) because Bert was blind.

Her sister, Leo, died in 1932 leaving Bert with her brother-in-law, Jack, and his two daughters: Leona and Dorothy. At that time Leo's son, George, and his wife and daughter, Jackie, were also staying there. The household split up soon after Leo's death because they had fallen behind in the rent. It was these happenings that changed Bert's mind about having eye surgery . It was successful even though she had to wear THICK glasses.

Bert took a job keeping house for a Mrs Fouts - room and board included. Mrs Fouts' son, David, lived there, too. David Yandal Fouts (Born: June 30, 1878 in New Salisbury, Harrison Co, Indiana - Died: Dec 16, 1940 in Indianapolis, Indiana; see Find a Grave #13412542) and Bert married on February 18, 1935 in Indianapolis, Indiana. David's parents: Noah and Eliza A Burton Fouts.

NOTE: David was first married to Artie May Dick Taylor on August 30, 1918 in Marion Co, Indiana. Her parents George Marion and Sallie B Wall Dick. By a previous marriage Artie's children: Dora Taylor (born about 1904), Zora Taylor - a son (born about 1906) and Herbert Taylor (born about 1908) - per 1910 census in Casey Co, Kentucky.

David and Bert bought a house on the westside of Indianapolis at 1513 S Norfolk. David died in 1940. In 1941 her nephew, George Akard and wife and daughters came to live with Bert. Bert contracted tuberculosis and George arranged for her to enter Sunny Side Sanitarium in Oakland, Indiana, just north of Indianapolis. When Bert came home about 1942 George and his family left.

Bert's sister, Georgia, probably came to live with her later in 1942. Georgia's husband had died in May of 1934 (suicide) and her daughter, Jane, was in an institution.

About 1951 Georgia took Jane out of the Ft Wayne school (she had been in the institution since 1937) and brought to live in Bert's house.

About 1952 a boarder came to live with them (a 'friend' of Georgia's): Fred McCormick. He died there in 1961.

Bert used to gather dandelion greens to use for a salad and the blossoms for dandelion wine.

Bert died at age 81 years 2 months 22 days.

Georgia inherited the house.

The above pictures were taken in 1909 and 1940.