Bertha Baker aka Beker - mother born in Germany - she lived until about 94 or 96. Her father changed the name from Beker to Baker when he came to America. The spelling of Backer is from the family bible and appeared on the "Bonds of Holy Matrimony" page. The "a" has double dots over it.
This taken from a typed paper by Dorothy Offutt Thomas. -
Bertha Beker Hausmann April 1862 - Bertha Beker was one of six children born of Hieronymus Beker and the former Ann Barbara Kress (sic). Although Bertha was born in Washington, D.C., she spent most of her childhood in what she termed, "indian country." Wise memories believe it was near Chapel Point, in Charles County Maryland. The dwelling was reportedly large, and overlooked the_______ River. Bertha told her children of the many rolling hills and abundant greenery surrounding her home. She and her brothers and sisters enjoyed long walks, collecting arrowheads at will.
As a young girl, Bertha was drying her pinafore over a flame, when her clothes caught fire. When the Beker housekeeper realized the child was aflame, she whisked her down a long hall and then wrapped her in her own skirt (blanket). The brisk walk down the house's corridor temporarily enhanced the fire, and both of Bertha's arms were severely burned. The incident led to the amputation of Bertha's left arm in later years. (She was washing doll clothes and her apron had gotten wet.)
Bertha's Father was a man of comfortable means, who ran a feed store in __________ _____________. At 23, Bertha married William Hausmann, a baker from the old country. Although the daughter of a German immigrant herself, Bertha spoke no German, and William spoke no English. They taught each other their respective languages, and made a home for themselves and their future family, in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C., near William's place of employment. Bertha mothered seven children:
Louise A(nn?)., Bertha E., William, Mabel Minnie, Cora Minerva, Frederick and Elsie. Elsie survived only three days after birth. Bertha became known as "Betty" and her nieces and nephews loved to visit with "Aunt Betty." The burn scars on Betty's arm refused to heal, and by age 48 malignancy set in. The arm was amputated. A stately, determined woman, loss of the arm neither detracted from her stateliness, nor from completion of her chores. Before ( the accident) Betty was an excellent seamstress, who outfitted her daughters in homemade wardrobes of ruffles and lace. As best she could through the years Bertha remained a meticulous Mother, and loving Grandmother. She sustained her share of heartaches (the sudden death of her son Frederick and his fiance in 1920 (sic) yet maintained her elegant stature. Betty died of a heat stroke in July 1930 during an intense Washington, D. C. heat wave. Bertha was buried in a black and white dress that her daughter Cora sewed for her.
A search of the census records for Charles County - particularly the Port Tobacco area for 1870, 1880, and 1900 does not show any Bakers living there. It's possible that 1850 or 1860 might but they have not yet been researched.
6/5/95, Hyattsville, MD library.