Notes for BERTHA MAE KIER TAPLEY:

Daughter of James Harvey and Matilda Belle (Meservy) Kier, Sr.
Born: June 17, 1877 in Chariton County, Missouri.
Died: December 24, 1951 in Okemah, Okfusee County, Oklahoma.
Buried: Plot: B; 1, Lot 89, Sp 13; Highland Cemetery, Okemah, Okfusee County, Oklahoma.
Married: William Gouin Tapley Unknown in Unknown.

Even though her headstone marks her birthdate as 1874, the US Census data during 60 years of census data infers her birth year as 1877. Her older brother, James Harvey Kier Jr, was born in May of 1874. It is indeed possible but difficult for Bertha to be born one month after her brother in 1874. In 1880, the census says that she is 3 years old and that her brother is 7 years old. Her headstone seems to be the only item that lists her birth year as 1874. This is now the mystery of Bertha's birth.
From the US Census records, we see that she lived with her parents in Chariton, MO in 1874 and Douglas, Jackson Co, KS in 1880. She married William Gouin Tapley in Joplin, MO on 3 Jan 1896. After that we find Bertha and William in Dade Co, MO in 1900, in Okemah, OK in 1910 and 1920. Her husband, William Tapley, passed away in 1929. In 1930, Bertha moved to her mom's house in Blackwell, OK and shortly afterward, her mom (Matilda Belle Meserve Kier) died that year of 1930. She stayed there with her brother William V Kier for some time.
(Source: findagrave.com/Linda C/Timothy)





(Source: findagrave.com/Linda C)