In 1900, she is listed as the oldest daughter of her parents John Calvin Herron (May 1857, IN) and Martha Anna Young (May 1867, IN) who had been married 16 years and had 4 children. Her siblings were Ida L. (1888-1906), George Otis (1892-1970), Suzanna B. (1897-1987), Mattie Ethel (1901-1982), and Hazel M. (1906-1983).
She was married to Mr. Cohorn about 1903, prior to her marriage to Richard Wells. Her son Edward Cohorn (2, IN) is living with her new family in 1910, along with Richard’s 3 children from his first marriage, and two of theirs together.
They were listed as living in Waldron (where her parents lived) when her son died in 1918.
On 20 Nov 1919, Bertha pleaded guilty to assault & battery of her husband, and was sentenced to 60 days in the Indiana State Women’s Prison in Indianapolis, starting the next day, with a $5 fine and $10 court costs. So she was in prison for the 1920 census on 3 Jan 1920, where she is listed as an inmate (34, IN) with an occupation of gardener.
The prison record lists her birth as 8 Aug 1885, and states that she and Richard had been separated 3 times, but not divorced, and were living together at the time of her arrest. Further that sons Harland (12) and Paul (9) were living with their father, and sons Raymond (6) and Chester (5) were living with her mother, Martha Herron in Waldron, IN while Bertha was in prison. However, Raymond is actually shown living with his uncle Morgan Wells in the census record.
Bertha then had one more son (Elmer) with Richard when she returned home, before their final separation.
The Shelbyville Republican -Saturday April 22, 1922, Page 1 column 3
MADE WARDS OF COURT
Three children of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wells, of this city, were made wards of Shelby county, and ordered committed to the Gordon Children's Home, after a hearing held today in Juvenile court. It was shown that the father had left home, and had provided the family with no means of support. The mother [Bertha Wells], who lives at No. 13 South Pike street, stated that she was unable to provide for the children.
After her presumed divorce from Richard, she was married a 3rd time to Charles Land in 1923, and in 1930 Bertha & Charles Perry Land are living in Greensburg, Decatur Co with children Elmer (24 Oct 1920-Oct 1977), Virgil Leroy (18 Dec 1923-7 Feb 1981), Marietta (May 1925) and Edith Rose (14 Feb 1928-14 Feb 2005). It says she was first married at age 18.
She is listed in Indianapolis city directories in mid 1930’s thru the mid 1950’s and the 1940 census, when she is Bertha M. Land (54, IN) with Perry (59, IN) and their 3 children, Virgil (17), Marietta (14), and Edith (12) - all born in Indiana.
She was married a final time to Ott Robbins (1892-1985), who is buried in the South Park cemetery, in Greensburg with his first wife. Charles Perry Land, her 3rd husband, and Bertha are also both buried in South Park cemetery.
[Obituary] Greensburg Daily News
Rites Set For Mrs. Robbins - Resident, 87, ill for several years
Mrs. Bertha Mae Robbins, 87, wife of Ott Robbins and a resident of this city the past several years, died at 3 p.m. Sunday in her home here at 331 West Fourth Street. She had been in poor health over two years and seriously ill the past six months.
A native of Shelby County, she was born Sept. 4, 1885 and was educated in the Shelby County public schools.
A resident of Kokomo several years, she was made a minister in the Church of Jesus there on Oct. 17, 1942.
She was married to Ott Robbins here Aug. 4, 1957 and he survives with several children by previous marriages, including Mrs. James (Irene) Rose, Mrs. Fred (Mary) Thomas, Virgil Land and Charles Heron, all of Indianapolis, Chester Wells of California and two other Wells brothers who are patients in the Veterans Hospital at Marion.
Also surviving are three sisters, Mrs. William (Anna) Lumpkin, Jeffersonville, Mrs. Ethel Carlson of (Miami) Florida and Mrs. Hazel Ruthlage, Frankfort; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by several children and one brother.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in J. H. Porter and Sons Funeral Home with the Rev. Robert L. Browning, pastor of the First Church of God, officiating. Burial will be in South Park Cemetery.