Bertha Jane Adams was born on May 16, 1882 in Saxton, Liberty Township, Bedford County, the son of Alexander Thomas Adams and Elizabeth Bunn (Feaster) Adams.

Bertha was the fifth of eight children. She was the only girl. She had four older brothers and three younger brothers. She grew up in Saxton. Her father was a carpenter.

On January 2, 1903 Bertha gave birth to a son, whom she named Russell J. Adams. His father is not known. Bertha never married. She raised Russell with the help of her parents.

Around 1905 Bertha and Russell and her baby brother David moved with her parents to Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia.  In 1910 they resided in nearby McMechen, Union Twp, Marshall County.

On March 17, 1921 her mother died in Wheeling at the age of  66.

It is thought that Bertha moved with her son to Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, where he found employment with Armco Steel Company in Kansas City. He worked for Armco for many years, where he became a supervisor.

In 1930 Bertha was living with a 15-year-old girl named Betty, whom she adopted.

Bertha was living with her adopted daughter Mrs. Betty Clever at 701 South Elmwood Ave, Kansas City, when she became sick.  She died on January 2, 1946 at Krestwood Convalescent Home in Kansas City from a stroke.  She was 63.

Bertha is buried in Floral Hills Cemetery, Kansas City.

Russell died on January 25, 1987 at Independence Medicel Center, Independence, Independence County, Misouri, due to a massive stroke at the ripe old age of 84.

 It is not known if he was married or had any children, but he was somehow related to Ronald J. Adams of Ames, Iowa, who provided the personal information on his death certificate.