Bertha Jemima Walker Mather ... An overdue appreciation of Stephen’s mother

On June 20, 1862, Bertha Jemima Walker, the youngest daughter of Edward and Sophia Walker, received her diploma from the Misses Bucknall’s finishing school “Of Amiable Deportment and Excellent Scholarship.”

Two years later, on June 27, 1864, at the age of twenty, she was married to Joseph Wakman Mather, who had turned forty-four earlier that year.

Almost immediately thereafter, the couple left for San Francisco, far from Bertha’s lifelong home, friends and family.  Three years later, on July 4, 1867, Stephen was born, followed by his brother Josie, two years later in 1869.  

Then in June of 1870, Bertha J. Mather was committed to the Stockton State Hospital.  She was “Age 26 years; native of New York; married; has 2 children, the youngest 16 months old…”  

The report went on “The evidence of insanity is she desires to destroy herself… that she ought to die—that her children are in great danger…made threats to kill her husband and children; is suicidal…cause of insanity unknown…”

It wasn’t until a hundred years later that postpartum depression was recognized as a distinct medical condition.   Consider just two of the symptoms the Mayo Clinic defines as postpartum depression: “Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby…Recurring thoughts of death or suicide.”

Discharged on June 30, 1873, Bertha returned to her father’s home in New York.  For the rest of her life, Bertha resided in the New York area, receiving a monthly stipend from Joseph Mather which she acknowledged with courtesy and regularity.

Bertha Jemima Walker Mather died August 19, 1899 and is buried in the Mather Cemetery.

Bertha Mather with Stephen, 1868