She was born on September 8, 1881 at Pleasant Ridge, Madison County, Illinois. She was enumerated with John J. Lochhaas on the June 16, 1900 U.S. Census at Central Township, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri, she was shown as an 18-year-old single white female born in Illinois in September 1881, living with her aunt and uncle, Kate and John Lochhaas in Kirkwood, Missouri and working as a servant however she had been unemployed for six months. Lydia could read, write and speak English.
She and Henry Andrew Berg (Sr.) obtained a marriage license on December 12, 1900 at County Clerk's Office, Clayton, St. Louis County, Missouri, recorded in book 6, page 65. Lydia Marie Schoettle married Henry Andrew Berg (Sr.), son of Francis Charles Berg and Barbara Josephine Bëhm, on December 12, 1900 at Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri. She lived in December 1900 in Madison County, Illinois.
She lived from 1909 to 1926 at 135 East Monroe Avenue, Kirkwood, Missouri. She was enumerated with Henry Andrew Berg (Sr.), as "Lydia M. Berg", on the 1910 U.S. Census at Bonhomme Township, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri, Lydia was listed as a 28-year-old white female born in Illinois. Her father was born in Germany, her mother in Illinois. She had been married for nine years and had 3 children, all living and could read and write.
BLydia and Henry moved around 1911 to Weingarten, St. Genevieve County, Missouri. Residing with them were their children Henry, Norman and Elmer and their nephew Karl Wilhelm Walther Schoettle; the family moved there because of a lack of jobs in St. Louis, living there only a short time before returning to the St. Louis area. Lydia and Henry lived in 1920 at 135 East Monroe Avenue, Kirkwood. Residing with them were their children Henry, David, Norman, Elmer, Mary and Dorothea.
She was enumerated with Henry Andrew Berg (Sr.), as "Liddia Berg", on the 1920 U.S. Census at Bonhomme Township, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri, she was listed as a married 38-year-old white female born in Illinois, her father was born in Missouri and her mother in Illinois, she could read, write and speak English. Lydia and Henry Andrew Berg (Sr.) lived in January 1924 at 135 East Monroe Avenue, Kirkwood, Missouri. Residing with them were their children Henry, David, Norman, Elmer, Mary and Dorothea.
On January 19, 1924 Lydia wrote a letter to Margaret Kembel, her sister-in-law:
"Dear Margaret,
I know you will excuse me when you get this. Im sorry you had to wait so long before an answer but Margaret Papa was so weak and ill that I could not get at it he died on the 9th of Jan. and we burried him last Tuesday at Collinsville Ill he certainly suffered and he was so thin nothing but skin and bones Walter was here but he got here to late to see him alive. Papa was so pleased about the dresses you sent just as soon as any one came he said dont forget to show the dresses that Henry sister Margaret send the girls any man should be proud of a wife can sew like that and the hand work on them the fit just fine Mary Kathrine is a little long I want to thank you for them and the order I just called Kathrine she has been very sick has been in bed for 2 weeks but is up since Saturday again and Mayme is not well either George left last Tuesday for Florida with his boss to be gone until March and your new brother in law name is Otto Woods I have not seen him but the boys all like him you talk about Mayme and Katherine not writing to you they dont come or call me either and we are so close I have said time and time again Henry and Dad one brother and on sister Dave and Margaret I hear from Dave about every week asking how we are and I know I would hear oftener if would have answered more promptly Joe did not even show up during the time Papa was lying here dead but Dave and Anna were here every night and Dave sat up to Walter and I sure appreciate you shure have one fine brother to be proud of Well, Sis I must close I still want to write to Dorothea and then it will be time to get supper I going to send you some apple butter in a week or so. I told Papa I was going to send you some every day he would ask have send it and dont forget it.
Many Thank from me and the children
With Love from all to you both
Lydia
P.S. Im expecting to be grandma in March again."
April 30, 1924 Lydia wrote a letter to Margaret J. Kemble soon after the death of her husband:
"Kirkwood April 30/24
Dear Sis
I guess you will think something is going to happen for at last Im going to write or better still scratch a few lines we are all well but Dad he still is just about the same only some weaker and thinner.
I have tried so often to write to you but Im so tire at night but tonigh I took a nap and then got busy. I finished my last weeks ironing to-day and now for a bih wash day tomorrow. Dorathea was here for about week something like you a thousand and one places to go while she was here and then those eastern ways got on the children nerves David said he sure was glad when she was gone he said he did not have a square meal while she was here because he did not have table manners like aunt Dorothea that is just like hime the little Devil he would come in trying to talk the eastern way when he cam home to meals he would say Mother when are we going to dinna instead of the way we say dinner he sure is a case - I still have the rhumatism you while it I can spell it right. Last sunday Henry was confirmed we all went to church to see him. I had my friend Miss Ida stay with dad in the afternoon. Sister Mayme came out to see us she had not been out here for three weeks and Catherine has not been here for a long time. We still have the blues they things have gone but Im trying to make the best of things. I have been out to Henry's grave 4 or 5 times and the more I go the more I want to go the have mounted it and it looks as good as it could just now I want to have it soded and then a few flowers put there. Sis you no if I could only have said a few words to hime I would be more satisfied. sis I cant write any more write to me soon
With Love
Lydia."
She resided from 1928 to 1932 at 406 East Jefferson Avenue, Kirkwood, Missouri. Residing with her were her children Henry, David, Norman, Mary and Dorothea and her daughter-in-law Gladys Elizabeth Gertrude Williams. She visited New Kirk, Kay County, Oklahoma; she visited her cousins Gusta Meier and Dora. Her cousin Lizzie also came from Nebraska. She lived in 1934 at 712 North Geyer Road, Kirkwood. Her children, Henry, David, Norman, Mary and Dorothea were living with her. Lydia lived from 1936 to 1938 at 7429 Lyndover Place, Maplewood, Missouri. Residing with her were her children Mary and Dorothea; some of the neighbors on Lyndover Place were Edward M Anderson, Alois C. Dempsey, and Ralph B. Slugert in the multi-family building. Lydia lived from 1939 to 1946 at 507 South Clay Avenue, Kirkwood, Missouri. Her daughter, Mary, was living with her. Lydia lived before July 1949 at 507 South Clay Avenue. Her daughter, Mary, was living with her. She died on July 19, 1949 at Kirkwood; at age 67, the cause of her death was a coronary occlusion. Her funeral service was held on July 23, 1949 at Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kirkwood. Her wake was held on July 22, 1949 at Bopp Chapel, Kirkwood. She was buried on July 23, 1949 at St. Lucas United Church of Christ Cemetery, Sappington, St. Louis County, Missouri, in block 6, lot 32, grave 8. Her obituary stated: "Mrs. Berg was a member of Ladies' Aid Society of Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church." She and Henry were honored on June 10, 1989 at Kirkwood Swimming Pool, Sunset Hills, St. Louis County, Missouri, by a reunion of their descendants.
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