She was born in Peterkau, Kreis Rosenberg, West Prussia. Today it is known as Piotrkowo [pjɔtrˈkɔvɔ] (German: Peterkau) a village in the administrative district of Gmina Susz, within I³awa County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland.

Note; Regarding the Kobus siblings
We know that Bertha, Augusta and Fred Kobus all immigrated to Saginaw, MI. Bertha in 1882, Fred in 1882 and Augusta in 1887. Obituaries are only as good as the information given at the time of death. Regarding Fred-his birth date is given as May 25, 1854, but the church records have the date of May 25, 1853. Remember this was his wife’s 2nd marriage and she went on to marry a 3rd time. The town of Graudenz was where she was born. Also needed to note is the spelling of the surname as Kobis and not Kobus. Yet on his birth record as well as his sisters the parent’s names are all identical. Sister Bertha is another question. The information that I have for her is that she was born Jan. 13, 1858, but the church record has Dec. 13, 1855, one month difference, same day and 3 year gap. Parents named on all records have father Friedrich Kobus and mother’s maiden name is listed as Koeinska, Kosinski, Kosinska, Kuschinsko/a. Some of these family members also made their way to Saginaw, MI and the name was Kuschinsky. This may have been Bertha's sister and not Bertha herself. A record for the year of 1858 was not found. Were the dates in America incorrect, I don't know. So, I am including the birth record below and also a copy from the church record in the photos.

in the Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1567-1945
Name: Auguste Bertha Kobus
Gender: weiblich (Female)
Event Type: Taufe (Baptism)
Birth Date: 13 Dez 1855 (13 Dec 1855)
Baptism Date: 24 Jan 1856
Baptism Place: Danzig-Westpr, Deutschland (Germany)
Father: Friedrich Kobus
Mother: Charlotte Kobus [nee: Kosinska]
Legitimacy: Ehelich
Parish as it Appears: Sommerau
Page Number: 229;229
Author: Evangelische Kirche Sommerau (Kr. Rosenberg)
City or District: Ilawa u Laseczno
FHL Film Number: 208368

She immigrated to America December 1882.
New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
Name:Bertha Kobus
Arrival Date:7 Dec 1881
Birth Date:1858
Age:23
Gender:Female
Ethnicity/ Nationality:Prussian
Place of Origin:Prussia;Germany
Port of Departure:Bremen, Germany and Southampton, England
Destination:New York,United States of America
Port of Arrival:New York, New York
Ship Name:Neckar

Bertha married #1 Charles Heidenreich January 13, 1884 at St Paul's Lutheran Church Saginaw, MI. Charles died 1891.

Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Name:Bertha Kobus
Gender:Female
Race:White
Birth Year:1858
Birth Place:Germany
Marriage Date:13 Jan 1884
Marriage Place:Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Age:26
Residence Place:Saginaw
Record Number:3044
Film:28
Film Description:1884 Mackinac - 1884 Wexford
Household Members:
Bertha Kobus
Carl Heidenrich

Bertha then married #2 Christian Zahnow in 1892, by Rev. Simon Poppen at St Paul Lutheran Church. Witnesses were Jacob Kowolisky and J Libu. He was born in 1861 in Germany and he died Sept. 10, 1910 in Carrollton,Michigan. Both husbands are buried in the same plot at Oakwood Cemetery in Saginaw, MI (no marker for Christian) and Bertha is buried at Forest Lawn

Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Name:Bertha Heidenrich
Gender:Female
Race:White
Birth Year:1868
Birth Place:Germany
Marriage Date:31 Jan 1892
Marriage Place:Carrollton, Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Age:24
Residence Place:Carrollton
Record Number:3096
Film:47
Film Description:1892 Manistee - 1892 Washtenaw
Household Members:
Bertha Heidenrich
Bertha Kobus
Fred Kobus
Christe Sonon
Caroline Kollins
Christ Sonon


Bertha had a child with Christian Sanow (Zahnow). Her name was Marie (Mary) she was born June 4, 1894. She was very violent and lived in a state hospital for the mentally ill in Traverse City, MI.

1910 United States Federal Census
Name:Bertha Sonon
Age in 1910:52
Birth Year:1858
Birthplace:Germany
Home in 1910:Carrollton, Saginaw, Michigan
Street:Harrison Street
Race:White
Gender:Female
Relation to Head of House:Wife
Marital Status:Married
Spouse's Name:Christ Sonon
Father's Birthplace:Germany
Mother's Birthplace:Germany
Native Tongue:English
Able to read:Yes
Able to Write:Yes
Years Married:17
Number of Children Born:5
Number of Children Living:4
Household Members:
Bertha Sonon 52
Christ Sonon 48
Mary Sonon

SAGINAW COUNTY COURT HOUSE
Bertha Sanow
Place of death-Saginaw Township
Female, white, widowed
Died: April 1, 1928
Age 52 years 2 months and 18 days (this is not correcr)
Birthplace: Germany
Parents: Herman Kobus Birthplace: Germany
Charlotte Kuschinsky Birthplace: Germany
Cause of death: Myloardites

Bertha Sanow
Michigan Death Certificates
Name Bertha Sanow
Event Type Death
Event Date 01 Apr 1928
Event Place Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan, United States
Gender Female
Age 50
Marital Status Widowed
Birth Date 13 Jan 1878
Birthplace Germany
Birth Year (Estimated) 1878
Father's Name Herman Kobus
Mother's Name Charlotte Kuschinsky

Name sanow, Bertha
Cemetery Forest Lawn
Gender F
Section 9
Lot 0459
Space SE Corner
Age at Death 50
Cause of Death Myocarditis
Place of Death Saginaw Michigan
Cremation No
Date of Death 04/01/1928
F-9-459 (SE Cor.)