Looking for clues on a Sophia Bense or Berns who was born about 1809 / 1810 in Prussia and living in Hart in Winona County in the 1870s. She was living with a Gerth family, and there is no relationship listed.

1870 Federal Census:
Gerth family: Henry (42), Fredericka (35), Ulvika (13), Bertha (9), Anna (6), Wilhelmina (4), John (1), and Sophia Bense (60).

1875 MN Census:
“Geart” family: Henry (46), Fredericka (41), Olrika (17), Bertha (12), Anna (11), Mina (8), John (6), Sophia Berns (66).

There was another Sophia Bense born about 1813 in Prussia who was living in Hart in the 1870 census with Martin Bense and the Henry Wein family. So I know that she is a different Sophia than the one that I am looking for.

I’m hoping that the Sophia who was living with the Gerth family was Fredericka Gerth’s mother, but have not been able to find any evidence to validate this. Fredericka’s husband Henry died in 1880, and she married Henry Neumann in 1888 in Winona. I have Fredericka’s obituary, and there is no mention of parents names. Sophia is not living with the Gerth family in the 1880 Federal Census, so she either passed away or moved somewhere else between 1875 and 1880.