An American Family History

Frances M. Bertrand Metela Johnson was born in October, 1895 in Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Gilles Joseph Bertrand and Viola Belle Long.

October 8, 1903, the Democrat reported

Little Miss Frances Bertrand daughter of J. Bertrand scalded her left arm quite severely last Saturday. She was pouring a cup of hot coffee for her father, when he accidently struck the coffee pot with his elbow, spilling the contents on her arm. She is compelled to carry the injured member in a sling.

She married Jerry Metela on May 13, 1915. Jerry was born on July 14, 1893 in Iowa. His step-father and mother were Joseph and Frances Dostal.

Frances and Jerry had four children: Paul L. Metela (1918), Viola Fern Metela Gartner ( February 22, 1919), Marvin Eugene Metela (December 21, 1921), and Dorothy M. Metela Hansen (1923).

At the time of her father's death in 1910, they were living in Chariton, Iowa. They lived in Bismarck, North Dakota at the time of her mother's death in 1919. 

The family (Gerry Metela) appeared in the 1920 census in Braddock, Emmons County, North Dakota and consisted of Jerry age 26, Francis M. age 22, Paul L. age two and Viola F. age one.

They appeared in  the 1930 census in Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa. The family consisted of Jerry who was 35, Frances who was 33, Paul L age 12, Viola F. age 10, Marrino E. age 8 and Dorothy M. age 7. Jerry was a millwright and Frances was working as a waitress in a hotel.

During World War II, both sons served. Marven was a pilot and Paul was a sergeant in the army.

In 1957 when her sister Blanch died, she was living in Cedar Rapids and her name was Johnson.

Jerry died in April, 1987 in Golden, Jefferson County, Colorado.