An American Family History

Marie Louisa Bertrand Shimp was born in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa in August, 1888. She was the daughter of Gilles Joseph Bertrand and Viola Belle Long. 

Marie, Virginia Smith & Emma

She married Clair Henry Shimp on December 31, 1906 when she was eighteen years old. Clair was born on July 17, 1887. His parents were James Alvin Shimp and Sarah Jones. Clair Shrimp worked with Joseph Bertrand as a plumber.

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa,Thursday, January 3, 1907
Clair H. Shimp and Miss Marie Louise Bertrand, on Watch night, Dec. 31st., were married by Rev. F. B. Palmer at the Baptist Parsonage. The ceremony was performed in the presence of their near relatives. New Year's Day they went to Des Moines, for a brief visit among friends, later they will return to Chariton to make their future home.

Marie and Clair's children were Neil Bertrand Shimp, born November 6, 1908 and Keith Alvin Shimp, born April 7, 1918. 

In 1910 they were living in Chariton, Iowa and in 1920 they were back in Des Moines. The family consisted of Clare age 33, Marie age 32, Neil age eleven and Keith age one year nine months. Marie's brother Merl was also living with them at the time of the census. At the time of the 1930 census they were living in Omaha, Nebraska.

In 1957 when her sister Blanch died, they were living in Independence, Missouri.

Marie died in 1970 and Clair followed in 1977. They were laid to rest together in Blue Springs Cemetery in Jackson County, Missouri.

Their son, Neil Shimp married Jeanne Bond in 1930 in Omaha , Nebraska and their son, Neil B. Ship, Jr. was born in 1929. 

Neil, Sr. worked for the Fred Harvey Dining Car Company in Albuquerque, New Mexico before he went into the Army during World War II. He was assigned to Company B 220, Coast Artillery and was sent to Ford Stocktonburg on Minanaoin in the Philippine Islands as a Chemical Warfare instructor. Shortly after he arrived in the Islands, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. He was taken prisoner in 1943 when the Japanese overran the Islands. Because he was healthy, he was picked to be transferred to a more secure prison. The 1725 prisoners were put aboard a ship which was sunk by U. S. submarines about 200 miles from the Chinese mainland. 

Keith Shimp worked for Sears Robuck Company and was a Lecturer for the Kansas City Real Estate School and was in the real estate business in Independence, Missouri. He married Betty Jean Curtis. 

Children of Joseph Bertrand and Viola Long Marie Louisa Bertrand Shimp Emma Ethel Bertrand Smith Blanch Pauline Bertrand Higgins Frances M. Bertrand Metela Johnson Lura Bertrand Bechtel Jones Franklin Merl Bertrand Izetta Fern Bertrand