Seraing is French speaking town in the Liêge Province of Belgium on the Meuse River. It is in the Wallonia region. It is a center for iron and crystal manufacturing.
In the 1830s settlers began arriving inIowa from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia. Iowa became a state in 1846.
Henri Joseph Bertrand (Henry) was born on March 23,
1856 in Seraing, Liège Province, Belgium. His parents were Francois Bertrand and Catherine Hocquette.
He was a plumber and tinner. He was a member of
the Red Men and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Henry
married Alice Linsey on July 5, 1878 in Des Moines, Iowa. Alice was
born about 1856 in Ireland.
Henry and Alice's children were:
Robert Francis Bertrand (1881) and Margaret Bertrand Hamilton (1884, married James Albert Hamilton).
In 1880, the household was still in Des Moines and consisted of Henry
Bertram (sic) who was a collier aged 23,
Alice age 23, and Harry age 4 (The census described his relationship as "Ad son" which is probably adopted son. His parent's place of birth was not known.) Two unrelated men were also listed as household members: George Sides age 20 from
England
and John
Clarkson age 18 from
Scotland.
They were also
colliers.
Henry's niece, Emma Bertrand Smith, kept a postcard collection which includes cards from members of the Henry Bertrand family. The online collection includes both the messages and the pictures from these cards.
Alice died on December 8, 1894. She was buried in Woodland Cemetery in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.
Robert Francis (Frank) died September 18, 1897 when he was sixteen years old of lockjaw after being kicked near his left eye by a horse.
Diphtheria is a serious contagious respiratory illness where a membrane attaches to the tonsils, pharynx, or nasal cavity. Diphtheria can lead to loss of motor control and sensation. Pertussis is also contagious and was known as whooping cough. It starts with a mild respiratory infection and the coughing develops into uncontrollable fits followed by a high-pitched "whoop" sound as the patient struggles to breathe. Tetanus was also called lockjaw and occurs when wounds are contaminated. As the infection progresses, muscle spasms develop in the jaw as well as other parts of the body.
Modern Woodmen of America (MWA) and Woodmen of the World were fraternal organizations that offered insurance.
