The card (which had been typed by my mother-in-law and subsequently amended in her own hand) reads as follows:
This arrangement of flowers in a vase under a glass bell was a wedding present to Leonora May Anderson when she married Mr. Bradford in about 1882 or to Leonora May Anderson Bradford when she married Rudolph Allen Spitzer in 1886 or 1887. Another version of the history is that it was a wedding present to her parents, possibly in 1852. Her daughter Mina Spitzer Gregg inherited the two arrangements and entrusted them to Margarette Louise Gregg Weaver until someone in the family would express admiration or desire for them. Susan Weaver Brenner, in 1985 did so, a great-granddaughter of Leonora Spitzer, did so. Therefore on February 14, 1986, the two arrangements were given to her.
The information on the cards suggests the following tasks:
- Identify “Mr. Bradford” — possibly a cousin (Leonora’s mother was a Bradford) — and research the date of their marriage. The information I have received suggests that this marriage produced at least one child (Ethel). What then happened to Mr. Bradford?
- Research the marriage of Leonora and Rudolph Allen Spitzer.
- Research the marriage of Leonora’s parents. In 1852, they would have been 17 & 16 years old. A date of 1862 might make more sense (Leonora was born in 1863). Did they have any other children?
How amazing that these delicate items have survived for so long (big responsibility!) and you have the card as well. Look forward to hearing what you discover about Leonora's family in the records. Jo