Minnie Cunningham was daughter of Sophonia Cunningham Prince (Victoria’s sister, mentioned in her letters), and Etta’s cousin. She would marry Frank Burgiss, Will’s brother — making her Etta’s sister-in-law as well.
We don’t yet know who Jen is; however, the Tumbling Shoals address gives a hint, as that is the home of Victoria’s sister Margaret. Jen calls her “Aunt Margaret” in the letter, so Jen is not her daughter. Jen also, curiously, calls Victoria “Cousin Vic,” rather than the more expected “Aunt Vic.” Etta is 18 at the time of the first letter.
W. W. Burgiss is now 76 years old. His daughter Margaret was born in 1903, and is now 37. She has married Shuman Gerald. After a long illness, she would die just two years later, in 1942; Etta would die a little later that same year.
This is about ⅔ of a sheet of paper; it is a typed memo from a president to his secretary/treasurer to act on his behalf. It is unclear why this was kept at all, particularly in this collection, as it does not appear to be important. However, it does shine a glimmer of light on W.W. Burgiss’s real estate dealings in Florida.
This letterhead has an engraving of the hotel — a three-story mansion with pillars — and reads: “One Minute’s Walk from the Depot. The Brainard House. The House has been refitted and refurnished throughout, and is replete with all Modern Improvements, including an Electric Annunciator, Two Fine Sample Rooms for Commercial Travelers and is under the management of S.C. Hooker, Late of the Hooker House, Colchester.”
