Amanuensis Monday: A Convenient Marriage-Part 2

After the widow Florence Polly (Melvin) Moore received the letter from suitor Elza Chandler Scott (whom she'd never met in person), she quickly shot off a reply to him which she tucked into another letter to her friend Mrs. Reed because it was the time of the Great Depression and she had only one stamp. This is her reply to Mr. Scott:

                         March 29, 1931

          Mr. E. C. Scott.

                 Dear Friend:

                          Will answere

your letter with pleasure, I

am certainly sorry if I gave you

a bawling out because I

did'nt intend to do so, I was

glad to get the photo of you, and

to tell the truth about it, I

dont think you would spoil

my appitte, but I may spoil

yours. I am sorry but I cant

find a photo of my self. I

have some that were made

about 3 years ago. but I

look quiet differant now.

if every thing is OK, I think

I will see you in a few days.

lets hope so anyway.

I am 27 years old, a widow of one

year & 2 months, 5 feet 1 1/2 in tall

weigh 102 pound. Blue eyes light

complected & auburn hair. and

I have a daughter nearly 9 years

old. I love children and it is

a pleasure to be with them

especially with nicely raised

children  Mrs Reed spoke real

well of you and the Boys, Jack &

Mrs Reed are real nice people

I think as much of them

as I do my own people. they

have certainly treated me

nice, I have the head ache so

bad to day I cant hardly write.

so please excuese this short

letter, may be we can arrange

every thing when I get

their, so please answere this

as soon as possible, Mr & Mrs

Reed are moving to Latonia

will you go with them or

will you stay where you are,

so you have just bought a car

it doesent matter if it

isnt a swell one, times are

to bad to put so much money

in a car are any thing. I all

way try to save for a rainy

day, but havent had any

thing to save for over a year.

but after the rain the sun

all ways shines, so I hope it

will soon shine for me.

I am sorry I havent a picture

of my self at present, but

may be you wont be

disappointed when you

see me. I think I will

be there Sunday the 5th if

everything works out allright.

I will be looking for an

Answere in a few days. please

write, good bye good luck.

             your lonesome Buddie

                    Florence Moore

                       2206 - Standard Ave

                            Lou

                               Ky.

the reason why I am putting

this in Mrs Reeds letter

because this is the only

stamp I have and I

can't get any till tomorrow

Apparently Florence arrived in Cincinnati on Sunday, April 5th as planned and she and Elza must have gotten along famously just as Jack and Mrs. Reed predicted because on the following Saturday, April 11th.....

Marriage License of Elza C. Scott and Florence P. Moore
dated April 11, 1931

And 29 years later....they were still happily married....

Florence Polly and Elza Chandler Scott - May 1960

....til death they did part in June of 1969 with the passing of Elza, age 72. (No children from this union.)

Click here to read Part 1

Thanks go to my sister-in-law Rose, who has allowed me to keep and preserve these historical family artifacts!

SHARE