Mr. Nelson J. Davis lived on a Rural Delivery Route outside Newburg, a small borough in western Cumberland County in south-central Pennsylvania.
Nine miles west of Newville, Newburg recorded its peak population of 432 in 1880.
The Post Office in Newburg was established in 1894.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newburg,_Cumberland_County,_Pennsylvania
In May of 1912, Nelson was celebrating a birthday.
For the occasion, he received a postcard from his sister, Myrtle.
The Research Note shows that this was his sister-in-law, the wife of Nelson’s younger brother, Robert Franklin Davis (1883-1953)
The postcard was mailed from Mowersville, an unincorporated community in Logan Township of Franklin County in south-central PA.
Mowersville had a Post Office from 1868-1955.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mowersville,_Pennsylvania
Newburg is about 3 miles northeast of Mowersville, but across the border of Franklin and Cumberland Counties.
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The face of the postcard is a dense drawing of a large, purple horseshoe surrounded by violets.
Within the curve of the shoe is a pleasant drawing of a young man poling a skiff across a pond.
In the distance, trees shade a rustic dwelling.
Below the scene, ornate letters express the wish, “May Your Birthday be Happy and Bright”.
Within the ornamental border is the hidden acknowledgement, “Design Copyright 1912 by A. Horowitz, New York”.
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On the reverse, Myrtle greets her “Dear Brother”.
The message contains the news that “we are still here” and “we live were (sic) the Shields did”.
An invitation is extended, “You come over on Sunday and stay for Children’s Service in the U. B. Church”.
I assume that this is the United Brethren denomination – the denomination sent preachers (circuit riders) through many areas that comprised the Pennsylvania frontier of the early 19th century.
A Brethren In Christ Church (successor to the United Brethren) is still prominent in Mowersville.
In closing, Myrtle assures Nelson that “all is well, Bob is at the mill.”
One hopes that Nelson enjoyed his birthday, that his family was able to visit Myrtle on Sunday, and all enjoyed the service at the church.
RESEARCH NOTE
On December 16, 1880, Joseph Nelson Davis was born in Newburg, PA.
He was the son of Joseph Nelson Davis (1849-1911) and Mary Catherine Thrush (1858-1892).
https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/9XXW-NJF
Joseph and Mary had been married at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Carlisle in December of 1873 – Mary was 15 years old.
The couple had three sons, all of whom lived at least 70 years.
“Nelson” (he seems to have used Nelson instead of appending “Jr.” to his name) was the middle child, and was 12 years old when his mother died in her 34th year.
In February of 1918, Nelson married Ruth Agnes Bistline (1894-1956) in Cumberland County.
Sometime in 1917-1918, Nelson registered for the Draft, but he did not serve.
It does not appear that Ruth and Nelson had any children.
The couple lived in communities near the border of Cumberland and Franklin Counties through most of their lives.
By 1950, they lived in Shippensburg (Cumberland County) where Ruth died in 1956 at the age of 61.
Nelson lived for four years as a widower until his death in February of 1960 at the age of 79.
Nelson and Ruth are buried in the Spring Hill Cemetery in Shippensburg.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143610006/joseph_nelson-davis
