Mrs. Louisa Brokaw lived in Sunnyside, now a census-designated place in Franklin Township (and Clinton Township) of Hunterdon County in central New Jersey.
This rich agricultural area was first settled by Quakers circa 1700.
The Post Office in Sunnyside, opened in 1895, closed in 1908.
(Had Lillie mailed this postcard, the postmark would be sought by many collectors.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Township,_Hunterdon_County,_New_Jersey
In June of 1909, Mrs. Brokaw was celebrating her birthday.
She was given a postcard greeting from her daughter, Lillie.
The postcard was not mailed, and appears to have been delivered in person or through an intermediary.
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The face of the postcard is an unadorned white surface on which an image of roses is printed.
(We recently saw a similar postcard (with carnations) in the same tyle, but with a different publisher.)
The bunch of multi-colored roses is not secured with ribbons nor shows any other decoration.
A printed legend in red promises “Fond Remembrance”.
The postcard was published by the English firm of Davidson Brothers, and was printed in Germany.
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On the reverse, Lillie addresses a message to “Dear Mother”.
Lillie writes, “I wish you a Happy Birthday and may you live to see many more”.
The hopeful message is sent with “Love”.
Lillie, like all good letter writers, adds the date of her composition – June 6, 1909.
One hopes that Mrs. Brokaw did enjoy here special day.
She preserved the postcard in very good condition throughout her life.
RESEARCH NOTE
Louisa Mary Littell was born on June 6, 1837 in Richmond, NY.
Louisa was the daughter of Richmond Dumont Littell (no dates) and Rebecca Dunn (no dates).
She was an only child.
In September of 1865, Louisa married Peter B. Brokaw (1834-1930) in Richmond, NY.
The eldest child, Lillian Theodosia Brokaw, was born in Richmond County NY (Staten Island) on October 8,1864.
By 1880, Peter and Louisa (and their 4 children), were living in Hunterdon County, NJ.
Jacob was farming.
In November of 1884, Lillian married Jacob Dumott Compton (1856-1936) in Hunterdon County.
The couple had one son, Frank Latelle Compton (1888-1970).
In this postcard story, Mother (Louisa) had reached her 72nd birthday.
Louisa died five years later, in 1914, and is buried in the Newell Cemetery in Hunterdon County, NJ.
Her husband, Peter Brokaw was buried next to her upon his death in 1930 (age 96).
https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/KH84-TLB
Daughter Lillian was 45 years od when she sent a birthday card to her mother.
Lillian died in 1936, following an operation in the Somerset Hospital.
She was 70 years old.
Lillian was buried in the Compton family plot in Grandin Cemetery in Hunterdon County.
Her husband, who died ten years later, is now buried with her.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/135266831/lillian-compton
