The business of dressmaking.

Rebecca Flandrau

Rebecca Flandrau with her sons: left to right John W. Riddle, Blair and Charles M. Flandrau.

On February 28, 1871, Charles Eugene Flandrau married Mrs. Rebecca Blair (McLure) Riddle, daughter of Judge William McClure of Pittsburgh. They had two sons, Charles Macomb Flandrau and William Blair McClure Flandrau. Also pictured in this circa 1885 photo is Rebecca's oldest son, John Riddle.

Charles Flandrau was a a territorial pioneer, politician and Minnesota Supreme Court Justice. After 1871, their home was at 385 Pleasant Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota. These dresses were not specifically attributed to Rebecca, but likely came from their home on Pleasant Avenue. Possible owners of these custom made dresses might have been his wife, Rebecca or either of Charles daughters from his first marriage, Sarah Gibson Flandrau Cutcheon or Martha Macomb Flandrau Selmes. Both of them spent some time at this same residence as adults. Martha married Tildon Russell Selmes about 1886 and was widowed in 1895. She and her daughter, Isabella, lived at the family home until at least 1901.

Additional information on the Flandrau home: http://www.placeography.org/index.php/Charles_E._Flandrau_House,_385_Pleasant_Avenue,_Saint_Paul,_Minnesota

Charles Flandrau and family papers;http://www.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00718.xml

For additional Flandrau Family papers see, Arizona Historical Society http://www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/upLoads/library_Flandrau-Family.pdf

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