Mysteries from the Hankinson Attic: Miriam Lawrence Cyphers

Miriam Lawrence Cyphers, 1902

This is another photo found in the Jones attic in Hankinson, North Dakota.  On the back is written:  "Miriam Lawrence Cyphers, 873 North 24 Street, Philadelphia, Pa.  Oct 13, 1902.  Age 18.  With bushels and bushels of love from the mug on the front."

Miriam is not in my database of Jones family members.  I did a little research and found her on the 1900 census in Philadelphia.  The household was living at 873 N. 24th St., and consisted of Abraham Cypher, head, w, m, born Feb. 1863, 37 years old, married 7 years, born New Jersey, piano builder; Margaret, wife, w, f, born May 1865, 35, married 7 years, no children, born Maryland; Catherine Cyphers, mother, w, f, born March 1832, 68, widowed, 2 children both living; Miriam L., adopted daughter, w, f, born Oct. 1884, 15, single, born Pennsylvania, at school; Oscar S. Briscoe, boarder, w,m, born Feb. 1879, 21, single, born Maryland, day laborer.

I wonder if perhaps "Lawrence" was her surname before being adopted by the Cyphers?  Since they had only been married 7 years and Miriam was 15, she must have been a child when they adopted her, not an infant.

The only other information I found in my quick search was that Miriam married Gordon H. Burgess in 1904 in Philadelphia.  On 8 April 1905, Miriam and Gordon had a daughter, Miriam Vivian Burgess.