Letter signed Flora C. Byrne, to My dear Aunt Flora [Mrs. Caldwell, Franklin Street, Baltimore, Maryland]. Dr. Alexander brought the trunk you sent. You should not spend your money on me. Mary Spear sent me a box of beautiful things. We are in the midst of harvest. Nine white men and six blacks have been hired in addition to our own. We are going to give a harvest dance which will help get hands for next year. It will also put a stop to rumors that “we do not allow a poor man to sit at our table, & that we import our guests from Palmyra & St. Louis.” I have heard the Fletchers might come next fall. I will welcome him but she repels me. Dr. Alexander says he told you of Jamie’s death. I wish I could talk to you of it. Individuals mentioned include Dr. Alexander, Jamie, Edmond, Aunt Flora, Annie, Frank, Billy Gwynn, Captain May, Henry, Dr. Clendinen, Mrs. Norris, Eliza, Mary Spear, Billy, Harriet, Lucy, Madam Lindy, Dennis, Nancy, Margaret, Mrs. Sam Hoffman, Mrs. Byrne, Mr. Fletcher, Judge Perkins, Aunt Abby, and Mrs. Burnap. Places mentioned include Baltimore, Palmyra, St. Louis, and Alexandria. (4 pages), [1848] July 3

Item — Box: 1, Folder: 3

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The Mayer Family Papers consist of the correspondence of Flora Byrne to Mrs. Charles F. Mayer. Describes her life and family at Byrnham Wood in Clark County near Winchester, Missouri. Includes correspondence from various members of the family in Baltimore, Maryland. The letters contain many sidelights on the state of development in that day, mention well-known characters, and show the facilities for transportation between the Atlantic seaboard and St. Louis. The latest letters, dated in 1861, document Civil War movements in St. Louis and Baltimore. The collection also includes miscellaneous correspondence regarding the donation and the drawings of Francis [Frank] Blackwell Mayer.