Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, O

Kindly let me hear from you as soon as possible and hoping you will purchase some if not all. I am yours very truly, Mrs E. O'Connor.

[preprinted] A. M. BURCH. M. HYATT.

OFFICE OF UNION FISH CO. WHOLESALE RETAIL DEALERS IN FISH OYSTERS GAME POULTRY EGGS

BELL PHONE 337 106 N. PERRY ST Montgomery Ala. REFERENCES SOUTHERN EXPRESS CP. or ANY BANK THIS CITY [/preprinted]

[image: engraving of hunter pointing a rifle]

Dec 12th

Mrs Stanford, San Francisco, Cal

Dear Madam:-

As I have a mother, brother and two sisters to support and my means very scarce, I would like to ask you to help me, as I want to go into business, as I have a great many friends in this town and elsewhere who would help me if I had the money to get a start.

I wish to enter the poultry and produce business which I feel sure will pay by energy and attention to it.

I take pleasure in referring you to my former employers - J M Davis for 3 years - Pollock & Co. (succeeded by by the "The Fair") 3 years and Farley & [Dowe? Dowl?] 8 years

in all of which I have made a great many friends.

Owing to having had to educate my brother & sisters in addition to other necessary expenses, find it impossible to save enough to engage in the enterprise on my own account.

I have no property but will give you my personal notes for any amount you may see fit to advance me.

Trusting this appeal will meet with your favorable consideration and awaiting your reply, I remain

Your humble servant

William O'Connor

115 Whitman St

Montgomery Ala

Buffalo, N.Y. Dec 12 1901

Mrs. Jane L. Stanford

San Francisco, Cal.

Dear Lady, Please excuse the liberty I take in writing to you, but permit me to state that I have a beautiful carriag[e] robe, which I had on exhibition at the Pan American fare [sic] here with a market price of eight thousand dollars. It is a beautiful thing. I made it personally. It is of the finest [woolen?] double [zepher?], nice rich colors in size it is five and one half by six feet, with a heavy fringe. I am very anxious to sell it. I would like to dispose of it before Christmas. I thought if I would write to you perhaps you would be kind enough to make me an offer for it, if you please. It would be a great comfort to me as I grow older. I am a widow 55 years old. I made the robe twenty four years ago for a sick husband who died before he ever used it and it has never been used since, being so much too nice for anything I could have to go with it. I have always kept it wrapped up carefully so that it is as fresh and nice as when it was made. I realize that I need not offer it for sale to any but people of means. I have written to several of the wealthier people of New York, among them Miss Hellen Gould, asking her to please buy it or to assist me in selling it, but I have never recd any reply from any of them. I can give good references. The

Vice President of the Standard Oil Co Mr Daniel O'Day of New York City, who is an old family friend. He is aware that I am trying to sell it and can vouch for my honor, hoping that you will be so kind as to make me an offer for this robe, which I think I can truthfully say, is the nicest of its kind in existence.

I remain very respectfully, anxiously awaiting a reply.

Mrs. E. O'Donnell

269 Carolina St

Buffalo N.Y.

The robe took honorable mention at the fair