What would you ask?

[Donna McCreary]

(08-01-2012 08:11 PM)Barry Doohan Wrote:  I would be interested if Mary had a post-assassination relationship with her half-sister Emelie Todd Helm. While I've read that Mary and Emelie had a close relationship prior to the death of Emelie's husband and subsequent White House stay, I can't recall seeing anything about their relationship afterward. Emelie gave Lincoln a number of headaches once she departed the White House. Despite these problems, did Mary continue to communicate with her?

In the fall of 1864, Emilie wish permission from President Lincoln to sell her cotton. The request was denied. Emilie then wrote a seething letter to Lincoln saying that she had “used up all her money to go on her long, tedious, unproductive, and sorrowful visit” to the White House. She continued by blaming Lincoln for the deaths of her husband, her brothers in the Confederacy, and the death of her brother Levi. According to Emilie Levi died ‘from utter want and destitution – another sad victim of more favored relatives.” Then she penned the words that Mary Lincoln could never forgive, “I also remind you that our minie balls have made us what we are.”
The cut was too deep, and the two sisters never spoke again.

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(08-01-2012 08:29 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Was Emelie the one who was so close to Robert Lincoln?

Yes, she was. Another way to look at it is that Emilie was the one who pestered Robert for money and political favors for the family. Of course, Robert granted the requests. After all, they were family and they did have a fondness for one another. Emilie and her children were listed in Mary Harlan Lincoln's will. The Lincoln estate continued to financially support the Helms far into the 20th century.