Born in Illinois, possibly the town of Salem, to Nancy and David Wolfe, Florida’s early background is shrouded in mystery owing to her parents’ divorce and lack of information on her early schooling. There are many unverifiable stories of Florida’s arrival in El Paso—ranging from having been brought to the city by Lt. Henry Flipper, West Point’s first African American graduate, to having met Lord Beresford in either New Orleans, U.S.A. or Chihuahua, Mexico, nursing him back to health, and soon becoming his housekeeper/companion. Fluent in Spanish, Lady Flo was often described as “looking Mexican.”
Lady Flo’s relationship with Lord Beresford made it easier for them to live in Mexico as Texas law in l893 prevented interracial marriage or cohabitation. The couple frequently traveled between Cuidad Juarez and El Paso in a multi-person entourage. Lady Flo gave grand parties and made contributions to the El Paso Fire Department and Police Department. With Lord Beresford’s death in a train wreck in Minnesota in December l906, Lady Flo claimed his property as his common law wife. Using her knowledge of ranching and farming, she expanded the ranch's production after his death.
Lord Beresford’s family in Ireland contested Lady Flo’s claim and after a protracted court battle she received only $15,000 and a “few hundred head of cattle.” Nonetheless Lady Flo spent the remaining years of her life in El Paso, Texas, attending regularly the Second Baptist Church and giving away what was left of her fortune to the poor and downtrodden.
Florida J. Wolfe developed tuberculosis and died in El Paso in May 1913. The prominent Black physician, Dr. Lawrence A. Nixon tended to Lady Flo and ultimately signed her death certificate. She was buried in El Paso’s Concordia Cemetery.
Sources:
Eugene O. Porter, Lord Beresford and Lady Flo (El Paso: Texas Western Press, 1970).
Contributor:
•Dailey, Jr., Maceo Crenshaw
- See more at: http://www.blackpast.org/aaw/wolfe-florida-j-c-1867-1913#sthash.Ez0Ckzfw.dpuf
Born in Illinois, possibly the town of Salem, to Nancy and David Wolfe, Florida’s early background is shrouded in mystery owing to her parents’ divorce and lack of information on her early schooling. There are many unverifiable stories of Florida’s arrival in El Paso—ranging from having been brought to the city by Lt. Henry Flipper, West Point’s first African American graduate, to having met Lord Beresford in either New Orleans, U.S.A. or Chihuahua, Mexico, nursing him back to health, and soon becoming his housekeeper/companion. Fluent in Spanish, Lady Flo was often described as “looking Mexican.”
Lady Flo’s relationship with Lord Beresford made it easier for them to live in Mexico as Texas law in l893 prevented interracial marriage or cohabitation. The couple frequently traveled between Cuidad Juarez and El Paso in a multi-person entourage. Lady Flo gave grand parties and made contributions to the El Paso Fire Department and Police Department. With Lord Beresford’s death in a train wreck in Minnesota in December l906, Lady Flo claimed his property as his common law wife. Using her knowledge of ranching and farming, she expanded the ranch's production after his death.
Lord Beresford’s family in Ireland contested Lady Flo’s claim and after a protracted court battle she received only $15,000 and a “few hundred head of cattle.” Nonetheless Lady Flo spent the remaining years of her life in El Paso, Texas, attending regularly the Second Baptist Church and giving away what was left of her fortune to the poor and downtrodden.
Florida J. Wolfe developed tuberculosis and died in El Paso in May 1913. The prominent Black physician, Dr. Lawrence A. Nixon tended to Lady Flo and ultimately signed her death certificate. She was buried in El Paso’s Concordia Cemetery.
Sources:
Eugene O. Porter, Lord Beresford and Lady Flo (El Paso: Texas Western Press, 1970).
Contributor:
•Dailey, Jr., Maceo Crenshaw
- See more at: http://www.blackpast.org/aaw/wolfe-florida-j-c-1867-1913#sthash.Ez0Ckzfw.dpuf
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement