Margaret Eiden, see accompanying story, is coming to Fairview to show her 1929 Missionary Aid signature quilt which was made in Major County.  She will be showing the quilt at the following events: The  Major Co. Threshing Bee on Saturday, Sept. 29, Major Co. Genealogical Society meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 2, Fairview City Library on Wednesday, October 3 from 10am-4pm, and the Quilt Guild meeting Thursday, October 4.  The public is invited to come see a part of Major Co. history. Sponsored by the Fairview Friends of the Library and the Major Co. Genealogical Society.

   QUILTS CAN TALK  by Mary Ball Gibson

Did you know that quilts can talk? No?  Well, they can. Not only can they tell stories but they can also torment your curiosity and goad you into solving history puzzles.

Let me tell you a true story.  Just a few months ago Pat Weaver, editor of our Major County Genealogical Society newsletter, heard from Margaret Eiden, a young lady in the Army Reserves at Camp Polk, LA, who was looking for information about a quilt.  Ms. Eiden had purchased the quilt at a thrift shop in Chicago, IL about 15 years ago for about the cost of $3.00.

OK so what's so unusual about that ?  Well, this quilt was one of the kind where several ladies would each make a block and embroider her name on it....a signature quilt. In addition to the names, this particular one had the notation "1929 MISSIONARY AID” label on it. Margaret expected the work had been done by a church group either in Illinois or Iowa. Oklahoma was the farthest thing from her mind.

The quilt lay in the closet for about 15 years and then one day when Margaret was looking at some census records two names popped up that she recognized.. To quote, "Who or what caused me to notice Major County, Oklahoma Census records for 1930 is a mystery to me. But there I saw two names that were on my quilt and these people seemed to live in the Ringwood/ Fairview area. That's when I started writing to churches in the area and was given Pat Weaver's name and address".

When Pat received the list of names that were on the quilt she recognized the name BALL and  contacted me (Mary Ball Gibson) and I saw the name of my great aunt SADIE BALL.  Then begun a series of searches in Major County Gloss Mountain Book, obituary files, census records and cemetery listings found in the Fairview library and on the Internet. It seems that in 1929-30 most of these quilt makers lived between Cleo Springs and Ringwood in the vicinity of the Missionary school house where church services were held before the church at Cobb's Horn was built. Later some of the families lived in the little village of Forest, Ringwood and Cleo Springs. From our research, some of the descendants have been found scattered from east to west but none locally as of yet.

Ms. Eiden writes, "I was going to sell the quilt as it was just laying in the closet but then I started the search and the quilt has become a great source of interest to me and to many of my friends also. Some think I am nuts to even care. But this quilt has now become priceless to me because these ladies are real people and I want to hear their stories. One of my teacher friends wants to use the quilt in history lessons at her school.” 

So, maybe quilts can't really talk but their stories are real. And that is genealogy work for you--- some people think it is nuts but sometimes nuts serve a valuable and comforting service.

Names found on the quilt. Inez Moody, Mrs. Leathia Deal, Mary Walls York, Irene Hillsman, Mabel Bymaster, Hazel O. (or D.) Harper, Edith Wineteer (Glee as a middle name, and buried with Cone as a last name), Cora Wineteer (Cora P. Roach Wineteer), Edith's mother, Belle Spenner, Pearl Spenner, Josephine Veach, Lottie Spenner Hiatt, Sadie Ball, Lenora Ernst, Cassie Veach Moates, Leatha M. Walker.