Block 13. A Stitch in Time

by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

A stitch in time. . . Block 13 of the circa 1931 Friendship Quilt in the Museum of the Itawamba County Historical Society

GRIMES, Arvie, Block 13

Arvie Grimes, 28, is listed as the wife of Oscar Grimes on the 1920 census of Mantachie. Included on the census with Arvie and Oscar Grimes are daughters Erlene and Lavern and son Cleon.

Arvie Grimes, 39, is listed on the 1930 census as the wife of Oscer Grimes, 42, a farmer in Beat 2 on Guntown-Fulton Road. Included were sons Cleon, 18, and James, 9, daughters Erlene, 15, and Luvern, 10, and Oscer's father, John B. Grimes, 76.

Burton-Cruber lists Arvis Thornberry Grimes 1891 - ___ and Oscar B. Grimes 1887 - ___ in Stephens Cemetery.

GRIMES, Oscar, Block 13

Oscar Grimes is listed as a farmer, age 32, born in Mississippi, on the 1920 Mantachie census. Included in his household are wife Arvie, son Cleon, and daughters Erlene and Lavern Grimes.

He is listed as a 42 year-old farmer in Beat 2 on the 1930 census residing on Guntown-Fulton Road. Included in his household were wife Arvie, 39, sons Cleon, 18, and James, 9, daughters Erlene, 14, and Luvern, 10, and his father John B. Grimes, 76.

According to the SSI Death Index, Oscar Grimes was born October 15, 1887. He was residing in Guntown, Lee County, Mississippi, when he died in July 1972.

GRIMES, Cleon, Block 13

Cleon Grimes, 8, is listed as the son of Oscar and Arvie Grimes on the 1920 census of Mantachie. Included with Cleon and his parents on that census are sister Erlene and Lavern Grimes.

Cleon, 18, is named with his parents on the 1930 census along with sisters Erlene and Luvern and brother James. His grandfather, John B. Grimes was also a member of the household in 1930.

Kermit McFerrin states that Cleon Grimes was a merchant in Tupelo for several years, that he served in World War 2, and that he is buried in Mantachie Cemetery.

GRIMES, Erlene, Block 13

Erlene Grimes, 4, is listed as the daughter of Oscar and Arvie Grimes on the 1920 census of Mantachie. Included with Erline and her parents are sister Lavern and brother Cleon Grimes.

Erlene, 14, is named with her parents on the 1930 census along with sister Luvern and bothers Cleon and James. Her grandfather, John B. Grimes also lived in the household on Guntown-Fulton Road.

Kermit McFerrin sent information that Erlene Grimes Russell was the mother of Joan Russell Smith and Dixie R. Russell. Erlene Grimes Russell is buried in Stephens Cemetery.

The SSI Death Index lists Erlene G. Russell, May 11, 1915, November 29, 2005. Her place of last residence was Mantachie.

If you have additional information about any of the names on this quilt square, please post a comment below. Your help is needed to "write" the story of this almost eighty-year old quilt.

A stitch in time . . . The 2010 Friendship-Memory Quilt

For a $10.00 donation per name, your name, the names of your loved ones, or the name of your business can be embroidered on the 2010 Friendship-Memory Quilt of the Itawamba Historical Society. The Society is sponsoring this old-fashioned method of fund-raising --- and invites you to subscribe to the quilt project.

For $1.00 donation per raffle ticket you may win the 2010 Friendship-Memory Quilt. The king-sized quilt will be quilted at public quilting bees later this Spring --- but you can purchase raffle tickets now.

Contact the Itawamba Historical Society, PO Box 7, Mantachie, MS 38855 or by telephone at 662-282-7664 for more information.

Annual membership dues in the Itawamba Historical Society are $25.00. You are invited to join and to support the historical and genealogical work of the Society.

SOURCES:

Family information from Memories from Itawamba County: A Friendship Quilt circa 1931 --- A Stitch in Time by Terry Thornton with assistance from Members of the Itawamba Historical Society, Itawamba Settlers, Quarterly Journal of the Itawamba County, Mississippi, History and Genealogy. Winter 2009, Pages 143-61.

Square from 1931 Friendship Quilt photographed by Terry Thornton, September 3, 2009, Bond's House Museum, Itawamba Historical Society, Mantachie, Mississippi.