Block 21. A Stitch in Time

by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

A stitch in time. . . Block 21 of the circa 1931 Friendship Quilt in the Museum of the Itawamba County Historical Society

BRUTON and BATLE, Block 21

According to IHS members Joe and Frances Sheffield, Bruton and Battle was a business in Tupelo. Frances remembers correctly that Bruton and Battle was a shoe store. The owners in 1930 were Guy L. Bruton, 34, and William E. Battle, 26. Both the Bruton and the Battle households were enumerated on the 1930 Tupelo census (on the same page). Mr. Bruton and Mr. Battle were both listed as retail merchant, shoe store, on the 1930 census of Tupelo, Lee County.

FRY, Amanba, Block 21

Although the spelling on the quilt block appears to be "Amanba," according to IHS member Joe Sheffield, this is "Amanda" Fry.

On the 1930 Tupelo, Lee County, census along Church Street was found the residence of Jeff M. Boggan, 38, a physician. Within that household were his wife Lousie, 30, niece Amanda Fry, 30, a saleslady in a retail store, and six boarders.

The SSI Death Index has Amanda T. Fry listed as born July 27, 1899, and last residence in Tupelo, Lee County, Mississippi. She died July 31, 1989.

GRAMMER, Lee Mr., Block 21

The 1920 census of Fawn Grove, lists Lee Grammer, 27, farmer, as head of household which includes wife Alma, 23, and son Curmet, 10 months.

GRAMMER, Lee Mrs., Block 21

Alma Grammer was the wife of Lee Grammer of Fawn Grove. See above.

Alma Grammer is listed in the SSI Death Index as born March 20, 1896 and last residence at Mooreville, Lee County, Mississippi. She died in February 1985.

KIRKSEY, Elvin, Block 21

Elvin Kirksey, age 4, is listed in the 1910 census as living in the household of his parents A.S. and Mollie Kirksey of Mantachie. In 1910 he had the following siblings: Gordon, Vivian, Kermit, and Burnice.

McCOLLOUGH, Mrs., Block 21

Without a given name, the identity of Mrs. McCollough was not possible.

McFERRIN, Authur Kermit, Block 21

Arthur Kermit McFerrin, member of the IHS Board of Directors, was born in 1930 one month after the census had been completed in Mantachie. He is, therefore, not enumerated in the 1930 household of his parents, Oville K. McFerrin and Gladys Cummings McFerrin.

A veteran of the Korean War, Mr. McFerrin is the husband of Mary Anna Reed McFerrin and the father of Pamela McFerrin Thompson, Cathy McFerrin, and Jack McFerrin. Mr. McFerrin is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Mantachie where he is a Deacon and a Sunday school teacher.

See additional information about Kermit McFerrin's family below.

McFERRIN, O.K., Block 21

Orville K. McFerrin is listed as 23 years old, a clerk in a general store, and a resident of Mantachie on the 1930 census. He was married to Gladis L., 20, and had a daughter Midfred I., age 1.

Merchant, land owner, gin owner Mantachie resident O.K. McFerrin was the husband of Gladys Cummings McFerrin. They had three children: Midfred McFerrin Camp, A.K. McFerrin, and J.H. McFerrin.

O.K. McFerrin was born July 13, 1905 in Lee County and he died May 4, 1965. He is buried in Mantachie Cemetery.

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

Woud you like to try your hand at appliqué? . . at embroidery? . . at quilting? Those possibilities and more are available at the Itawamba Historical Society and the 2010 Friendship-Memory Quilt. The quilt has been cut; the squares are ready for appliquéing and embroider-work; and come Spring the quilt will be ready for quilting.

Be a part of history being made --- record your name on or help quilt the 2010 Friendship-Memory Quilt of the Itawamba Historical Society. Call 662-282-7664 or come by the Society's complex at the Corner of Church Street and Museum Drive to learn more about this time-honored method of community action!

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.