Block 8. A Stitch in Time

by Terry Thornton
email: hillcountrymonroecounty@gmail.com

A stitch in time. . . Block 8 of the circa 1931 Friendship Quilt in the Museum of the Itawamba County Historical Society

DUVALL, Lamoya, Block 08

According to IHS member Joe Sheffield, this is Lamo B. Duvall, wife of Marvin Duvall. See below.

On the 1930 census of Itawamba County, Beat 2, Marvin Duvall, 25, is shown as a member of the household of his mother, Lona Duvall, 48. This farming family lived on the Tupelo-Kirkville Road and besides Lona and Marvin included Marvin's sisters Reba, 22, Doyn, 20, Idela, 17, and Ruby Duvall, 15.

It is though that the quilt was made in the early 1930s; it can be assumed that Marvin and Lomoya married after 1930.

DUVALL, Marvin, Block 08

Marvin Duvall, age 14, is named on the 1920 census in the household of his parents Will and Leona Duvall at Mantachie. Marvin, age 25, is named on the 1930 census in the household of his mother, Lona Duvall.

Marvin Duvall was the husband of Lemoya Duvall; see information above.

According to the SSI Death Index, Marvin Duvall, born June 22, 1905, was living in Mantachie when he died in February 1987.

HOOD, J.A., Block 08

In 1920, James A. Hood, 63, and wife Florence Hood, 60, are listed on the Itawamba County census, Beat 3. Mr. Hood was a farmer.

On the 1930 census, James A. Hood, 74, and wife Florence A. Hood, 71, are shown residing on Cotton Gin-J Senter Road. "J Senter" is the local pronunciation of Jacinto.

RUSHING, J.T., Block 08

The initials on this block may be in reverse order. If that is the case, this may be Tildon J. Rushing, 53, who is shown on the 1930 census with Dela B. Rushing, 53, as residing in Beat 2 on Guntown-Fulton Road.

No J.T. Rushing could be found.

WILLIAMS, Allen, Block 08

Allen Williams is listed in the household of his parents, Benjamin Franklin Williams and Lucy Hart Pearson Williams on the 1900 and the 1910 census of Itawamba County. In 1900, the family was enumerated in the Clay Precinct and consisted of Benjamin Franklin Williams, 45, Lucy Williams, 41, daughter Lizzie M., 7, and sons Allen, 4, and Gordon 1.

In 1910 on the Oak Grove census was Benjamin F. Williams, 55, Lucy, 51, Lizzie, 18, Allen, 14, and Gordon, 11.

On the Ancestry message boards is speculation that Allen Williams married (1) Mollie Lou Bean 1897 - 1933 and (2) Vivian Barber 1906 - 1996.

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

The task to transcribe the 1930s Friendship Quilt in the Bond's House Musuem has inspired the membership of the Itawamba Historical Society to offer friends of the Society an opportunity to participate in a new friendship quilt --- the 2010 Friendship-Memory Quilt. You are invited to submit names to be recorded on the friendship quilt (memorials and business names are also encouraged). Those names will be embroidered on squares of appliqued birds and the squares will form a king-sized quilt to be finished in public quilting bees at the Society later this year. The final quilt will be raffled to a lucky winner.

You can help by finishing a square (fabric is already cut -- by appliquing a bird on the square), by embroidering names on the square ($10 per name), by helping with the quilting, or by purchasing raffle tickets ($1 per ticket). Your donations and orders may be made at the Itawamba Historical Society (corner of Church Street and Museum Drive) in Mantachie or by writing the Society at PO Box 7, Mantachie, MS 38855. Volunteers may schedule with the quilting activities by telephoning the Society at 662-282-7664.

The Society also welcomes new members --- annual dues are $25.00. Your donations and your interest are most appreciated!

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.