Thursday, July 15, 1982             Westfield Republican

Dibble’s Dabbles

Memories unfold with an old friendship quilt

 

By Billie Dibble

In the spring of 1933 an energetic group of young women in Westfield were promoting many fund-raising activities which sound unique to us today.

They put on a Depression Party. They held a series of Vanishing Teas. Perhaps their most ambitious venture was the creating of a Friendship Quilt.

The group was the Stitchery Club which was organized on January 11, 1928 as an auxiliary to the Methodist Ladies Aid. The charter members were Miss Lottie Schoenfeld, Mrs. E. T. Judd, Mrs. Ralph Strickland, Mrs. Harold Watt, Mrs. Merle Findlay, Miss Alice Curtis, Mrs. J. Vernon Wantshouse, Mrs. Oscar Covell, Mrs. Arthur Macer, Miss Ella Weise, Mrs. Robert Hussey, Mrs. O. A. Ottaway, Mrs. R. H. Morganstern, Miss Augusta Schoenfeld, Mrs. Ernest Rexford, Mrs. Carlton Judd, Mrs. William P. Oakes and Miss Mary Wright. During the first five years the membership expanded from the eighteen charter members to an enrollment of more than sixty.

With Mrs. Erman Peck as the president and in the minutes recorded by Estella Amidon secretary, I read” Discussed making friendship quilt, It was planned to finish the quilt for Easter.” The February minutes recorded that the quilt material was ordered paid. In March, “Report was given on the quilt blocks.: At the May meeting Beula Waite reported $38.00 from the quilt.” In June a letter of thanks was read from Mrs. Welch for the quilt.

Today I unfolded that beautiful old blue and white quilt and read the names of about 380 people, most of whom lived in Westfield and many of whom I had known quite well. Attesting to the care and skill which went into the making of the quilt, only one of these names, painstakingly written and embroidered in blue floss, is illegible.

The quilt is made up of 20 blocks, each containing the autographs of 19 people. Family circles and circles of friends are grouped so that you can almost tell which Stitchery Club member was responsible for collecting the ten cents and signature from each person whose names appears on the quilt. For instance there is one block that bears the names of people who worked in the Welch Office up town – another for those in the factory and the print shop. Another reveals the names of folks employed in the telephone office and stores on Main Street – the National Bank (Patterson Crandall, Edward Reagan and Frank P. Wolfe).

One block, no doubt the one assigned to Ruth Ranson, showed the names of Rev. and Mrs. Frank McKnight and all the ministers who had served the Westfield Methodist Church who were still living in the spring of 1933 – including Rev. and Mrs. F. A Mills who were retired and living here at that time.

My mother’s name appears in the circle of friends of Charlotte Schoenfeld, of course, for they were life-long friends. I can remember when she embroidered “Mayme” Small” with the blue floss.

One complete block shows the names of the members of the Welch family including the name Lena Koch who was the faithful housekeeper in the C. E. Welch home for many years.

In 1933 Julia Frailey Welch , widow of Dr. Welch, was not very well and as a gesture of their love and esteem for her, the members of the Stitchery Club presented her with the Friendship Quilt, which she cherished. Some years later the quilt war returned to the church and offered for sale at a bazaar. At the end of the day no one had purchased it and rather than see it stored away, a far sighted lady made an offer and it was sold to her for a mere fraction of its value. She guarded it with tender loving care and today it is in the custody of Lois Downey who works diligently each year on the annual quilt show sponsored by the Westfield Hospital Auxiliary.

You will be able to see the Friendship Quilt among the “Pieces of Memories VI” at the Presbyterian Church on July 15, 16, 17 and 18. Plan to see it. I’ll wager it will send you off on a nostalgic trip you will truly enjoy.
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*****Follow up
The First United Methodist Church of Westfield is now in possession of this wonderful part of Westfield history!
 
 
1933 signature quilt
numbered signature quilt
 
 

Block 20

 

Block 20

  1. Mabel C McEwen (Mabel Case McEwen; b ~1883, d 5/13/1933, daughter of George V & Eva Winchester Case; married George B McEwen 6/26/1906; mother of Clarence & Earl; sister of H Burton Case)
  2. Mrs Sara Tredo (Sara Neill Tredo, b 12-16-1883; died 7/20/1965; married William Bert Tredo 11-16-1916 in Westfield; daughter of Robert & Elizabeth Galloway Tredo; sister of Robert, Elizabeth, Nellie, Maggie & Clara; no children)
  3. Mrs Emma McCartey (Emma Jennie Pomeroy McCartey, b 9/1861; joined 10/1/1922; married James F McCartey in 1881; mother of Florence, Ethel & Alice; daughter of Luther & Harriet Pomeroy, sister of Rebecca Pomeroy)
  4. Mrs Mabel Herbst (Mabel H Peterson Herbst Fairbanks; b 8/12/1890, d 9/25/1964, married 1st – Paul F Herbst; married 2nd – Guy Fairbanks, mother of Boyd Ferdinand Herbst, Earl, Darwin & Lylas; daughter of xxx Peterson)
  5. Mrs Charles McEwen (Mary McEwen, b?, d 1/14/1945, Wife of Charles McEwen, mother of George & Ethel)
  6. Cora E Ottaway (b 4/8/1863, d 5/7/1941; daughter of John Edwin & Sarah Hosmer Boorman Ottaway; never married; sister of Osmer Arthur , Susan, Fred)
  7. Mrs E L Jones [no information found]

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Block 19

  1. Grace Miller (Grace M Royce Miller; b 4/28/1886; joined 4/10/1904; d 6/22/1974; daughter of Dana F & Jennie A Royce; married Edward G Miller; sister of Blanche, Maude & Ralph)
  2. J Vernon Wantshouse (John Vernon Wantshouse; b 9/8/1892, d 4/16/1969; married Irene Baker Wanthouse on 6/26/1916; son of Charles G & Ida Nelson Wantshouse; brother of Charlotte, Charles & Harry; father of Jane)
  3. Mrs J Vernon Wantshouse (Irene Baker Wantshouse, b 12/231890; joined 1/19/1921; d 12/1978; married J Vernon Wantshouse on 6/26/1916; mother of Ida Jane Wantshouse Smith; daughter of Albert J & Mary Tanner Baker; sister of Clarence, Edna, Arthur & Florence)
  4. Ida Jane Wantshouse (Ida Jane Wantshouse Smith; Jane W Smith; b 3/12/1919; d 11/2/1982; joined 4/9/1933; daughter of J Vernon & Irene Baker Wantshouse; married Dan Smith on 12/16/1943; mother of Christopher)
  5. Mary R Bowers (Mary R Smith Bowers, b 2/12/1856; joined 1895; d 12/8/1853; daughter of Michael & Rosanna Hinds Smith; married Dr John N Bowers; mother of Arthur)
  6. Nellie M Ames (Nellie Hopson Ames; b 1863, joined 4/16/1922; d 3/2/1944; joined 4/16/1922; daughter of Schuyler & Angeline Howard Hopson, married Frank Gardner Ames; mother of Arlene Tucker & Bernice Ames Backman, sister of Adelade, Dianthy, Celestia, Seth, Sidney, Frank, Howard & Elverton)

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Block 18

 

 

 

  1. Winifred Cady (Winifred Stoolfer Cady, b 11/1866; joined 1894; d 1/1956; married Henry Cady ~1892 ; daughter of Irvine & Eleanor Gregg Stoofler?; sister of Robert Stoofler, Harriet Stoofler Jackway; mother of Philip Cady, Mrs Kathleen Cady Rosel ,Mildred Cady Morgan & Robert Cady
  2. Olive M Jones(Frances Olive Morgenstern Jones; b ~5/1885, d 1977; daughter of Herman & Amelia Christine Zahm(Zahn) Morgenstern; sister of Reuben & Paul Morgenstern; married Bert L Jones on 10/26/1911; mother of Howard)
  3. Mrs K W Seiter(Mabel F Warner Seiter; b 2/12/1893, d 11/7/1965, daughter of Martin & Mary Warner [daughter of Martin & Anna Mariah Schocker]; married Kasson Walker Seiter; sister ½ – Geore E Lillie, Lucy Lillie, Carlton Pratt, full – Sherman Warner, Francis Warner
  4. Albert E Rohring( b 1/5/1880, d 12/1970; married Amelia C Rohring; father of Betty; step-brother of Lydia Schrader Perry, Herman Schrader, Rudolph Schrader, Hilda Whitcher & Edna Miller; son of Christopher & Hannah Schrader;
  5. James Lloyd Jr (James Bird Lloyd Jr; b 1/23/1907, d 2/1984; son of James & Elizabeth(Libby) Zimmerman Lloyd Sr; married Hazel Saunders Lloyd on 2/7/1931; father of Phyllis, James D, Robert, Myrna; brother  Bessie, Martin, Raymond & True)

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Block 17

Block 17

  1. Esther Flagg (Florence Esther Burbee Flagg; b 4/20/1892, joined 9/2/1906; d 6/18/1963; daughter of Oscar A & Ethel Florence Tolls Burbee; married 1st Erwin “Arthur” Flagg on 5/8/1912; married 2nd Edgar Neal in 1956, mother of Winifred; sister of Earl, Edith, Elmer,& Elsie)
  2. Mabel Tenpas (Mabel G Cady Tenpas, b 4/1891; married Louis Tenpas [d1936] on 9/5/1912; daughter of Clayton & Cena[Lenmie] Bennink Cady; sister of Herman, Irving, Edward, Ruth; mother of Ellen Murdock Clute, Lou John son, Walter Tenpas, Harold Tenpas, Dorothy Munson & Clyde Tenpas)
  3. Bernice Backman(Bernice May Ames Backman; b 11/12/1893, d 1/1/1964, joined 1912; married Walter John Beckman on 6/16/1920; daughter of Frank & Nellie G Ames; mother of Seymour & Gordon)
  4. Louise M Hipwell (Anna Louise Newell Hipwell Harrington; b 10/12/1894 (in Ireland) d 3/12/1957; married 1st – Alvin Thomas Hipwell on 6/11/1919[d1931]; 2nd – married Eli Harrington 12/1939; daughter of William J & Flora Wallace Newell, sister of Flora Dodd, Elizabeth Northrup, Gertrude Mettendorfs, George, James, John & Robert Newell; immigrated 1907; citizenship 1918; mother of Doris Hipwell Holbrook and Betty Hipwell Connelly)
  5. Elizabeth B Beck(Elizabeth Brooker Beck; b 7/16/1891, joined 8/5/1906, d 6/3/1968; married Philip Beck on 2/20/1914; mother of Alice; daughter of Richard I & Maria Smith Brooker; sister of George & Alice)

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Block 16

 
 

Block 16

  1. Richard Mead (Richard Austin Mead, b 4/4/1923, d 7/2/2001, , son of Clarence & Elizabeth Mead, husband of Jean Allen Mead (married 8/29/1949);father of Julie Mead & Dean Mead)
  2. Lizzie Bristol (Lizzie Rogers Bristol, b 3/1863, joined 1876, d 11/7/1945, wife of John Bristol, mother of Clifford, Clara & Ralph)
  3. Minnie Hipwell (Minnie Sherman Hopwell, b 8/1868, joined 5/27/1906, d 2/10/1955, married Henry J Hipwell in 3/22/1891, daughter of Lowry G & Harriet Sherman, mother of Alvin(d1931))
  4. Gardner C Freling (b 8/25/1906, joined 1922, d 7/26/1978, son of August & Frances Sache Freling, Jr, brother of Eleanor(Ellie) Freling Mead, married Elizabeth Becker Freling on 7/5/1929; father of Thomas, Judith & Joan)
  5. James Wilson Mead (b 1931, son of Harris & Eleanor Freling Mead, brother of Loretta Peckman & Virginia Hoyt)
  6. Lillian Walker (Lillian V Barber Walker, b 7/1895, d 1/25/1972, married Frank Smith Walker 6/30/1921, daughter of G H & May Pickard Barber, mother of Dorothy Mary, & Frank L Walker)
  7. Mabel Quillium (b3/10/1895, joined 1911, d 5/9/1975, married Lee William Quillium, mother of Dorothy & Carolyn)

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Block 15

 

Block 15

  1. Ross M Welch (b 3/1/1924, d 5/27/1944, buried 6/12/1949; son of Edgar & Myrtie Warren Welch, ½ brother of Jean, Charles, Thomas & Paul)
  2. Myrtle Warren Welch (b 1881, d 1/23/1972, joined 6/24/1904; married Edgar T Welch in 1922; mother of Ross Welch)
  3. Edgar Thomas Welch (b 1/22/1881, d 6/26/1963, joined 1898, son of Charles Edgar & Jennie Ross Welch, spouse of 1) Grace Harris Welch(d1921), 2) Myrtle Warren Welch, father of Charles, Thomas, Paul, Jean & Ross)
  4. Julia F Welch (Julia Frailey Welch, b 1856, d 11/11/1939, joined 1898; wife of Charles E Welch; mother of William, Jennie & John; daughter of John & Annie Culin Frailey)
  5. Ruth VanLewan Welch (b 1894, d 1988; wife of William Taylor Welch; mother of William John Welch & Ruth Julia Welch Layton)
  6. William T Welch (William Taylor Welch, b 1890, d 1961; son of Charles Edgar & Julia Frailey Welch; married Ruth VanLeuvan Welch; brother of Jennie, & Paul; father of William John Welch & Ruth Julia Welch Layton)
  7. Ruth Julia Welch (daughter of William Taylor & Ruth VanLewan Welch, sister of William John Welch; married Harold M Layton)

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Block 14

block-14
 

Block 14

  1. Alta M Hunt (b 8/1899, d 11/18/1938, joined 4/4/1915, daughter of James & Ida Hunt)
  2. Ida M Hunt (Ida May Garrison Hunt; b 9/20/1872, d 12/28/1951, joined 1910, married James E Hunt 4/14/1896, mother of Alta; daughter of Charles & Catherine Garrison; sister of Henry, Katherine, John, Isaac, Anna, Hannah, George, Charles & Mary)
  3. Katherine G Harrington (Katherine Garrison Harrington, b 1/19/1868, d 12/13/1937, joined 10/18/1914, daughter of Charles & Catherine Garrison, married Mark L Harrington on 11/27/1895, step-mother of Edith, sister of Henry, Ida, John, Isaac, Anna, Hannah, George, Charles & Mary)
  4. Nell I Harrington (Nell Irene Chord; b 1895, d 1989, married Earl Harrington on 6/18/1917; daughter of Charles & Rose VanOsdol Chord)
  5. Earl L Harrington (b 8/21/1893, d 1/3/1979; son of Eli & Rhoda Miner Harrington, brother of M Ethel Hall, R Grace Hopson; married Nell Harrington on 6/18/1917,)
  6. Vincent H Hopson (b 1917, d 9/4/1945, joined 6/10/1928, son of George & Grace Harrington Hopson)

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Block 13

block-13

Block 13

  1. Flora Bates (b 10/1859, joined 1920, wife of George D Bates, mother of Grace, Vernon, Nellie, Hulda, Charles & Myrtle)
  2. May P Barber (May Pickard Barber, b 5/1862, d 1945, joined 1894; daughter of John & Emeline Pickard, wife (2nd) of Gilbert H Barber; mother of Lillian; sister of Estelle & Eugene)
  3. Gertrude B Grinols (Gertrude Murphy Grinols; b 5/1883, d 11/2/1935, joined 1910, married Frank Grinols on 4/22/1907, mother of Arletta & Myrtle Grinols, daughter of Caroline Murphy, sister of Charles Nundy)
  4. Emma Judd (Emma Denison Judd, b 1858, d 4/26/1940 joined 10/5/1905, wife of William E Judd, mother of Carleton Judd, Clayton, Sadie(Sarah), Marguerite and E Taylor)
  5. Carrie Persons (Caroline Mary “Carrie” Stockley Persons; b 8/13/1853, d 9/12/1933, joined 1870; daughter of Charles & Betsey Shoff Stockley; married Walter Persons on 5/9/1872; mother of Minnie[Royer], Charles, Jay, Grace[Shearer], Harold & Mary[Shearer])
  6. Mrs Mary Jones Morse (b 1/1849, d 1935; joined 1875; wife of Daniel N Morse, mother of Mary Loula Persons & Florence Harris Shaw)

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Block 12

block 12
 

Block 12

  1. Mrs Gertrude Naudin (Gertrude Peck Caldwell Naudin, b 1/3/1862, died 10/11/1950, married Harry Naudin 7/15/1911, widow of Hastings (Harry) T Naudin, mother of Herman(Dean) Caldwell, Eolene Caldwell Case, Vera & Althea Caldwell Cavender; daughter of Asahel & Ann Adelia Crouch Peck; widow of Decatur Caldwell (married 9/20/1884, he d5/19/1899); sister of Olive, Perses, Elmer & Edith Peck)
  2. Mr James W Hage (b 8/3/1890, died 9/25/1972, joined 1/25/1914, married Doratha Frances Chapman on 8/18/1921; son of Harry & Rena Dysert Hage, father of James, William Roy)
  3. Mrs James W Hage (Doratha Frances Chapman, b 1/8/1903, d 10/7/1981, joined 1920, married James William Hage on 8/18/1921; daughter of Wallace & Maybell Powers Chapman, sister of Iowne; mother of James & William Roy)
  4. Mrs R M Hage (Rena M Dysert Hage b 1869, d 2/15/1949, joined 5/9/1920, married Harry R Hage on 9/24/1889, mother of James Hage, Daughter of James Dysert)

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Block 11 – or as I like to call it – the Ministers & Missionary Block 🙂

block 11
 

Block 11

  1. Mary Espy Gordon (wife of Rev Samuel M Gordon, b 10/9/1865, d 3/3/1948, mother of Esther, Harold, Boyd & Kathryn Gordon Bradshaw, daughter of Rev John & Esther Collins Espy, sister of Emma Espy Kennedy, Harry, Angeline & Agnes Espy Merrill)
  2. M Gordon (Rev. Samuel M Gordon, Minister in Westfield 1901-1903, b 10/17/1858, d 7/11/1948, child of Andrew & Mary Foster Gordon, brother of: James, Ella, Clara, Catherine, Andrew, Eva, William, Carrie, Elizabeth, Sissie, Milo & Myrtle; husband of Mary Espy Gordon, father of Esther, Harold, Boyd & Kathryn Gordon Bradshaw)
  3. R F Randolph (Amy Robinson Randolph, 3rd wife of Reuben Fritz Randolph – he was a minister in Westfield 1909-1913 – he died 12/6/1913, they were married on 5/30/1904, daughter of James P & Betsy Rexford Robinson, b 2/10/1858, d 11/27/1939)
  4. Agnes E Merrill (Agnes Espy Merrill, b 1880, d 1958, married Rev Richard Merrill on 10/13/1904, mother of Richard, Jr, John; daughter of Rev John & Esther Collins Espy, sister of Mary Espy Gordon, Emma Espy Kennedy, Harry & Angeline)
  5. R N Merrill (Rev Richard Nye Merrill, b 5/24/1881, d 11/7/1961, minister in Westfield 1916-1919, married Agnes Espy Merrill on 10/13/1904, father of Richard Jr & John, son of Philip S & xxx Merrill, brother of Julia, Charles & Philip Jr)
  6. Edna W Roberts (b 9/18/1879, d 5/2/1976, wife of Rev Dr John E Roberts)
  7. John E Roberts (Rev, Dr John Emory Roberts, minister in Westfield 1916-1919, b 2/3/1873, d 12/18/1960, husband of Edna W Roberts)
  8. Mrs Homer B Potter (Eva Eagles Potter, b 1886, d 4/18/1979, daughter of William & Annie Russell Eagles, married Rev Dr Homer Potter 5/13/1907, mother of Ruth Potter Bill, Esther Potter Dugan & Bruce)

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