Re-gifted quilt a treasure

This quilt, made for Reverend T.W. Hayes, about 1927-1931, has been returned to the community that presented it to him almost 90 years ago. The 440 names on the quilt are primarily from the Rushing community in Stone County and Van Buren County, Arkansas and appear to be those who attended church services or music schools at Antioch General Baptist Church in Rushing during this era.  I’ve typed the names (with no spelling corrections) and listed them in alphabetical order below. If you would like a photo of a particular square containing the name of your ancestor, please email a request.

Here is a newspaper article about the quilt published by the Stone County Leader and the Voice (Van Buren County) in April 2016.

Re-gifted quilt is a treasure                                                                                      by Renee Rushing Carr

Roger and Ramona Rorie of Clinton delivered a quilt to my parents, Rodney & Angalee Rushing of Rushing, last week. It wasn’t just any quilt. This quilt has 440 names on it! Each embroidered with red thread, contained on 20 blocks with 22 names each embroidered inside leaves stitched in green. The Rories had been to visit friends Toney & Sallie Parish in Clinton recently. The Parishes were distributing family heirlooms to family members.  No one in the family knew the names on the quilt and did not want to take it, believing it belonged elsewhere. The family story was that it was a gift to Toney’s grandfather, T.W. Hayes, who had been a preacher throughout the region. They presumed it may have been a gift from a congregation where he preached, but they did not know where.  Ramona and Roger Rorie, former Fox residents, looked at the quilt and Ramona quickly recognized most of the names as people from the Rushing community. The most prevalent surnames, about 50 of each are Hinesley, Holland, and Rushing, as well as about 20 Harper surnames. The remaining 270 names are varied.

We speculate that women assigned the quilt squares out to one another to be embroidered, then together pieced the quilt and held a quilting bee. The quilting pattern outlines each of the leaves and stems and goes around each block.

Together my parents and I tried to “date” the quilt by figuring out which children were on it and which were not. Which girls were married and which were listed by their maiden names? We narrowed it down by discovering that Hubert Hinesley of Fox is possibly the youngest individual on the quilt. He was born February 2, 1927.  Based on this and the exclusion of some younger people, it is estimated that the quilt was made 1927-1931. My paternal grandparents, Ina Hinesley and Clay Rushing, were married in 1930.  She is listed on the quilt under her maiden name.  My four paternal great grandparents are also on the quilt: Phillip Malanthy (P.M.) & Nioma Rushing and Charles Marion & Lissie Hinesley.

In 1928 a very large baptism service for Antioch General Baptist Church took place with over 30 people from the Rushing area baptized.  A small picture of the group exists today. Rodney Rushing, whose father, Clay, was one of those baptized, has a theory that a revival covering several weeks preceded the baptism service and the names on the quilt may be those who attended the revival. Possibly Reverend Hayes was the evangelist at the revival? Mickey Parish of Clinton now has his great grandfather, T.W. Hayes’, journal which records that during 1927-1932 he pastored churches at Fox and Shirley.

For those who enjoy family history and local history, the quilt is truly a gift. The quilt was first a practical gift of time and love in appreciation for Reverend Hayes. Now, almost 90 years later, it is a gift back to the Rushing Community as a historical artifact. The quilt documents the general vicinity where 440 people lived in 1927.  Though most of the names are associated with the community of Rushing, names of those who resided between Rushing and Shirley, in Van Buren County, are also included as well as some names from Fox.  A few surnames, including Turney, are from Cleburne County.  Some names on the quilt are from the Red River Township of Stone County. After researching Reverend T.W. Hayes and his wife, Mae, I found that they lived in Red River Township in 1930. That explains why some of the names on the quilt are from that township while not many names from Fox and Turkey Creek are included.

A few names are duplicated several times on the quilt. Earl Bonds’ name is on the quilt five times. Born in 1906, he was still a bachelor at the time the quilt was made. He was a school teacher and also carried the mail on horseback for a time, so he would have been well known even though he did not live in the Rushing community.  His 1930 marriage record indicates he resided at Lydalisk, an M&NA railroad stop on the Little Red River, at the time of his marriage to Oma Lea Ramsey.

Ramona Rorie’s uncles, Forrest and Leo Ticer, who lived at Fox, are on the quilt although her father, Joe, is not. Joe’s older brothers were 22 and 24 at the time, both single, and likely were mobile enough to attend church services at various locations at the time, while Joe, at age 13, attended with his parents closer to home at Fox.  The names of Neal and Minnie Holland and their daughter, Julia Holland Powell, and her husband Albert are on the quilt. Neal was postmaster at Fox at the time, and his daughter, Julia, would serve as postmaster for many years.  One block of the quilt contains the names of preachers who had preached in the area. Also included are Ed and Ella Stevens who ran the large mercantile and post office at Rushing Junction where Ella served as postmaster for 39 years.

The quilt spent most of its 90 years in Conway where T.W. & Mae Hayes moved in the 1940’s. Their daughter, Julia Parish Baker, who also resided in Conway, received the quilt upon her mother’s death and was a good caretaker of it. In 2001, Toney and Sallie Parish moved his mother, Julia, to Clinton to better care for her until her passing. Her husband passed away recently. The quilt was found packed in a plastic bag on a closet shelf.

Some people would view it as coincidence or serendipity that the quilt was eventually returned from Conway to Clinton where the Rories would just happen to see it and recognize the names on the quilt. For my parents and me, it’s a “Godwink”…sure evidence that this quilt that honored a man who preached the word of God was, through God’s design, returned to the community and the very descendants of those who heard the word preached.  I’m sure they had no idea that this quilt on which they had labored would one day be a treasured heirloom documenting their very existence at a particular place and period in time.

We welcome any information anyone can provide about the quilt or those whose names are on it. At least two people whose names are included are still living: Hubert Hinesley of Fox and Selma Thornton (Campbell) of Shirley. We would love to know if there are others. The full list of 440 names, typed in alphabetical order, may be viewed at http://returnthephotos.com/re-gifted-quilt-a-treasure/

A display case will be made for the quilt for display at the Outreach Center at Antioch General Baptist Church at Rushing for Memorial Day services on May 29.

(Renee Rushing Carr is a genealogy enthusiast and volunteer Director of the Family History Center at 612 S. Peabody Street in Mountain View. She is also currently serving as president of the Stone County Historical Society.)

Mrs. Ira	Anderson
J.	Arnold
J.	Baker
H.A.	Bellamy
J.W.	Bellamy
Maggie	Berry
Bob	Berry
Belle	Berry
Claudine	Berry
Helen	Berry
Tommy	Berry
Walter	Berry
Nora	Berry
Robert	Bishop
Alice Pearl	Bishop
Roxie	Bishop
Mrs.	Bishop
Mr.	Bishop
J.F.	Boggs
Earl	Bonds
Earl	Bonds
Earl	Bonds
Earl	Bonds
Earl	Bonds
King	Bradford
Ray	Branscum
Remath	Branscum
Truman	Branscum
Clarence	Branscum
Lula	Branscum
Elma	Branscum
Ella	Brown
Johnie	Brown
Mrs. A.E.	Bunner
Mrs. J.A.	Callender
J.A.	Callender
Aubie	Carroll
C.	Casey
D.	Cavender
Sarah	Chester
Sally	Cocher (Kocher)
J.E.	Cox
Mary	Dabbs
Mrs. Ed	Dabbs
Edd	Dabbs
Thelma	Daniels
Sherman	Daniels
Lodell	Daniels
Rachel	Daniels
Willis	Daniels
Lillie	Daniels
Jessie	Daniels
Francis	Deason
W.N.	Duncan
Jessie	Emerson
Earl	Emmerson
Evelyn	Emmerson
Frona	Erving
Mrs.	Erving
Lesley	Etter
Pearl	Etter
W.	Faulkner
Velma	Files
Lee	Files
Johnie	Files
Garner	Files
Mattie	Files
J.	Gardner
Sam	Giddeon
Hattie	Goff
Will	Goff
Altha	Green
George	Guffey
Maud	Guffey
T.	Harness
Martha	Harness
G. {George}	Harper
Dinna	Harper
Lila	Harper
Ruby	Harper
Lotha	Harper
Ual	Harper
Oren	Harper
Anna	Harper
Hubert	Harper
V.	Harper
Thurlo	Harper
Edith	Harper
Roy	Harper
Una	Harper
Ralph	Harper
Ray	Harper
Rina	Harper
Henry	Harper
M.	Harper
Junie	Harper
Lilian	Hayes
May	Hayes
Ollie	Hazlett
Ella	Hines
Gladys	Hines
Alice	Hinesley
Azra	Hinesley
Emma	Hinesley
Losia	Hinesley
Ebb	Hinesley
Elmer	Hinesley
Mollie	Hinesley
Chas. Howard	Hinesley
Raymond	Hinesley
Epha	Hinesley
Audie	Hinesley
Gladys	Hinesley
Nellie	Hinesley
Emma	Hinesley
Elbert	Hinesley
Elosia	Hinesley
Roy	Hinesley
Nellie	Hinesley
Azra	Hinesley
Henry	Hinesley
Ruth	Hinesley
Marion	Hinesley
Lissie	Hinesley
Ina	Hinesley
Carl	Hinesley
Emmett	Hinesley
Ora	Hinesley
Orpha	Hinesley
Kermit	Hinesley
Winnie	Hinesley
Carson	Hinesley
C.A.	Hinesley
C.A.	Hinesley
Winnie	Hinesley
Herman	Hinesley
Dicey	Hinesley
Mary	Hinesley
Elton	Hinesley
Hubert	Hinesley
Carl	Hinesley
Esther	Hinesley
Eva	Hinesley
Onis	Hinesley
Nina	Hinesley
Dony	Hinesley
J.M.	Hinesley
Sally	Hinesley
Jesse	Hinesley
Ray	HInesley
R.F.	Hinesley
Tom	Hinesley
Eller	Hinesley
Pearl	Hinkle
John	Hinkle
Ruth	Hinkle
George	Hinkle
Alene	Hinkle
Nethelene	Hinkle
Ruthel	Hinkle
Dude	Hinkle
Lonzo	Hinkle
Melvin	Hinkle
Mary	Hinkle
Ike	Hinkle
Eliza	Holland
C.A.	Holland
Thomas	Holland
Norma	Holland
Neal	Holland
Minnie	Holland
D.	Holland
Iris	Holland
Barney	Holland
Lee	Holland
J.R.	Holland
Ola	Holland
Nell	Holland
Mary E.	Holland
Hubert	Holland
Harriett	Holland
M. F.	Holland
J.M.	Holland
A.	Holland
Louella	Holland
H.	Holland
Marketia	Holland
Grady	Holland
Forrest M.	Holland
Mary Jo	Holland
Julia	Holland
J.E.	Holland
Eltis	Holland
Pearl	Holland
Finis	Holland
C.A.	Holland
Liza	Holland
Murel	Holland
Arthur	Holland
Ben	Holland
Jewell	Holland
Joe	Holland
Ruth	Holland
Fern	Holland
Hope	Holland
John	Holland
Virginia	Holland
Helen	Holland
B.	Holland
Maggie	Holland
Neda	Holland
Odis	Holland
Bryant	Holland
Chase	Holland
Grace	Holland
Dovie	Holland
Ethel	Holland
Alvin	Holland
Tom	Holland
Mattie	Holly
Clyde	Hooten
Lena	Hooten
W.	Hulsey
Minna	Hulsey
Bitha	Hulsey
B.	Isaac
Claud	Jenkins
Mary	Jenkins
Robert	Jennings
Grover	Jennings
Robert	Jennings
Robert	Jennings
Robert	Jennings
Robert	Jennings
Robert	Jennings
Robert	Jennings
Anna	Kendall
Mrs.	Kendall
Anna	Kendall
J.E.	King
J.	King
J.E.G.	Knight
Bonie Ruth	Lewis
Major	Lewis
Mamie	Lewis
Lissia	Lewis
Richard	Lewis
Mary	Lewis
Charlie	Lewis
Dlue	Lewis
Owen	Long
Laura	Long
David	Long
Elgie	Long
Lucille	Long
Fate	Long
Flora	Long
Cal	Long
Johnie	Long
Pinkney	Long
Irine	Long
Ollie	Long
Martina Jean	Long
Matt	Long
Elbert	Lowrance
Ima	Lowrance
Herbert	Lowrance
Almer	Lowrance
Bud	Lowrance
Earl	Lowrance
Irma	Lowrance
Soland	Lyday
Alice	Lyday
Lucy	Lyday
May	Lyday
Marion	Lynn
Cora	Lynn
Leona	Martin
Marie	Martin
Marie	Martin
Sarah	May
George	May
Rosa	May
Lucy	May
Evelyn	May
Mildred	May
H.A.	McCowan
Imojene	Moncrief
Eunice Dean	Moncrief
Martha	Moncrief
Edith	Moncrief
Mildred	Moncrief
L.G.	Montgomery
D.N.	Moody
Lina	Moore
Mabel	Moore
Lois	Moore
Hubert	Moore
Lula Faye	Moore
Walter	Moore
Angie	Moore
Willie	Moore
Frazie	Moore
Grace	Moore
Pearl	Moore
Lillian	Moore
Robert	Moore
Sam	Moore
Ira	Moore
J.H.	O’Neal
W.E.	Pearson
W.	Phelps
Ruby	Phelps
Theesta	Phelps
Mae	Pierce
Tempa	Pierce
Albert	Powell
Julia	Powell
Lomah	Reeves
Mat	Reeves
Hiriam	Reeves
Eva	Reeves
Mat	Reeves
J.D.	Reeves
Hiriam	Reeves
Orvel	Reeves
Herman	Reeves
Orvel	Reeves
Hiram	Reeves
Lomah	Reeves
Etter	Reeves
T.E.	Rhoades
Edward	Rhoades
Hadley	Rushing
Blonde	Rushing
M.M.	Rushing
Cora	Rushing
Homer	Rushing
Hazel	Rushing
Opal	Rushing
Anna C.	Rushing
Mary	Rushing
Champ	Rushing
Ira Alice	Rushing
Roy	Rushing
Joe	Rushing
Maye	Rushing
Nat	Rushing
Ethel	Rushing
Clay	Rushing
Blake	Rushing
Basha	Rushing
Nioma	Rushing
P.M.	Rushing
Mark	Rushing
Lola	Rushing
J.B.	Rushing
Maggie	Rushing
Mitchell	Rushing
Wilson	Rushing
Claud	Rushing
Hadley	Rushing
Blonde	Rushing
Cora	Rushing
Matt	Rushing
P.M.	Rushing
Nioma	Rushing
Basha	Rushing
Maggie	Rushing
Blake	Rushing
Clay	Rushing
Charles M.	Rushing
Anna	Rushing
Lora	Rushing
Mark H.	Rushing
Alice	Rushing
J.W.	Rushing
Norma Ruth	Rushing
Julia	Rushing
Calvin	Rushing
Curtis	Rushing
Edith	Rushing
J.	Sandage
Anna	Shanks
Ollie	Shanks
R.E.	Smallwood
Mr.	Smith
Mrs.	Smith
Zular	Smith
Tina	Smith
Carvell	Smith
Ollie	Smith
Wayne	Smith
Barbara	Smith
Thomas	Smith
Eltha	Stephens
Opal	Stephens
Flossie	Stephens
Harbet	Stephens
E.	Stevens
E. E.	Stevens
H.	Stroud
R.A.	Suggs
R.A.	Suggs
D.M.	Taylor
Lucy	Taylor
Nettie	Taylor
Ephraim	Taylor
Evelyn	Taylor
Clara Fae	Taylor
Herbert	Taylor
Pairlee	Thomas
Omega	Thompson
Ethel	Thorlton
George	Thorlton
Ida	Thornton
John	Thornton
Selma	Thornton
J.R.	Thornton
James	Thornton
Mary Sue	Thornton
Evelyn	Thornton
Forrest	Ticer
Leo	Ticer
Everett	Treat
Lillie	Treat
L.	Treat
Bettie Jo	Turney
Henry L.	Turney
Hershel	Turney
John	Turney
Winnie	Turney
Leroy	Vandiver
Jewel	Vandiver
Madella	Vandiver
Gay	Whitaker
Golda	Williams
Alice	Williams
Calla	Williams
C.F.	Wood