This quilt was given to the Texas County Genealogy Library by the niece of a lady who owned the old Evening Shade store.
It is called a “Friendship Quilt” because of the embroidered names within the quilt blocks. It may have been made by a sewing bee or members of an Extension club who met and sewed together.
There are many family names listed on this quilt, and we believe these were families who lived in the northwest part of Texas County and not just in Evening Shade. It was made sometime around 1936. The material is faded, but still in good condition and most of the names are still clear. These quilts were often made for someone who was, or had been, a member of a club and was retiring or moving from the area.
What makes this quilt so special and exciting is the names on each of the blocks. We believe it should be called a “Family Friendship Quilt,” because there appears to be both a family name and names of individuals – perhaps parents and children.
One family I recognize is the Vaughn family. This family is related to my late mother-in-law, Lucy Vaughn Adkison. Her family was raised in the Fort Leonard Wood community until “imminent domain” was established in the early 1940s. The Vaughn family was one of many families who were forced to move from that area. Lucy’s brother, Earnest Vaughn, was an adult and probably one of the many workers who worked at the fort. His family moved to the Roby area and several members of the Vanghn family still live in northwest Texas County.
The public is welcome to visit the Texas County Missouri Genealogy and Historical Library for free. It is located at the back of the Texas County Historical and Military Museum at 300 S. Grand Ave. in Houston. The library is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays from March through November. We welcome everyone interested in learning about their family history, especially those with familial ties to Texas County and surrounding area.
