Liberty Tree Battle Memorial Quilt by Mrs. S.K. Daniels

Liberty Tree Quilt by Mrs. S.K. Daniels.

Date-inscribed 1896 
69" x 80" 

Collection of the Museum at Michigan State University

Purchased in Kentucky

Kitty Cole Clark Collection

"Mrs. S K Daniels Mach (sic) 1896,"

Mrs. Daniels made this fashionable quilt in 1896 according to her inscription in red work embroidery along the edge. We assume she meant March, 1896.

She used a popular pattern of the time, possibly copying

one sold by the Ladies's Art Company

Her pattern is close to #260 above in the Ladies' Art Company

1898 catalog of patchwork designs. They called it "Tree of Paradise"

But she embroidered "Liberty Tree" in one of the central blocks.

Other early 20th century names for this particular block included

Christmas Tree Patch from Comfort Magazine and Pine Tree from

Ruth Finley's 1929 book.

Most of the white spaces in the center and along the borders are embroidered with 

Civil War battle names, dates and Generals. 

Above:

 "Pittsburg Landing April 1862," 

"Pittsburg Landing April 6 1862."

Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River near Corinth, Mississippi was

the site of the important battle known as Shiloh in the Confederacy.

It must have meant a great deal to Mrs. Daniels.

Similar inscriptions from other battles include:

"Wilson Creek, MO Aug 10 [1]861 Lyon," 

"Raleigh NC Aprill 26, 1865 Sherman,"

Although the dates are during the Civil War, the embroidery style in Turkey red cotton indicates she embroidered them after 1880, a date consistent with another inscription: "Wm McKinley 1896."  

McKinley was elected to his first term in 1896. The inscription might have been a celebration of his November election or an advocacy of his candidacy earlier in the year.

Another embroidered name is recorded as "C A Hobert," which probably refers to McKinley's 1896 running mate Garret A. Hobart.

Mrs. Daniels also embroidered a Temperance slogan

in the center: "Abstain from Strong Drink."

Searching for Mrs. S. K. Daniels in the published records comes up with two:

1) Alice Daniels and S K Daniels in the 1880 census, 5th Ward, East Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

2) The grave of  "DANIELS, Annie b. Mar 3, 1851 d. Oct 17, 1900 Wife of S.K. Daniels"

in the Teoc Presbyterian Cemetery in Carroll County, Mississippi (about 170 miles southeast of Corinth)

Could one of these women be the same Republican who called the Battle of Shiloh Pittsburg Landing? If she were indeed a Southerner we'd assume she kept this quilt well out of sight.

The Museum has transcribed the block inscriptions in the center:

"Appomattx, VA. April 1, 1865. Grant," 
"Liberty Tree," 
"Abstain from Strong Drink," 
"Hatchers Run Feb. 5 to 7 1865 Grant," 
"Pittsburg Landing April 1862," 
"Pittsburg Landing April 6 1862." 

Inscriptions around outer edge: "Wm McKinley 1896,"
 "Appomatax April 1865 Grant," "Five Forks 1 April Sheridan,"
 "Wilson Creek, MO Aug 10 861 Lyon," 
"J B Tanner,"
 "One Flag One Country,"
 "Marching through Georgia,"
 "Atlanta Georgia July 22 1863,"
 "Mrs. S K Daniels Mach 1896," 
"Wm.. Northcott,"
 "Five Forks Mo. April 1 1865 Sheridan," 
"Raleigh NC Aprill 26, 1865 Sherman," 
"Raleigh NC April 26 1865 Sherman." 

Additional inscriptions: "C A Hobert," 
"Battle of Chickamauga Sept 199-20 1863,," 
"We love the dear old Flag,"
"Washington, Lincoln, Grant," 
"Battle of Chattanooga Dec 23, 24, 25 1863"