Elefair Morrison's Civil War

 

Quilt associated with Elefair Morrison (1808-1863)

Historic Arkansas Collection

Elefair (Ellafair) is rather elusive. She died in Arkansas in the first years of the Civil War. The quilt attributed to her is intriguing.

She was born in Georgia in 1808 and in the 1860 census is shown living with her brother, well-to-do Daniel Morrison. Daniel emigrated to Arkansas from Georgia in 1835; Elefair may have accompanied him or joined him soon after. Daniel continued to be wealthy, listed with at least 24 enslaved people and thousands of acres of Arkansas. Interestingly enough the sister of this rich man is listed as a Seamstress.

Daniel Morrison and his enslaved laborers built a plantation complex on Watermelon Island in Hot Springs County. One structure remains, a stone smoke house now on the National Register of Historic Places.

Findagrave file:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5308643/ellafair-morrison

Ellafair married Edward P. Kearby in 1853 when she was 45...

...although the marriage record says she is 38, two years older

than groom Dr. Kearby. It looks like Elefair supported herself as a seamstress after 

the end of that marriage.

Her tombstone is hard to read in the Findagrave file

but it seems no last name was included.

"Ellafair

Sister? of

Daniel Morrison"

In 1861 53-year-old Daniel Morrison (1809-1888) married 17-year-old Belle McLean.

Arabelle McLean Morrison (1844-1914)

Belle was Arkansas born. They soon migrated to Texas, hoping to protect their investment in people from emancipation by Union troops or "self-emancipation." Their first child of four was born in Texas. They returned to Watermelon Island after the war. Did Elefair accompany them? Perhaps the quilt descended in Belle's family of children with the information that it belonged to Daniel's seamstress sister.

The quilt (and it is quilted although some similar bedcovers are not) is

not in good shape; discoloration and fabric loss do not show off

the skillful applique.

Nine of these "Trophy of Arms" panels (a classic image of weapons and flowers) were trimmed and attached, framed by floral arcs. The overall set and fabrics look very much like a group of quilts made in Baltimore, Maryland, associated with Achsah Wilkins and pictured in William Rush Dunton's book about quilts he found in his hometown.

Did Elefair bring this bedcover with her to Arkansas from Georgia?

Was this quilt top made in Baltimore, perhaps a wedding gift in 1853?

Or did Elefair, a professional seamstress, make it herself after

observing similar quilts?

Many questions.

Sister-in-law Belle's unpublished diary written between 1865 and 1870 is in the collection of Digital Heritage.Arkansas.gov
https://digitalheritage.arkansas.gov/finding-aids/3375; https://digitalheritage.arkansas.gov/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4376&context=finding-aids
Her grave information:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5308043/belle_mclean_morrison

More info from Arkansas Made