vintage quilt Dove In The Window

Mary Elizabeth Carolena (Winters)Newkirk

Carolena was born on a farm near Osnabruck, Germany on October 16, 1880. On August 9, 1882 her family boarded a steam boat for a 14 day voyage that landed at Baltimore, MD. From there they took the train to Seymour, Indiana where they rented a farm in the White Creek area. Eight years later they bought their own small farm near Bobtown.

On November 12, 1911, Carolena married Walter Newkirk at White Creek Lutheran Church. They moved into Walter's large white farm house on a 200 acre farm near St. Paul (Borcher's) Lutheran Church. It was customary at that time for the marriage to take place in the bride's church and then the bride would transfer her membership to the husband's church. When Carolena married Walter, she became an instant mother of four, ages 6, 8, 10, and 13. Walter's first wife had died of Tuberculosis. A fifth child had died in 1901. Carolena and Walter were blessed with their first child in 1912. Their family continued to grow with additions in 1914, 1915, 1917 and 1919. The youngest son being my father Charles Edgar Newkirk.

Managing the farm household and caring for 9 children in the early 1900s must have been a very demanding lifestyle I can't even imagine. I'm thankful quilts were practical items and women found time to make them. I think it is interesting that quilting was often a social gathering. I guess the idea of corporate sponsored team building events to make work more enjoyable isn't really that new of an idea. Ok..back to quilting. I remember a lone star quilt with greens and pinks on a yellow background used as a cover on my parent's bed. It must have been one of grandma's but as it was a practical item, it was eventually lovingly worn to pieces and discarded. My grandmother died on December 26, 1944 several year before I was born. Oh how I wish she had kept a journal.

Dove in the Window - In the early 1990s I attended my Aunt Gladys Otte's estate sale. There were several quilts. One was obviously older than the others and the design was an unusual pattern of what looked to be red birds. No one knew exactly where the quilt came from but my Aunt Dorothea was pretty certain it had been her mother's (my grandmother). I had bought a few quilts that day and my cousin Shirley wanted to bid on the red bird quilt. We agreed we would not bid against each other but that if she stopped bidding I would jump in. Once Shirley hit her limit and I starting bidding ...I was going to get that quilt! My dad was standing by me and I'm sure he thought I had lost my mind when I paid $600 for that quilt. I've never regretted it. It may not have even been made by my grandmother...but in my mind it was... and it is a most treasured keepsake. Click here to view my Dove In The Window quilt.

The above story is based on recorded dates, family history, stories passed down through the generations and my imagination. I hope you enjoyed it.

You can contact the author via email by clicking on the following email address
charlena@doveinthewindow.com
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