April 1, 1989
Prior to the Civil War (1861 - 1865) Great Great Grandmother Sharpe pieced a quilt. The quilt pattern was probably an original design or perhaps copied
from a picture in a magazine of that period. The Sharpe's were living in the East Tennessee area at the time. As the Civil War was ending, Union soldiers
were breaking into a lot of homes in the area, stealing and looting. They particularly liked the hand-made items in the South as these were not as prominent
in the North. Trying to save the quilt, grandmother Sharpe very cleverly hid the quilt between the straw which made up the lower part of the bed and the feather
bed (mattress) which lay on top. The quilt survived and was later given to a daughter, Nannie Sue, who married George F. Bonner. From the marriage, a fair-skinned,
red-haired daughter was born on February 4th,1885. Her name was Elizabeth C. Bonner. Elizabeth had two sisters - Maude Bonner Henderson and Minnie Bonner Benson; and
four brothers - Pony, Charlie, Daily and Arnold Bonner. Out of a family of seven, the quilt came to stay with Elizabeth. On February 2nd, 1908, Elizabeth married
Elbert Latham Roberts (7/2/1881) in Riceville, Tennessee. They were married by Rev. T. J. Mathews of Riceville who ironically also married their son Charlie F. Roberts (4/20/1915)
and Myrtle Lee Gregg (4/16/1919) on April 16th, 1935--twenty-seven years later.
Latham and Elizabeth began their family in Riceville, Tennessee, but later moved to Niota, Tennessee. They had four children--three boys; Charlie F. Roberts, Niota, Tn.,
Clifford Roberts, Niota, Tn. and Leonard Roberts, Chattanooga, Tn. and one daughter Nannie Roberts Lee also of Niota.
Elizabeth shared the story of the quilt with her daughter Nannie and even on to grandchildren. When she died on Dec. 6th, 1967, Nannie became the caretaker of the quilt.
On April 1st, 1989, I was visiting Aunt Nannie, my dad's(Charlie) sister. She related to me the story of when the quilt was made and how it had survived the looters of
the Civil War era. She asked that this family heirloom be kept within the family. She gave to me and my two sisters, Elizabeth M. (Libbie) Adsit and Debbie L. Hashe this
beautiful quilt which has already traveled through four generations and at least 128 years.
Little did Great, Great Grandmother Sharpe realize that her beautiful handiwork would be admired and loved today.
Vicki Elaine Roberts Daniel, Roanoke, AI.
Debbie Lee Roberts Hashe, Niota, Tn.
Elizabeth Maudine Roberts Adsit, Riceville, Tn.