It was my intention to focus on the block itself but I have been swept away by Nellie Sellar's story; so you will have to make do with the story instead.
Nellie Lyall was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1890. Her future husband James Sellar was also born in Scotland. James and many members of his family emigrated to the USA in the early 1900s and settled in Chicago. In the 1910 census James, brother William and father William were working as plasterers; sisters Joan and Barbara were working as quilt makers! In 1911 James traveled back to Scotland. Nellie and James were married on 23 August, 1911 and sailed to New York on the SS Columbia.
Nellie Sellar seems to have traveled quite often between Chicago and Glasgow to visit her family. Her eldest son James was born in Scotland; Helen, Elsie and George were born in Illinois. 1930s Chicago must have been a cosmopolitan place; the countries of origin on the same census page as the Sellars were Poland, Germany, Canada, Egypt, Ireland, England, Australia and Scotland. The new question on the census form was 'does the household own a radio set?' Every household did own one.
George was an afterthought - Nellie was 41 years old when George was born and his siblings were all at high school. The year after baby George arrived the whole family moved West to Wenatchee, Washington. Husband James worked as a plasterer but died early at the age of 56. The children grew up, married, and had their own families. George did well - he had a bridge named after him.
 |
| Senator George Sellar Bridge, Wenatchee |
I almost forgot - here is my bowtie block.
Hi, thanks for the close-up of the fabric. Now to hunt the stash.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year,
Penny