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Quilts of Maude Elizabeth Miller McElfish

with information, photos, and poetry provided by her grandson, Bob Rotruck

 

Maude Elizabeth Miller McElfish (July 9, 1893-July 11, 1968) was born on a farm in Pennsylvania. A quilter and a farmer's wife, she had two children, Katherine Elizabeth McElfish (her first name is spelled with a "C" on her birth certificate), and Joseph Russell McElfish. Bob Rotruck, who provided information for this file, is one of Maude's four grandchildren.

Maude's husband, Samuel Joseph McElfish, was an electrical lineman who worked for Potomac Edison Company in western Maryland. When he retired, the couple moved from Cumberland, Maryland to begin farming on the Bedford Valley Road which connects that town to Bedford, Pennsylvania.

Her grandson, Bob Rotruck, sent me photos of two quilts made by his grandmother and asked me to identify the quilt pattern of the first quilt, seen below. After much scrambling, I have located at least one published name of the design, in two separate quilt block identification books. We'll call it "good."

"V" block quilt constructed with scrap bag floral and gingham print fabrics. This block was identified by using Judy Rehmel's book on block identification. It is listed as #200 and #249.

Isolated segment of quilt shows basic unit of one "V-block" quilt square. Four "v"s make the unit.

Another view:  a quilt corner shows some of the quilting lines and the fact that the quilt has a small print calico border and a white binding. Overall size of quilt = 78"x80"

Beautiful Scrap Quilt

This quilt looks like a scrap bag quilt. Bob believes that his grandmother quilted both of these quilts while living on a farm in Pennsylvania. She enjoyed getting together with friends to quilt, but by 1954 had given up quilting altogether.

His grandparents moved in with the family in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Bob has preserved some of his boyhood memories by writing poems about living on the farm with his grandparents. Bob owns a Double Wedding Ring quilt, also assembled by her, (seen below), but unfortunately, a third quilt (of squares) was severely damaged and did not survive.

Double Wedding Ring quilt by Maude Elizabeth Miller McElfish. The scrappy look is unified by the repeat solid pink and white unit at the intersections of the "rings." The quilt is the same size as the other one, except that this one has scalloped edges.

Rocking Chair

Sitting in the corner is the old rocking chair,
It is worn and old and needs some repair.
Only God knows how many miles it has clocked,
How many times she sat in it and rocked and rocked.
Most times there was a grandchild nestled in her lap.
She would sing to us and we would take a little nap.
Songs of Jesus she would murmur soft and sweet.
It made the end of a child's day complete.
Most days she spent on our farm doing chores.
Thank goodness nobody was keepin' any scores.
Her hands had calluses and scratches of red.
She would rub on salve before she went to bed.
But while she rubbed her hands to cure,
She would sit in that rocker with sweet thoughts so pure.
She could look out the window at her moonlit garden,
And never considered it made her hands harden.
The only thoughts that came to her rocking there,
Was the magic of God doing His share.
Creak, creak the chair runners sounded.
The rhythm it made kept time grounded.
For age never stopped that rocking chair,
And the day never ended with fret or despair.
Now the chair sits idle in the kitchen place,
God took her home with His wonderful grace.
I hope I inherited my Grandmother's heart,
And take time to rest after each day's fast start.
And take time to thank God for all that I have.
Like the healing power of that rocker and salve.
And the quietness that rocking can bring to your heart,
It removes all of the day's troubles from its very start.
Rotruck - '07

One of Bob's grandmother's favorite songs was "Amazing Grace."

~~~~~~

photo courtesy of Bob Rotruck

 

Basket of Blackberries. photo by James Cummings

Just A Pinch

My Grandmother was a fabulous cook,
But I never saw her use a cookbook.
I would watch her pour flour on an oil cloth,
Just the right amount of water to knead it so soft.
A pinch of baking soda and a pinch of salt,
How did she know it would have a marvelous result?
Make a crust in a rectangular pan,
Bake it until it was a golden tan.
Pour in blackberries just picked fresh in the field,
She knew just the right amount for a perfect yield.
A blackberry cobbler she would bake,
She knew just how long it would take.
Now put it in the wood stove oven for a spell,
The precise amount of time she knew all too well.
Out she would pop it onto the windowsill,
To let it cool a little before my tummy to fill.
Now a big hunk in a bowl with some fresh farm cream,
I was getting a taste of the heavens of my dream.
Without a recipe, how could she know the perfect pinch?
Because she had a Master Chef to make it a cinch.
This Master Chef has a special knack for baking,
As is His will which we are not forsaking.
Now she bakes for the Master Chef Himself,
Supplying the perfect pinch of love from the cupboard shelf.
Rotruck - '06

~~~~~~

Barnyard Cat

When I was a boy on my grandfolk's farm
Many things I remember had special charm.
One significant critter sticks in my head.
the old barn cat gave mice much to dread.
He was right pretty as kitty cats go.
Gray and black stripes he made quite a show.
He would peek around an open barn door,
A mouse to find to settle the score.
Slink and slip the cat did stalk,
No time now for kitty cat talk.
The mouse did spy his quiet feline friend,
He knew his life was close to an unscheduled end.
Unless of course he could trick that cat,
Without hesitation the mouse squeaked like a bat.
The cat looked up at the window sash,
That mouse was gone, quick as a flash.
I know the cat was thinking, as he skulked away,
"Don't worry little mouse, I'll have my day."
Down at the milking parlor he quietly sat.
I'll just have some fresh milk to add to my fat.
That cat had a tough life as you can see,
He just got fatter and paid no fee.
Rotruck - '94

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We thank Bob Rotruck for sending us photos and inspirational poetry about his life on the farm with the woman everyone called, "Mam-mu." She was dearly loved and is sorely missed. Two of her quilts are still here to enjoy!

All the material in this file is copyrighted to its respective owners.

©2008, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, NH. Should you have any questions, please contact:  pat@quiltersmuse.com

 

 

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