Individual Details
(1903 - Abt, 1970)
"Taft was born in 1903 near Trade, Tennessee, which is just across the North Carolina state line. He has a remarkable story in that he has been weaving on a hand loom for nearly sixty years or better. Now that in itself is quite a feat, however here is the real story behind the loom. Way back in the year 1801, Taft says his great-grandmother was newly married and a loom-maker came around to see if the new couple needed a loom. He boarded with the couple for nearly two weeks, working everyday preparing wood to build with. At his departure he had constructed a fine new loom so the family could have clothing and bed spreads. He charged the high price of one dollar and fifty cents. The loom was passed down and Taft can recall with a smile how he watched his own grandmother weave the beautiful old patterns, which included the one pictured. "Walls of Jericho." He would wait until his grandmother [Nancy Osborn Greer] left her weave shed then he would slip out and attempt to weave. He messed up her patterns so much that she saw to it that he learned proper weaving. Now this was a boy of seven years I am speaking of. Taft went on to acquire the skill and patience needed to produce the fine spreads that he now weaves. He also makes his own dye from roots, herbs, and walnut hulls, not to mention his secret mixings, for special colors. It is a real joy to watch him card and spin his own wool at the old-time spinning wheel. He attends fairs and crafts shows all over the country demonstrating his art of hand-weaving." (Photograph and information from "Times Gone By," by Robert W. Harmon, a booklet about 8 1/2 X 11 of 15 pictures. No date of publication.)
Events
| Birth | 1903 | Trade, Johnson County, Tennessee | | | |
| Death | Abt, 1970 | | | | |
| Marriage | | Essie Price | | | |
Families