These are pictures from the early 70s of George and Carrie Trueax. My mother Olive Lenz got these pictures from Carly Ekman and interviewed the Trueaxs back in the early 70s. Her notes said that this couple retired after raising 8 children and lived northwest of Thompson Falls until moving to Paradise about 9 years ago (which would have been in the early 60s). At the time of the interview, George was 89 and Carrie was 74. George said his occupation was that of a horse trader and farmer in Nebraska. George started making quilts when he became ill with materials they got from rummage sales, neighbors, and friends. He would wash the fabric, rip it apart and prepare to quilt. He had a homemade quilt frame. He also said on dollar days he would buy sacks of fabric from the Salvation Army in Butte and sometimes spend up to $1.50 on army blankets he used as filling in these warm quilts. George used an old (ancient) treadle Singer that he retrieved from the dump. For awhile he could not use the foot so he turned the wheel by hand laboriously making each stitch. The Trueaxs would sell some of their quilts and give others away as presents. They were proud that some of their quilts were in California, New York, Iowa, and all over Montana. Georges philosophy was that Each one of us should make the best of what we have and not be too willing to settle for handouts. Keep the mind alert by being your own man. Carrie made arm covers and dresser runners on a loom using string. She crocheted rugs from clothes, garbage sacks, bread wrappers, etc. The Trueaxs had a garden in their yard which a neighbor would rototill. George planted by sitting on a stool in the garden and he would weed by laying down between the rows because he couldnt stand pressure on his knees. The couple also raised chickens and sold the eggs. George told mom (Olive Lenz) during the interview that he could still read the paper without glasses.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 16:49:03 +0000