The County Fair pattern fits nicely at the Appalachian Fairgrounds in Gray, TN.

John Summerfield Graham bought the land from L. M. Broyles in 1916. The barn was built shortly thereafter. Mr. Graham also ran Graham Mill in the early to mid 1900's. It still stands about one quarter mile south of the barn. The land, mill, and barn were sold to Charles Andrew Dillow, 1902-1990, by the Graham heirs in 1955. Mr. Dillow was married to John Graham's daughter, Sara Lou. The barn is currently owned by the Dillow heirs, Don and Brian Dillow. Three generations of Dillows continue to live on the farm. It is still a working farm, as tobacco, corn, and grain are raised each year and a dairy is also in operation.

This quilt was made in the late 1800's or early 1900's by three sisters living in the neighboring community of New Victory . They were Serphina Jane Scott, Julia Frances Scott, and Phinetta Elizabeth Scott Garvin. Phinetta Garvin's husband was a Confederate Veteran , and she was a second grade school teacher in the Washington County School system in the late 1800's. Mrs. Garvin was the great, great, great grandmother of Jeremy Dykes.

Isaac Lafayette Thomas met Barbara Ann Swadley when he came from Damascus, Virginia to work as a hired hand and was sent to the Henry Swadley homestead. They fell in love and were married in 1889. The land first acquired by the family in 1848 was passed down to Isaac and Barbara. Although Barbara wanted to build a house, Isaac told her "We need to build a barn. The barn is where our living comes from." She relented and the barn was completed in 1898 - its design considered by many a masterpiece in construction. The "new house" was built in 1915. Isaac and Barbara had two sons, Henry and John. Henry pursued a college education and became the first county agent of Greene County, TN, and later began a long career with Ford Tractors. John studied Industrial Arts at what is now ETSU, but remained on the farm which has now been in the family for 150 years. The current owner, granddaughter of Barbara and Isaac and last of the Thomas generation, Marcella Thomas Epperson, fondly remembers the farm in its heyday, comparing it to "Old MacDonald's farm" as animals abounded; horses, mules, chickens, hogs, dairy cattle, and guineas.

Knob View Farm was founded in 1848 by Henry Swadley and his wife Mary. A part of the Princeton Community, the Swadleys established and operated a tannery. On 50 acres they produced hay, corn, flax, eggs, dairy products, and wheat as well as horses, swine, cattle, poultry, and mules.

Isabell Krouse Sherfey, grandmother of the current owner, made the all-cotton quilt from which this unknown pattern is copied. Isabell made the quilt at her homeplace, probably with the help of her three sisters, all of whom were trained by their mother, Susanna Wine Krouse, in the art of spinning, weaving, knitting and crocheting.

The Krouses grew flax and cotton to use in their spinning and raised sheep for the wool to card and spin. Isabell brought the quilt to begin housekeeping when she married widower, David Preston Sherfey, in 1889. He had served with the Union Army in the Civil War and had sold his 1861 Colt revolver to purchase a wagon, mowing machine, hay rake, and a team of mules for farming 17 ½ acres and log cabin he had bought in 1886. This land was part of the original 400+ acres granted to Charles Duncan in 1777 in what was then the state of North Carolina.

David Sherfey was a nurseryman, growing fruit trees for sale and farming. He and Isabell had one son, John A. Sherfey, who gave Pioneer Homestead its name in recognition of its land grant origin. The Charles Duncan log cabin, built before 1777, still stands today and was completely restored in 1995. Nearby, privately owned Knob Creek Museum houses many artifacts of the Sherfey and Krouse families, as well as those of community contributors.

A living, working farm that has been in this family since 1886 and is listed as a Century Farm. Beautiful furniture made by two great grandfathers. Heirloom quilts and home woven textiles, woven woolen coverlets, three of which made a tour of four museums in U.S. and to Edinborough, Scotland in 2003. Three books and crafts locally made are available when museum is open.

Isabell Krouse Sherfey, grandmother of the current owner, made the all-cotton quilt from which this unknown pattern is copied. Isabell made the quilt at her homeplace, probably with the help of her three sisters, all of whom were trained by their mother, Susanna Wine Krouse, in the art of spinning, weaving, knitting and crocheting.

The Krouses grew flax and cotton to use in their spinning and raised sheep for the wool to card and spin. Isabell brought the quilt to begin housekeeping when she married widower, David Preston Sherfey, in 1889. He had served with the Union Army in the Civil War and had sold his 1861 Colt revolver to purchase a wagon, mowing machine, hay rake, and a team of mules for farming 17 ½ acres and log cabin he had bought in 1886. This land was part of the original 400+ acres granted to Charles Duncan in 1777 in what was then the state of North Carolina.

David Sherfey was a nurseryman, growing fruit trees for sale and farming. He and Isabell had one son, John A. Sherfey, who gave Pioneer Homestead its name in recognition of its land grant origin. The Charles Duncan log cabin, built before 1777, still stands today and was completely restored in 1995. Nearby, privately owned Knob Creek Museum houses many artifacts of the Sherfey and Krouse families, as well as those of community contributors.

A living, working farm that has been in this family since 1886 and is listed as a Century Farm. Beautiful furniture made by two great grandfathers. Heirloom quilts and home woven textiles, woven woolen coverlets, three of which made a tour of four museums in U.S. and to Edinborough, Scotland in 2003. Three books and crafts locally made are available when museum is open.