New Finds
Anna, Pottery cc: 1870
6 Gallon Albany Slip Jar
Incised script mark "N. B. Wilson / Merritt / Ills."
5 Gallon Albany Slip Storage Jar with lug handles
Very uncommon maker's stencil mark and capacity number in cobalt,
"I.N. Stout, Mfr. Ripley, Ill."
(note: mark is all in one horizontal line that covers entire front of vessel)
Pottery of Isaac Newton Stout Odd mark is all on one line, measuring 11 inches.
Ripley, Brown County, Illinois
cc: 1890
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3 Gallon Saltglazed Storage Jar
w/ cobalt Quill Mark decoration
Anna Pottery, Union County, Ill
cc: 1880
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Vessels recovered in 2009 at Ripley, Illinois
"Versailles Area Genealogical and Historical Socitety" Vol 26 No. 3 Fall 2009 Newsletter included a very nice story with photos entitled "Mark Bowman uncovers part of Ripley's History"...
Copies are available for $3.00 + postage by contacting...
V.A.G.H.S. (Mary Logsdon)
113 W. First St.
P.O.Box 92
Versailles, IL. 62376
217-225-3401
email... vaghs83@yahoo.com
Website... vaghs.tripod.com
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5 Gallon saltglazed ovoid jar
impressed stamp " A.A.Austin Commerce, Mo."
CC: 1839
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THE CRAVEN POTTERY.
In the central portion of what is known as Miller's Addition to the city of Poplar Bluff, is located a pottery, complete with all the facilities for the manufacture of jugs and crockery ware of all descriptions. Mr. W. N. Craven, the proprietor, established the business at his present stand, in January, 1882, and turns out a large amount of ware each month which has been pronounced by those who should know best as most excellent in quality and durability. The concern is yet young, but the manager is an enterprising gentleman who does not believe in permitting the "grass to grow under his feet," and it is his intention in a short time to make new and additional improvements, and such as will enable his establishment to furnish the surrounding country with all the goods in his line used.
W. N. Craven left North Carolina in 1857 and moved first to Illinois, across the river from St. Louis, Missouri, moved on to the Poplar Bluff area of Missouri. Courtesy of "A View of A Growing Town" PAGE 7 Transcribed © BY: Susan (Sauerwein) Opalka.
Unique impressed Masonic symbol and impressed 1 Gallon dentated capacity stamp.
Medium bolstered rim, one incised line Primary Treatment, w/ smooth Lug Handles
1 Gallon Ovoid Redware Vessel
Attributed to William N. Craven, prior to locating at Butler County, Missouri
cc: 1860
Noteworthy is the connection of the family name Craven to the Masons and Freemasons from Eighteenth Century Europe (England) and America, to Craven County, North Carolina, from the American Revolution to the present, and from vast areas Westward. As America grew, William N. Crave like many immigrated for social, economic and religious endeavors in the late 1850's from North Carolina to Illinois and on to Missouri . In the early 1840's Mormon leader Joseph Smith constructed the Navoo Temple Endowment
where the weather vain at the very top of the temple was featured a horizontal flying angel. Directly above this angel appeared the Masonic symbol "Compass with Square and Eye" . Scholars securely make a connection between Navoo, Joseph Smith, Mormonism and Masonry. The shapes of the vessel above display traits of those made decades before the 1880's indicating they may have been of William N. Craven's hand at a somewhat earlier time. Moreover is that possibility where Craven spent some time in the Navoo area "in Illinois across river from St. Louis, Missouri" to satisfy his initial reasons for going West. Evident is his connection to Illinois and that his Masonic Symbol impressed mark is more than a simple "stamped" mark. It clearly depicted and promoted his beliefs.
Also known, is one 5 gallon saltglazed ovoid storage jar with the impressed mark " W.N.CRAVEN" and bearing the same disticntive impressed Masonic symbol as on the vessel shown above.
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4 Gallon Ulrich/Wietfeld Shelf Jar cc: 1850
Vessel exhibits all classic traits: rounded bolstered rim, shelved cordon primary treatment, two groves secondary and two groves third level treatments. Type One dentate capacity stamp, intricate ribbed lug handles with applied finger welds, and very extensive 7/8 exterior two-tone slip hgt.
Provinance: Doug Gain from Rose Muskopf, wife of Alvin Muskopf, (grandparents) son of Frederick
Muskopf (great grandfather) of Douglas Road, Millstadt, Illinois. Muskopf Farm operated 1842 to 1985.
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