1840 - 1860 Horatio G. Coykendall's Whitework Quilt

This well-worn, white-work quilt bears an inked inscription: “Picked up by Horatio G. Coykendall Lieut. And Adj. 18th Wis. Infty in South Carolina during Shermans March to the sea.” Donated by his granddaughter in 1970, she wrote: “My grandfather was a captain serving until Sherman and was on Shermans march thru Georgia to the sea. This quilt was picked up on this campaign and he has written in one corner this fact.”

The quilt is stuffed and corded. A center motif of crossed sprays of narrow-leaved vines is encircled by a meandering vine with leaves and clusters of berries. A 12-inch band of diagonal grid quilting frames the design.

Horatio G. Coykendall was born December 7, 1840, in Peoria County, Illinois. He served in several Illinois and Wisconsin military units during the Civil War. According to a Memoriam published by the Military Order of Loyal Legion of the United States Minnesota Commandery (Circular No. 7 Series 1906), he fought in many campaigns including Lexington, Shiloh, and the siege of Vicksburg. After the war he was involved in railroad building and was described as a man “of an iron will and great energy of character, which made for success in business . . . In the home life he was exemplary, kindly and sympathetic, a consistent Christian and worthy citizen.” He died at Rochester, Minnesota, March 22, 1906.

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