L.Q.
Meaders, son of John
Milton and Mattie Meaders was born in 1885, in the old
home place house. Most folks just called him Q. He and his family
thought his name was Lewis Quillian until the family bible was
found. It read only L.Q. Meaders. In 1920, he married Hattie
Mae Whelchel; born in 1903. The couple had 6 children, five
girls, Inah, Reba, Mary, Algene, and Patricia, and one boy,
Whelchel.
Q turned
pottery in his shop at the old house on Mossy Creek, but when
the road was built, the kiln was taken out. Like his brother,
he learned the art in his father's shop. He did the hauling
and selling of the ware after his father retired. First Q would
use a hay lined wagon to haul the ware. Later, he bought an
old truck to make the trip faster. He would go to Franklin or
Murphy, N.C., or down to Athens, Ga., with Hattie accompanying
him. Sometimes he would trade goods for the pots. Most people
didn't have much money. They traded for the things they needed.
Q taught
pottery in the Skylake area and at Brenau College. He mainly
farmed for a living; turning pottery occasionally for extra
money. He
passed his talent for pottery making to his son Whelchel. But
like the rest of his generation of potters, Whelchel didn't
begin to make ware until he retired. He built a shop at his
home about a mile from the original shop.
Whelchel's daughter Melanie is now taking an interest in pottery
making. Q was a funny man who loved kids. He would let them
play with him like a doll. His granddaughter remembers how Q
would let her and her cousin, then 7 or 8, cut his hair whenever
they wanted. His wife Hattie Mae would just holler, but he didn't
care. He loved the kids. Q passed away in 1976, at the age of
91. His wife Hattie Mae was as one the best cooks in the county.
Her pound cakes would melt in your mouth. She was a very kind
woman who always had a smile and a hug.
