Wiley Christopher
Meaders, the oldest son of John
Milton and
Mattie Lambert Meaders,
was born March 12, 1875, in White County. The first of the boys
to learn to turn pottery, Wiley was well known for making his
pottery very thin. Cheever Meaders always said Wiley saved enough
clay from 5 churns to make the 6th. Wiley was a mountain of a
man. Over 6ft tall and 200 lbs., he had the muscles to pull the
big pieces up with ease.
In 1920, he
married Ruth Kincaid and built a home and shop across the creek
from the Meaders Home Place. He and Ruth raised 5 children. Wiley
stopped making pottery in 1942, when he found he could make more
money raising chickens than raising clay. Grandson, Guy Meaders,
now makes pottery like his grandfather. He currently resides in
South Georgia. Another grandson, Emory Jones, is a very talented
photographer and makes the pottery come alive with his prints.
A large number
of Wiley's early work was discovered buried in pottery trash pits
last year. Due to a crack or bad glaze, the pieces were thrown
out by Wiley. All are still treasures from the past.
This
original pottery by Wiley Meaders, was found buried 2 to 3 feet
underground.
It was refired in John
Meaders wood kiln and turned out to be a beautiful piece.
