2

Date of first writing: Dec. 27, 1938

Person Interviewed: Samuel B. Barnwell

Address: Textile Hotel
Gastonia, N. C.

Occupation: Casket Finisher and
Interior Decorator

Name of writer: John H. Ahner,
Gastonia, N. C.

Revisers: Edwin Ivlassengill
W. J. Sadler

No. of words: About 4500

A QUIZKIT? A CASKET?

"I was born in Alamance County, North Carolina,"
said James Morton, "on July 1, 1875. My father was a
tobacco grower and harness maker. My earliest memories
date back to that little harness shop. As a child, I
loved to go there and play among the leathers. My father
wouldn't let me play in the harness shop unless he was
working there, for he was afraid I would cut myself on the
sharp knives. They were used in cutting and trimming the
leather and, of course, he knew a boy would naturally take
to a knife. When I had grown larger I helped my father in
the shop and on the farm.

"My father owned the place and farmed it himself.
When the farm work was not pressing he worked in the shop.
He kept a few items, such as lines and bridles, on hand
for immediate sale, but if a man wanted a complete set of

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