Mary C. Cotton

 Ohio samplers are far more rare than those from states along the eastern seaboard and have been the subject of much research, exhibition and publication over the years. Mary C. Cotton worked this fine sampler and signed it, “Mary C Cotton’s Sample AE12 years … Springfield Summit County Ohio 1841.” Springfield is south of Cleveland and just outside of Akron. Historically, it marked the southern border of the Western Reserve.

Although very few samplers are known from this part of Ohio, there is an almost identical sampler, made by Jennett A. Reynolds, also in Springfield, Ohio and also dated 1841, in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Jennett and Mary were most likely classmates, and each sampler includes a heart encapsulating the initials S.F.P., which would be those of their instructress.

Mary was born in 1829 on Prince Edward Island, Canada, to Rev. Joseph and Elizabeth (Orchard) Cotton; she was the ninth of their twelve children. The family established a corn mill, and Joseph became a minister. In 1838, Mary moved with her parents and the younger children to Springfield, Ohio, though they did not stay long; by 1843 they were on their way to Elkhart County, Indiana. Mary married Jesse V. Rutherford, a farmer who later owned a grocery store in South Bend, where Mary finished out her life. She died in 1913. A full research file accompanies the sampler. 

She included several alphabets indicating her knowledge of a variety of stitches, and dividing each with a decorative band. A numerical progression is followed by her inscription, underlined by a band of eyelets in pink and white. She framed her verse and location in a deep blue sawtooth border, which sits at the corner of her fine house and lawn scene with many wonderful motifs. A pair of birds with a fat strawberry perch atop a large house, depicted in profile. An unusual tree was worked next to it, and baskets of flowers, a tree and fence, birds and other classic elements continue along the bottom, creating the same composition as Miss Reynolds’ sampler at The Met Museum.

Worked in silk on linen it remains in excellent condition. It has been conservation mounted into a fine cherry frame.

photo of reverse