SPINNING
SUZI VAUSE WAS MRS. MOSS'S APPRENTICE
TRIBUTE TO ELMA MOSS
Elma Moss was the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Boyer, who in the 1840"s homesteaded a large area on middle Brushy Creek between Mill Spring and what is now Ellsinore. Each of the Boyer children were bequeathed a farm and it was here on this farm were Elma passed on. Mrs. Moss resolutely carried on the pioneer spirit throughout her life. Third youngest child of Monroe "Mon" and "Mandy" Boyer, who prior to World War I operated a grist mill on their Middle Brushy farm, where they reared their twelve children.
Their grist mill was a critical community service, grinding corn into meal and wheat into flour for scores of their neighbor families.
Elma learned as many skills as she could, mastering from her grandmother the then necessary skill of cleaning, carding and spinning wool into yarn on the tall "walking wheel" (the traditional spinning wheel of the Ozarks). She kept this skill alive along with many others such as quilting and soap making, and taught these skills to others at our Pioneer Museum.
With strong faith, keen insight and a caring heart. "Aunt Elma" has long been an inspiration to many people in our area who cherish her wisdom and miss her guidance and faithful hard work. Widowed early with limited earthly means, she lived contentedly in her beautiful valley all the days of her life among us.
OTHER WALKING WHEEL SPINNERS
DOROTHY MCCLAIN, A NEICE OF "AUNT ELMIE'S" IS SHOWN HERE DEMONSTRATING IN THE LOG CABIN
LOCATED AT THE COURT HOUSE IN VAN BUREN.