Sparta, White Co.

Eliza Ann Gleeson (1822-1842) was the eldest child of Edward Leonard Gleeson Jr. and Malinda Waller. The Gleeson family owned a farm in Calf Killer Valley, near present day Sparta, White County. Eliza married Freeland Simpson Little on Oct. 24, 1838. She had one child in 1841. Sadly, Eliza died in 1842, leaving her husband to care for their baby daughter.

Eliza’s sampler is neatly worked with high quality silks and linens. She included her date of birth and the date of completion in her signature line. She had been married almost two months when she finished her sampler at the age of 16 years, 10 months and 24 days.