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and the Meaderses. Around 1920, an extended family of potters, the
Browns from the Atlanta area ("Old Man"Jim Brown, five of his sons,
and his brother, Ulysses Adolphus ["Dolphus"] Brown), put in a brief
appearance in White County. They associated themselves with the
Daddy Bill Dorsey shop —though they turned ware for Loy Skelton
and for die Meaderses as well — and had a reputation for being "extra
good, fast turners." Wanderlust, however, overtook the Browns and,
except for Dolphus who remained around Cleveland for a few years to
operate his own shop, they disappeared almost as rapidly as they had
arrived.
Despite this small ripple of new activity, events in general
continued on a downward slide. Little Bill Dorsey, employed parttime
as a revenue officer, was killed in the line of duty in 1921. Even
though his brother tried to maintain his shop for a few more years, the
enterprise was a failure. Daddy Bill Dorsey, never a turner himself,
stayed in business until the Browns departed, at which time his sons
also drifted off to other pursuits. Tarp Dorsey's death in 1925 left his
shop in the hands of his heirs, two of whom —sons Williams and
Figure 5. The Meaders homeplace, circa 1910. From left to right: Casey, Q, Cheever,
Johnnie May, and Lizzie Meaders with their father, John M. Meaders. The mules are
"Lou"and "Bird. "(Photo courtesy of Mrs. Homer Allison, Winder, Georgia.)
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