[J[1].Bankhead.GED]

Ernest Bankhead was by profession a barber. He however, loved to play a fiddle and do wood carvings for people. He would sit and pass the time talking while whittling away at a piece of wood.
He went to visit Jossie Bankhead Young at one time and whittled a stick that had a snake coiled around the length of it. Another time he visited his brother James B. Bankhead in Florence, Oregon and entered a fiddle contest and won first prize of $5.00. This was in the 1920's.
On a visit to Canada to see his brother Preston, Ernest carved a stick similar to the one he made for Jossie. Along with that he carved another stick with a toad and a salamander/crawdad on it.
I have seen these works and what impressed me was the minute detail in the carvings. Ernest did all this with a simple pocket knife.
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This is the newspaper article written about the fiddle contest.
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CONTEST OF OLD TIME FIDDLERS A BIG SUCCESS

E.B. Bankhead of Black Mountain Wins First Prize.
The Horse-shoe club of Florence gave an old-time fiddler's entertainment at the Houston hall Friday evening. The entertainment of the evening was a huge success in every way.
The following program was given:
Selection by the Kier orchestra:
First selection of the 10 fiddlers that were competing in the contest was given by Delford Taylor.
Old Time Song.....by Mixed Quartet
Second fiddler.....John Kendrick

Selection by the orchestra.
Third fiddler........Henry Lively
Fourth fiddler......James McCartney (of Lincoln Park)
Fifth fiddler.........Chas.Akin,Sr.
Sixth fiddler........Julius McCandless
Vaudeville Stunt.....Harry Kier,and Rollie Wright
Seventh fiddler....Harry Moore
Eighth fiddler......C.C.Moorehead
Nineth fiddler......E.B.Bankhead (of Black Mountain)
Reading..............Rollie Wright

Herbert Edwards, who was manager of the evening, picked the judges of the contest out of the audience. These judges were: Linn Smith,Roy Green,Oscar Eberhart and John Kelly.
The winners of the contest were: E.B.Bankhead, of Black Mountain, First prize,
which was $5.00 presented by the Horse-shoe club: Charles Akin,Sr., Second prize,a bill folder, presented by the Palace Drug store; Julius McCandless, Third prize,a cake, presented by Kleins; Henry Lively,Fourth prize, three months subscription to the Citizen; C.C.Moorehead, Fifth prize, a box of candy, presented from Huber store; John Kendrick, Sixth prize, a slab of bacon, presented by E.G. Edwards butcher shop.
After the prizes were presented, the floor was cleared of chairs and a good old-fashioned dance was enjoyed until after midnight. Some of the music for the quadrille dances was furnished by the fiddlers.
During the dance an exhibition dance of the Charleston was given by Theron Varner, of Portland. Theron is only eight years old. This dance was the only modern dance of the evening.
Mr. Edwards wishes to thank the public for their co-operation in making the evening such a wonderful success.

[J[1].Bankhead.GED]

Ollie Meranda's mother, Elizabeth is the sister of Minneola Keen, wife of Preston Bankhead.