Nancy, you found a real beauty! I agree with the appraiser about using a lightweight batting or flannel...for the batting, not the backing!! And be sure to prewash any flannel because it shrinks a LOT!
I used Hobb's Heirloom (80/20) on all of these antique quilts and like how they turned out.
As for the quilting design, on my last log cabin, I really do wish I had chosen something more traditional. Something like a simple Baptist Fan would have been more appropriate for this quilt. If you are hand quilting, that would be a great choice, and easy to do! Have fun with it and be sure to keep us posted!
Bonnie Hunter's tutorial may help:
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2010/05/ ... -fans.html

It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter
That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived !