That Book Woman and the Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky

  __By Tiffany Amber Stockton__

In August, I covered bathing costumes and swimwear to wrap up the summer. Since I recently saw a play performed on this topic and school is back in session after summer break, let's take a look at some amazing women who personally increased literacy rates between WWI and WWII and beyond.

That Book Woman!

Next month, I'll go into more detail about The Pioneer Playhouse in Danville, Kentucky, as it was the site of a play I recently attended with other local authors. Based off Heather Henson's children's book of the same name, That Book Woman showcased the bravery and ingenuity of the ladies who came to be known as Packhorse Librarians.

Many books have been written on this subject, and books delivered by horseback to remote areas has stretched far beyond just the Appalachian Mountain region. Given the sometimes treacherous conditions under which these women delivered books and the animosity they often faced, their lasting tale comes as no surprise.

Picture this: it’s 1935, and you’re in the rugged hills of Eastern Kentucky. Roads are scarce, and the nearest library might as well be on the moon. But wait—here comes your hero on horseback, not with a six-shooter but with a saddlebag full of books!

This isn’t the plot of a Western; it’s the Pack Horse Library Project, a real-life story of grit and determination. These brave "book women" saddled up to deliver knowledge to the most isolated communities. They didn’t just drop off books—they brought the world to people who had never seen it.

Imagine riding 50 to 80 miles a week, navigating rocky paths and crossing rivers, sometimes on foot or by rowboat. Your cargo? Damaged books, old magazines, and out-of-date textbooks that bigger libraries didn’t want anymore. But to these mountain families, they were treasures.

Demand was high, and the book women had to get creative. They made scrapbooks full of magazine clippings, local recipes, and sewing patterns. Soon, the locals joined in, creating their own scrapbooks with family histories and child-rearing advice. These homemade collections became a beloved part of the library’s offerings.

By 1936, the need for more books was clear. Enter Lena Nofcier and her Penny Fund Plan. She rallied the Kentucky PTA, boy scouts, Sunday schools, and anyone who would listen to donate or gather books. Her efforts were so successful that eight new pack horse libraries were born.

At its peak, the program served nearly 100,000 people across 30 libraries. It brought adventure, travel, and romance to the mountains, sparking imaginations and fostering a love for reading in children and adults alike.

Sadly, the program ended in 1943 when funding was cut. But the legacy of the pack horse librarians lived on, inspiring the introduction of bookmobiles in the late 1950s.

So next time you curl up with a good book, think of those brave librarians. They didn’t just deliver books; they delivered hope, knowledge, and a glimpse of a world beyond the hills.

The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky played a significant role in promoting literacy and access to education in rural areas during a time of great need. Their efforts helped bridge the educational gap and brought reading materials to communities that would have otherwise been without them. Today, their story serves as a testament to the power of innovative library services and the dedication of librarians who went above and beyond to serve their communities.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* What was your first introduction to books and reading?

* Do you recall your first visit to a library? When was the last time you utilized a library?

* Have you ever been visited by a bookmobile service? Where? They're basically the modern-day version of a pack horse librarian, just on wheels.

** This note is for our email readers. Please do not reply via email with any comments. View the blog online and scroll down to the comments section.

Come back on the 9th of each month for my next foray into historical tidbits to share.

For those interested in my life as an author and everyday gal, what I'm currently reading, historical tidbits, recommended reads, and industry news about other authors, subscribe to my monthly newsletter. The latest edition was just sent out last week. Receive a FREE e-book of Magic of the Swan just for subscribing.

BIO

Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having a very active imagination and cited with talking entirely too much. Today, she has honed those skills to become an award-winning, best-selling author and speaker who is also a professional copywriter/copyeditor. She loves to share life-changing products and ideas with others to help improve their lives in a variety of ways.

She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children, one dog, and three cats in southeastern Kentucky. In the 20+ years she's been a professional writer, she has sold twenty-six (26) books so far and is represented by Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can find her on Facebook and GoodReads.

History of The Great Indian Warpath

By Michelle Shocklee

Last month I blogged about the Appalachian Trail. I've been fascinated by all-things Appalachia since I began research for my novel Appalachian Song, and I enjoyed learning about the famous hiking trail. What I wasn't aware of, however, is that a trail running from New York to Alabama existed long before the Appalachian Trail was created. 

Let me tell you about it. 

The Great Indian Warpath was and is an ancient network of trails that were used by Native Americans hundreds of years before white European settlers came to this country. It is known by several names, including the Warriors' Path, the Great Indian War and Trading Path, and the Seneca Trail. 

It is believed that many of the trails were broken first by animals, including herds of buffalo in the valleys of Virginia. The native people would follow the trails to hunt and eventually used them for moving from one region to another. Trading and communication between various tribes was aided by use of the trail. Sadly, as the name of the trail indicates, war also took place along the trail. Rivers played a major role in the location of the trail, as having a constant water source was vital. Many of the trails follow waterways through the hills and hollers of Appalachia. 

The Seneca Trail

Like the Appalachian Trail, the Great Indian Warpath, or the Seneca Trail, begins in New York state, not
far from Niagara Falls. (I wish I'd known about it when we visited Niagara Falls this past October! I'll definitely look for it the next time we're there.) This area was home to the Seneca Indian tribe, the largest of six Native American nations which comprised the Iroquois Confederacy or Six Nations, hence the name of the trail. The trail continued south through Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama.

Europeans eventually arrived in North America. Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto and his party are believed to be the first white people to travel the trail when they crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1540. By the late 1600s, British colonists used portions of the trail as they traded with the Indians. The line of the Seneca Trail formed the boundary of "the frontier" at the time of the French and Indian War in 1756. When King George III issued a proclamation in 1763 forbidding further settlement beyond the mountains and demanding the return of settlers who had already crossed the Alleghenies, the Seneca Trail was once again used as a boundary. 

Map of the "Great Indian Warpath" published in the Pennsylvania Magazine in October 1775

Today, parts of the Seneca Trail can still be accessed in various states. However, unlike the Appalachian Trail, it is not a continuous trail due to private land purchases and communities being built on it, but the history remains. People lived and died along those ancient footpaths. They are the souls I like to remember when I read about long ago days. 

Your turn: Do you enjoy hiking in the woods? Would you seek out the Seneca Trail if you could?

Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels, including Count the Nights by Stars, winner of the 2023 Christianity Today Book Award, and Under the Tulip Tree, a Christy Awards and Selah Awards finalist. Her work has been included in numerous Chicken Soup for the Soul books, magazines, and blogs. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of two grown sons, she makes her home in Tennessee, not far from the historical sites she writes about. Visit her online at www.MichelleShocklee.com

                             APPALACHIAN SONG

Forever within the memories of my heart.

Always remember, you are perfectly loved.

Bertie Jenkins has spent forty years serving as a midwife for her community in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Out of all the mothers she’s tended, none affects her more than the young teenager who shows up on her doorstep, injured, afraid, and expecting, one warm June day in 1943. As Bertie and her four sisters tenderly nurture Songbird back to health, the bond between the childless midwife and the motherless teen grows strong. But soon Songbird is forced to make a heartbreaking decision that will tear this little family apart.

Thirty years later, the day after his father’s funeral, Walker Wylie is stunned to learn he was adopted as an infant. The famous country singer enlists the help of adoption advocate Reese Chandler in the hopes of learning why he was abandoned by his birth parents. With the only clue he has in hand, Walker and Reese head deep into the Appalachian Mountains to track down Bertie Jenkins, the midwife who holds the secrets to Walker’s past.

https://www.tyndale.com/p/appalachian-song/9781496472441

The Appalachian Trail

By Michelle Shocklee

Are there any hikers in the house?

Hubby and I enjoy the great outdoors, especially the mountains, but hiking -- real hiking -- isn't something we've attempted. We like a nice, fairly easy hike of a couple miles there and back at most. A bottle of water, a snack, and a pair of comfortable shoes is all we need to have a grand time basking in the beauty of God's creation. 

But there are those who enjoy a challenge when they go hiking. Hundreds of trails wind through national forests and parks all across the country, taking anyone brave enough to gorgeous waterfalls, rock formations, and mountaintop views that can't be seen unless you're willing to go the distance. 

Panoramic image of the Catawba Valley from the McAfee Knob overlook on the Appalachian Trail. Photo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Something_Original

One of THE most challenging trails, however, has got to be the Appalachian Trail. Friends of ours own property in East Tennessee that backs up to the trail, so I can say I have officially been ON the trail, but I can also honestly say I have no desire to hike it from one end to the other.

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath in the Eastern United States, beginning in Springer Mountain in Georgia and ending in Mount Katahdin in Maine. The trail passes through 14 states and traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally diverse lands of the Appalachian Mountains. 

The idea was first proposed in 1921 by Benton MacKaye, a forester who wrote his original plan—called "An Appalachian Trail, A Project in Regional Planning"—shortly after the death of his wife. He shared his idea with several politicians, and an article was even written about it in the Saturday Evening Post. People became interested in the project and money was raised. Things took off from there. 

On October 7, 1923, the first section of the trail, from Bear Mountain west through Harriman State Park to Arden, New York, was opened. MacKaye then called for a two-day Appalachian Trail conference to be held in March 1925 in Washington, D.C. This meeting inspired the formation of the Appalachian Trail Conference (now called the Appalachian Trail Conservancy). Arthur Perkins, a retired judge, and his younger associate Myron Avery took up the cause. Built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.

Most of the trail is exclusively for foot-travel. A few short sections allow biking, horses, and ATVs, but those are mainly near towns. Throughout its length, the AT, as it's known, is marked by white paint blazes that are 2 by 6 inches. Side trails to shelters, viewpoints, and parking areas use similarly shaped blue blazes. In past years, some sections of the trail also used metal diamond markers with the AT logo, but unfortunately many were taken as souvenirs.

Most hikers carry a lightweight tent, tent hammock, or tarp. The trail has more than 250 shelters and campsites available for hikers who prefer more solid accommodations. Public restrooms and showers are very limited throughout the trail.

"Unofficial registries", which are known as shelter logs, can be found at all campsites, but signing them is strictly voluntary. These logs give hikers a way to leave day-to-day messages while they are on the trail to document where they have been, where they are going, and who/what they have seen. Shelter logs can also provide proof of who summits certain mountains and can warn about dangerous animals or unfriendly people in the area. Hikers may cite when a certain water source is dried up, providing crucial information to other hikers. In the case of an emergency or missing person, the logs can be an invaluable source of information to emergency personnel. 

Although I doubt I'll ever traverse the Appalachian Trail, I'm glad it exists. Getting outside in God's beautiful world is always a great idea!

Your turn: Have you hiked any part of the Appalachian Trail? Is it on your bucket list? Tell  me about it!

Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels, including Count the Nights by Stars, winner of the 2023 Christianity Today Book Award, and Under the Tulip Tree, a Christy Awards and Selah Awards finalist. Her work has been included in numerous Chicken Soup for the Soul books, magazines, and blogs. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of two grown sons, she makes her home in Tennessee, not far from the historical sites she writes about. Visit her online at www.MichelleShocklee.com

                             APPALACHIAN SONG

Forever within the memories of my heart.

Always remember, you are perfectly loved.

Bertie Jenkins has spent forty years serving as a midwife for her community in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Out of all the mothers she’s tended, none affects her more than the young teenager who shows up on her doorstep, injured, afraid, and expecting, one warm June day in 1943. As Bertie and her four sisters tenderly nurture Songbird back to health, the bond between the childless midwife and the motherless teen grows strong. But soon Songbird is forced to make a heartbreaking decision that will tear this little family apart.

Thirty years later, the day after his father’s funeral, Walker Wylie is stunned to learn he was adopted as an infant. The famous country singer enlists the help of adoption advocate Reese Chandler in the hopes of learning why he was abandoned by his birth parents. With the only clue he has in hand, Walker and Reese head deep into the Appalachian Mountains to track down Bertie Jenkins, the midwife who holds the secrets to Walker’s past.

https://www.tyndale.com/p/appalachian-song/9781496472441

Midwives in Appalachia

By Michelle Shocklee

Midwives take center stage in my new historical novel Appalachian Song. Because I didn't know a lot about midwives in Appalachia, I thoroughly enjoyed my research into the topic. I thought I'd share some of it with you!

First, a little background information.

Great Smoky Mountains; photo from Wikipedia;

Appalachian Centrist

The Appalachian mountain range begins in Canada and runs all the way down to Alabama, connecting countries and states alike. There are various regions within Appalachia, with different customs, foods, and even their own way to pronounce the name of their beloved mountains. Because I set Appalachian Song in the mountains of East Tennessee, the correct pronunciation for that area is: Apple-at-chin and Apple-at-cha.

Mary Carson Breckenridge;
public domain

During my research, I discovered that many women in Appalachia, then and now, don't seek medical help when it comes time to deliver their babies. Distance to medical facilities is a big problem, as are finances, but tradition, superstition, and distrust also play a role. Instead, expectant mothers relied on local midwives to attend the birth. 

In my novel, Bertie is a midwife for her community. Like most mountain midwives, she was trained in midwifery by her mother, who was trained by her mother, thus earning the name "granny woman." Herbs, tinctures, teas, and time-honored practices were relied upon to help bring a healthy baby into the world. However, infant and mother mortality rates were--and still are--incredibly high in Appalachia.

This disturbing fact needed to be addressed, and in the 1920s, a woman by the name of Mary Carson Breckenridge made it her mission. Although Ms. Breckenridge was born into a wealthy family in Memphis, Tennessee in 1881, she studied nursing in the United States as well as Europe, with a strong desire to serve the women of rural Kentucky. Mary spent the summer of 1923 riding horseback over 650 miles through the hills of Kentucky to conduct a survey of midwives in the region, who averaged 60 years of age. Though she discovered some competence, she also found filth and a medieval level of care. In 1925, she opened the Frontier Nursing Service near Hyden, Kentucky that provided general health care, vaccinations, pre/post-natal care, and birth services. 

Mary is quoted as saying, "Maternity is the young woman's battlefield. It is more dangerous, more painful, more mutilating than war, and as inexorable as all the laws of God." 

Mary's contribution to rural Kentucky's mothers and children were significant. She is credited with building the first modern comprehensive health care system in the United States that focused on all aspects of a patient's wellbeing and provided programs for nursing care and midwifery. She continued to lead the Frontier Nursing Service until her death in May 1965. By that time, Frontier Nursing Service had treated nearly 58,000 patients and delivered over 14,500 babies, with only 11 maternal deaths. In 1998, a US stamp was printed in her honor. 

By the 1970s, midwives in the United States were required to obtain formal training and certifications before they could legally practice. While many mountain people ignored such regulations, the use of "granny women" began to decline. 

The Mary Breckenridge stamp

One of the interesting rabbit trails I took during my research led me to discover the use of midwives in the hippie communities of the 60s and 70s. After learning that there were in fact such communities in Appalachia, I decided that Reese, a 70s midwife in my novel, needed to visit a few hippie moms-to-be. I had great fun writing those scenes. 

As the mother of two sons, I'm grateful for the hospital staff that surrounded me each time I gave birth. But midwifery is on the rise these days, with many young mothers choosing to deliver their babies at home with the help of a midwife. As Bertie says in the book, the ultimate goal is a healthy baby and mama, no matter if you're in a hospital or tucked into your own bed at home.

Your turn: have you ever known anyone who had a midwife attend the birth of their baby?

Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels, including Count the Nights by Stars, winner of the 2023 Christianity Today Book Award, and Under the Tulip Tree, a Christy Awards and Selah Awards finalist. Her work has been included in numerous Chicken Soup for the Soul books, magazines, and blogs. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of two grown sons, she makes her home in Tennessee, not far from the historical sites she writes about. Michelle's next novel, Appalachian Song, releases October 3, 2023, and is available for preorder. Visit her online at www.MichelleShocklee.com


APPALACHIAN SONG

Forever within the memories of my heart.
Always remember, you are perfectly loved.

Bertie Jenkins has spent forty years serving as a midwife for her community in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Out of all the mothers she’s tended, none affects her more than the young teenager who shows up on her doorstep, injured, afraid, and expecting, one warm June day in 1943. As Bertie and her four sisters tenderly nurture Songbird back to health, the bond between the childless midwife and the motherless teen grows strong. But soon Songbird is forced to make a heartbreaking decision that will tear this little family apart.

Thirty years later, the day after his father’s funeral, Walker Wylie is stunned to learn he was adopted as an infant. The famous country singer enlists the help of adoption advocate Reese Chandler in the hopes of learning why he was abandoned by his birth parents. With the only clue he has in hand, Walker and Reese head deep into the Appalachian Mountains to track down Bertie Jenkins, the midwife who holds the secrets to Walker’s past.

https://www.tyndale.com/p/appalachian-song/9781496472441

Pine Mountain Settlement - Appalachian Mountains

By Tiffany Amber Stockton

In April, the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort received the spotlight. You can read last month's post if you missed it.

Last week, we took another homeschool field trip and stepped back in time!

PINE MOUNTAIN SETTLEMENT SCHOOL

View from the entrance

Let me tell you a little something about this gem of a place nestled in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. It has some serious charm. The campus is surrounded by beautiful green forests, rolling hills, and babbling brooks. It's like stepping into a picture-perfect postcard. Architect Mary Rockwell Hook designed most of the buildings. She fell in love with the lead stone mason, and they lived there to raise their family.

Creech Cabin - 9 children grew up here

The school was founded way back in 1913, and it's been a hub of education, culture, and community ever since. It stemmed from families who migrated through the Cumberland Gap after the Civil War and settled in a narrow valley between two mountain ranges. Most of the families (children included) were working in coal mines, and those who weren't were farming. William Creech, Sr. wanted the best education for the children in these communities, so he donated land for the establishment of the school. Katherine Pettit and Ethel de Long Zande were the founders. 

Weaving loom class

What sets Pine Mountain Settlement School apart is their focus on preserving and celebrating the local mountain culture. They offer all sorts of programs for folks of all ages, from preschoolers to senior citizens. Classes are offered on traditional crafts like weaving, woodworking, and blacksmithing. They even host square dances and clogging lessons! And don't even get me started on the food. It's a farm-to-table program which serves up fresh, delicious meals made with food and ingredients grown right there on the farm.

Chapel interior - architectural beauty

We spent the entire day there, walking the grounds, participating in the classes they offered which included bits on micro-hydro electricity and energy, making cornhusk flowers, loom weaving, fabric dyes with flowers and vegetables, early settlers, log cutting, shingle crafting, cabin building, Appalachian social game play, plants and natural ingredients for making a wide variety of herbal teas, plus herbology and essential oils for balms, lotions, and soaps.

It was like stepping back in time to a simpler, more wholesome and healthy way of life. If you ever find yourself in Bledsoe, Kentucky, you absolutely have to check it out. Warning, though. It's a ways out there on some windy roads following a river. :)

View from the Chapel's main door, looking out.

William Creech's wish for all children. Oh, to have that be true today!

Creek with afternoon sunlight glistening off it.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* Have you ever visited a living history site dedicated to preserving the culture which once existed there? If so, where is it? And what is something unique they offer?

* What is something you know about the Cumberland Gap area?

* Is there a building or landmark near you with significant historical influence or notoriety?

** This note is for our email readers. Please do not reply via email with any comments. View the blog online and scroll down to the comments section.

Leave answers to these questions or any comments you might have on this post in the comment box below. For those of you who have stuck around this far, I'm sending a FREE autographed book to one person every month from the comments left on each of my blog posts. You never know when your comment will be a winner! Subscribe to comments so you'll know if you've won and need to get me your mailing information.

Come back on the 9th of June for my next foray into historical tidbits to share.

For those interested in my "fictional" life as an author and industry news about other authors, subscribe to my quarterly newsletter. Receive a FREE omitted chapter from my book, A Grand Design, just for subscribing!

---

BIO

Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having a very active imagination and cited with talking entirely too much. Today, she has honed those skills to become an award-winning, best-selling author and speaker who is also a professional copywriter/copyeditor. She loves to share life-changing products and ideas with others to help improve their lives in a variety of ways.

She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children and four cats in southeastern Kentucky. In the 20 years she's been a professional writer, she has sold twenty-six (26) books so far and is represented by Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can find her on Facebook and GoodReads.

Kentucky - First State West of the Appalachians

   By Tiffany Amber Stockton

Last month, I began a new series on Kentucky history and the pioneers who established the state. If you missed that post, you can read it here. This month, we're delving a bit more into Daniel Boone and his forays into the Kentucky frontier.

DANIEL BOONE - KENTUCKY PIONEER

Kentucky was granted statehood in 1792, becoming the first U.S. state west of the Appalachian Mountains. I spent 25 years of my life in Delaware, the First State of U.S., so it's ironic I now live in another "first state." While the original thirteen colonies were engaging in small battles with England over governorship, taxes, political representation, and various freedoms, many residents of those colonies decided to strike out on their own and start exploring the frontier to the west.

Frontiersman Daniel Boone was one of Kentucky’s most prominent explorers, and many immigrants followed the trail he blazed through the Cumberland Gap, known as the Wilderness Road. His story doesn't begin there, though. He was born in 1734 in a small township northwest of Philadelphia, and at age 15 left Pennsylvania with his family. They headed to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, but Daniel left not long after and settled along the Yadkin River near the western edge of North Carolina.

Instead of farming, Boone became a marker or long hunter and made his living selling deerskins from long hunting expeditions out in the wilderness. He was gone for months or years at a time with that trade. In 1755, while serving as a wagoner for General Braddock back in Pennsylvania, he met a trader who regaled him with stories of the abundant wildlife and financial opportunities west of the Appalachian Mountains. But that exploration was put on hold when Daniel married and started a family. He continued to hunt throughout the Carolinas and even down to what became Florida.

In early 1769, that trader (John Findley) found Daniel again and relit the spark in Boone's wanderlust nature. He spent the next four years exploring that wilderness area, and in 1773 began escorting settlers with the intention of permanently settling Kentucky. In 1775, a judge enlisted Boone's help to negotiate with Cherokee tribes and purchase their claims, then he cut a path through southwestern Virginia and northeastern Tennessee that would become the Cumberland Gap Road.

Despite ownership of the land, the settlement of Kentucky was fraught with a great deal of conflict, as England secured the support of the natives to attack settlers during and even after the Revolutionary War. Many were captured and forced to live among the Cherokee or Shawnee. Boone was one of them, although he only lived among the Shawnee for a few months before escaping. His daughter had been captured the year before, but immediately rescued by Boone and his men. That story was eventually immortalized by James Fennimore Cooper in The Last of the Mohicans.

For the next seven or eight years, raids continued and casualties increased. So many battles, and so many deaths among the British, the American settlers, and the natives, all over who would ultimately own the land. By 1787, the British were completely run out and in 1792, statehood was granted. Nearly thirty years of exploration, settlement, and defense had ultimately produced a new state for the U.S., and Daniel Boone became immortalized in American history.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* Have you ever left your family to move or settle in a completely different region?

* What famous settlers or pioneers are known where you live?

Leave answers to these questions or any comments you might have on this post in the box below. Come back on the 9th of March to learn some fun facts pertaining to Kentucky.

For those interested in my "fictional" life as an author and industry news about other authors, subscribe to my newsletter. Receive a FREE omitted chapter from my book, A Grand Design, just for subscribing!

---

BIO

Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having a very active imagination and cited with talking entirely too much. Today, she has honed those skills to become an award-winning, best-selling author and speaker who is also an advocate for literacy as an educational consultant with Usborne Books. She loves to share life-changing products and ideas with others to help improve their lives in a variety of ways.

She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children and two cats in Kentucky. She has sold twenty-four (24) books so far and is represented by Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can find her on Facebook and GoodReads.

Martha Berry - Helping Others Help Themselves

Martha Berry, the young woman

By Marilyn Turk

Martha slipped away from the big house Sunday afternoon and went down to the little log cabin built as a playhouse for the children in the family. With seven sisters and brothers as well as three cousins living in the same house, peace and quiet was hard to come by. But this afternoon the others were busy elsewhere, leaving the cabin, Martha’s favorite place of solitude, empty.

As she settled into a chair to read, she had the sense of being watched. Her gaze traveled to the open window where three heads peered over the sill. Upon inquiry, she discovered three curious boys outside the cabin. She recognized them as some of the poor boys from the nearby hills and asked them to come in, offering them apples from a bowl. Shy, but apparently hungry, the three boys who had wandered onto the property to fish in a nearby creek accepted the apples. She asked if they wanted to hear a story and when they nodded, she told them the story of Jonah and the Whale. The boys were mesmerized by the Bible story they had never heard before. And so began Martha’s Sunday school.

Oak Hill, Martha Berry's home

The boys came back every week bringing friends, then parents as teenage Martha taught stories from the Bible. Soon so many people came that she had to move outside the little building and hold her lessons on the lawn. She played her melodeon and sang hymns, which the mountain people readily learned.

Although the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner,  Martha had been taught to care about others less fortunate. Her father’s vast property north of Rome, Georgia, extended into the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

Thomas Berry often took his second oldest daughter Martha with him to ride horseback into the mountain woods as he visited with the poor mountain people who lived among them. He chatted with the families, some which were tenant farmers scraping by, and showed his generosity by offering work in exchange for goods he brought them, which gave them a sense of earning instead of accepting charity. In that way, he taught Martha the importance of helping others help themselves.

Martha’s dream of educating the mountain children led her to reject the attention of young men who called on her, knowing marriage would take her away. She wanted to provide an education for those who had no other options available to them, as no public schools existed where they lived. These people did not have the opportunity for private schools such as she attended and she wanted to do something about it.

With the 85 acres her father left to her, Martha first built a boarding school for boys and later a boarding school for girls. She initiated a work-study program so the children could earn their keep.

Old Mill Wheel on campus where students used to grind corn.

In addition, Martha became a proficient fundraiser, traveling across the country to raise money to support her schools. She became friends with some of the most prominent people of the time – Andrew Carnegie, Teddy Roosevelt, Henry Ford and Franklin D. Roosevelt, to name a few. Buildings on campus bear the names of those noted benefactors.

Ford Center Buildings

 

Berry schools began as high schools, then became a junior college and now is Berry College, a four-year accredited college on 28,000 acres of rolling country. In recent years Chick Fil-A has partnered with Berry College to offer scholarships to Chick Fil-A employees. The company also manages Camp WinShape, a summer camp program for children ages 7-12, on the Berry campus.

Martha Berry’s college has continued its founder's focus on the education of the head, the heart, and the hands of its students and on the motto she chose: "Not to be ministered unto but to minister."  

Martha at her desk - note the framed message "Prayer Changes Things"

Marilyn Turk writes Historical Romantic Suspense. Her first novel, Rebel Light,

is coming out in August 2004. Her book of devotions, Lighthouse Devotions, is coming out at the end of the year. You can read her blogs on A Writer's Path and Lighthouse Blog at http://pathwayheart.com.