George's Creek to Georgia
Barbara Dumas Ballew is an accomplished genealogist who has written many articles on the subject. After doing more than 20 years of research, she decided to write about her family history in novel form. The result was this fascinating, well researched book called George’s Creek to Georgia.
George’s Creek to Georgia is a chronicle of the author’s family ancestors. She has, understandably, taken creative license in the conversations and some of the narrative, but it only lends to more interesting reading. The basic facts are real.
In my opinion, this is the way family histories should all be written as it is so much more interesting reading.
Elijah Barnett travels from South Carolina to Georgia to visit his brother and decides it is just the place for him to move to in order to ‘make his fortune’. Thus begins the saga of the author’s family from her great-great grandfather through four generations of her family as they move from South Carolina to Georgia, and even later some to East Texas. She describes their exciting adventures and their heartbreaks as they carve out a living in the harsh wilderness.
“Elijah was born and had grown up in these parts. His family had come out of Virginia and settled here in the up-country of South Carolina years ago. It was Indian land, and there were very few white people living in this area. One had to have an adventurous nature to want to make a home in a place like this.”
Mrs. Ballew has written a book with great attention to detail. Her research, not only of the family members, but also of their living conditions and daily life is well documented.
This book will be a great read for everyone, teens through adults. It is also a good model for those genealogists wanting to write a history of their family.
Barbara's hobby is genealogy and after twenty-five years of research, she has written numerous articles for genealogy papers. Her first published book was this historic, romantic novel about her ancestors beginning in 1790. She and her husband are retired and live in the beautiful Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. They have one son who is in Afghanistan.
George’s Creek to Georgia is a chronicle of the author’s family ancestors. She has, understandably, taken creative license in the conversations and some of the narrative, but it only lends to more interesting reading. The basic facts are real.
In my opinion, this is the way family histories should all be written as it is so much more interesting reading.
Elijah Barnett travels from South Carolina to Georgia to visit his brother and decides it is just the place for him to move to in order to ‘make his fortune’. Thus begins the saga of the author’s family from her great-great grandfather through four generations of her family as they move from South Carolina to Georgia, and even later some to East Texas. She describes their exciting adventures and their heartbreaks as they carve out a living in the harsh wilderness.
“Elijah was born and had grown up in these parts. His family had come out of Virginia and settled here in the up-country of South Carolina years ago. It was Indian land, and there were very few white people living in this area. One had to have an adventurous nature to want to make a home in a place like this.”
Mrs. Ballew has written a book with great attention to detail. Her research, not only of the family members, but also of their living conditions and daily life is well documented.
This book will be a great read for everyone, teens through adults. It is also a good model for those genealogists wanting to write a history of their family.
Barbara's hobby is genealogy and after twenty-five years of research, she has written numerous articles for genealogy papers. Her first published book was this historic, romantic novel about her ancestors beginning in 1790. She and her husband are retired and live in the beautiful Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. They have one son who is in Afghanistan.
Carolina Calling
Carolina Calling is the first book in a trilogy about the aristocratic Borden family and their plantation life in the South. You will be transported to the tobacco plantations in Virginia and North Carolina when Barbara Dumas Ballew opens the saga with Joseph Borden, the second son of Emily and Leonard Borden as he courts and marries his love, Carolina Matthews. They start lives by starting their own tobacco plantation in Virginia on the land given as a dowry by Carolina’s father.
Joseph and Carolina suffer heartache and hardship in their family life and the life on their plantation. When Joseph’s father is killed in a riding accident all of their lives change as the oldest brother, John returns to the Borden plantation in St. Anne’s Parish to take up the reins of that plantation. After starting the small plantation in Virginia, Joseph and Carolina’s house burns down and they decide to make a life changing move to North Carolina. Go with them as they contend with their troubles and rejoice in their triumphs. Learn how they work to build their plantations and lives.
The story reflects the extensive research into plantation life and the buildings and equipment of the 18th century that Mrs. Ballew did to write this exciting and interesting story. Her descriptions of the layout of the plantation and the lives of the inhabitants are nothing short of extraordinary. You can picture in your mind’s eye how the buildings looked and where they are placed and why. The depiction of the food they ate and the clothing they wore takes you to the era of the big tobacco plantations and the aristocratic life.
“…When Joseph opened the door, he took a deep breath. It was beautiful! The heart-pine floor was shiny and full of character. The white wainscot enhanced the dark green wall covering. Two glass windows were on the front wall of the parlor. The brick fireplace had a white mantle that matched the wainscot, and a row of seven picturesque tiles were inset between the bricks underneath the mantle. There were small glass windows shoulder high on either side of the fireplace.”
Carolina kept calling me until I finished reading it. I had a hard time getting anything else accomplished.
Barbara's hobby is genealogy and after twenty-five years of research, she has written numerous articles for genealogy papers. Additionally, her first published writing was a historic, romantic novel about her ancestors beginning in 1790 entitled George's Creek to Georgia. Once she discovered she had a talent for writing, she has since penned eight additional books and has a ninth at the editors. She and her husband are retired and live in the beautiful Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. They have one son who is in Afghanistan.
Joseph and Carolina suffer heartache and hardship in their family life and the life on their plantation. When Joseph’s father is killed in a riding accident all of their lives change as the oldest brother, John returns to the Borden plantation in St. Anne’s Parish to take up the reins of that plantation. After starting the small plantation in Virginia, Joseph and Carolina’s house burns down and they decide to make a life changing move to North Carolina. Go with them as they contend with their troubles and rejoice in their triumphs. Learn how they work to build their plantations and lives.
The story reflects the extensive research into plantation life and the buildings and equipment of the 18th century that Mrs. Ballew did to write this exciting and interesting story. Her descriptions of the layout of the plantation and the lives of the inhabitants are nothing short of extraordinary. You can picture in your mind’s eye how the buildings looked and where they are placed and why. The depiction of the food they ate and the clothing they wore takes you to the era of the big tobacco plantations and the aristocratic life.
“…When Joseph opened the door, he took a deep breath. It was beautiful! The heart-pine floor was shiny and full of character. The white wainscot enhanced the dark green wall covering. Two glass windows were on the front wall of the parlor. The brick fireplace had a white mantle that matched the wainscot, and a row of seven picturesque tiles were inset between the bricks underneath the mantle. There were small glass windows shoulder high on either side of the fireplace.”
Carolina kept calling me until I finished reading it. I had a hard time getting anything else accomplished.
Barbara's hobby is genealogy and after twenty-five years of research, she has written numerous articles for genealogy papers. Additionally, her first published writing was a historic, romantic novel about her ancestors beginning in 1790 entitled George's Creek to Georgia. Once she discovered she had a talent for writing, she has since penned eight additional books and has a ninth at the editors. She and her husband are retired and live in the beautiful Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. They have one son who is in Afghanistan.
Mathen’s Secrets
The fact that Barbara Ballew is a talented writer is not a secret, but the secrets she imparts to the readers of her novel, Mathen’s Secrets are secrets that are fun to unearth. Her book is set in the 1920’s, the era of the Charleston, speakeasies and flappers. I especially enjoyed this book because it’s about the lives of normal people of the era rather than the dark world of gangsters and bootleggers so often depicted in novels about the 20’s.
Mathen Mosely secretly leaves her home to get away from an abusive husband. She boards a train and goes as far as Natchitoches, Louisiana. There she meets Grace Glenn and her family.
““I sometimes think that you were sent into our lives at a time when we needed you.” (Grace)
“I know I needed you. You took a young girl’s dreadful life and turned it into a lovely dream.”” (Mathen)
Mathen quickly makes herself indispensable to the Glenn family as she works in the family restaurant, sews for the ladies, and cooks for the whole family on special occasions. Her life becomes intertwined in their lives and she learns to love and care for every member of the family. They include Grace, her husband, Chris and their three children, Sam, Lora and Lily and Chris’ father, Jacob. As the story progresses, Mathen’s secrets are revealed one by one until the Glenn family knows her and loves her as much as she loves them. One of the best parts of her new life is her new love, Sam Glenn. Follow her story of romance and fun as Mathen picks up the pieces of her life and makes a new one with this new, understanding family.
This book is a great read for all ages – teens to seniors.
Barbara's hobby is genealogy and after twenty-five years of research, she has written numerous articles for genealogy papers. Additionally, her first published writing was a historic, romantic novel about her ancestors beginning in 1790 entitled George's Creek to Georgia. Once she discovered she had a talent for writing, she has since penned eight additional books and has a ninth at the editors. She and her husband are retired and live in the beautiful Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. They have one son who is in Afghanistan.
Mathen Mosely secretly leaves her home to get away from an abusive husband. She boards a train and goes as far as Natchitoches, Louisiana. There she meets Grace Glenn and her family.
““I sometimes think that you were sent into our lives at a time when we needed you.” (Grace)
“I know I needed you. You took a young girl’s dreadful life and turned it into a lovely dream.”” (Mathen)
Mathen quickly makes herself indispensable to the Glenn family as she works in the family restaurant, sews for the ladies, and cooks for the whole family on special occasions. Her life becomes intertwined in their lives and she learns to love and care for every member of the family. They include Grace, her husband, Chris and their three children, Sam, Lora and Lily and Chris’ father, Jacob. As the story progresses, Mathen’s secrets are revealed one by one until the Glenn family knows her and loves her as much as she loves them. One of the best parts of her new life is her new love, Sam Glenn. Follow her story of romance and fun as Mathen picks up the pieces of her life and makes a new one with this new, understanding family.
This book is a great read for all ages – teens to seniors.
Barbara's hobby is genealogy and after twenty-five years of research, she has written numerous articles for genealogy papers. Additionally, her first published writing was a historic, romantic novel about her ancestors beginning in 1790 entitled George's Creek to Georgia. Once she discovered she had a talent for writing, she has since penned eight additional books and has a ninth at the editors. She and her husband are retired and live in the beautiful Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. They have one son who is in Afghanistan.
Little Man: --A Little Girl’s Dream
Barbara Dumas Ballew and her niece Bonnie Johnson Ellis have written the true story of a horse and his family as a chapter book for young readers, entitled Little Man: --A Little Girl’s Dream. They relate the tale of a little horse that was rescued and sent to a rescue farm where he was noticed by a neighbor who eventually bought him for his niece.
Just this beginning is a great story, but they go on to tell more of the story of Little Man’s life with the niece, Morgan, and her family. This story is a combination of a tear-jerker in the story of Little Man’s abuse at an early age and his eventual rescue and then his final wonderful life with Morgan and her family.
“Little Man saw Bob coming and as usual, hurried to the fence. When the horse walked up to the fence, he lost interest in Bob. He stuck his head out through the fence and laid his head on Morgan’s shoulder. There was an instant bond between the little girl and the little horse that was unmistakable.”
This was the beginning of a bond between Little Man and Morgan. Their friendship draws in a large group of new friends for them from the stable owners to the vet. They also introduce other horses as their friends such as Cinnamon, Amy’s horse (Morgan’s sister) and the future filly that Cinnamon has.
The authors relate the training that the horses and girls go through and we get to watch as they all grow into seasoned horse riders and well-trained competition horses. The best thing is that the family always looked for the best people to help them with their learning curve about horses and training, from mucking out the stalls to training for barrel racing. Everything was done with the safety and health of the horse in mind.
Barbara's hobby is genealogy and after twenty-five years of research, she has written numerous articles for genealogy papers. Additionally, her first published writing was a historic, romantic novel about her ancestors beginning in 1790 entitled George's Creek to Georgia. Once she discovered she had a talent for writing, she has since penned eight additional books and has a ninth at the editors. She and her husband are retired and live in the beautiful Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. They have one son who is in Afghanistan.
Bonnie Ellis has worked for the Mesquite Independent School District for a number of years. She's a wonderful story teller and collaborated with Barbara on several books about her childhood. Bonnie has two grown children and four grandchildren and has a wealth of stories to tell. Her hobbies are cooking and sewing.
Just this beginning is a great story, but they go on to tell more of the story of Little Man’s life with the niece, Morgan, and her family. This story is a combination of a tear-jerker in the story of Little Man’s abuse at an early age and his eventual rescue and then his final wonderful life with Morgan and her family.
“Little Man saw Bob coming and as usual, hurried to the fence. When the horse walked up to the fence, he lost interest in Bob. He stuck his head out through the fence and laid his head on Morgan’s shoulder. There was an instant bond between the little girl and the little horse that was unmistakable.”
This was the beginning of a bond between Little Man and Morgan. Their friendship draws in a large group of new friends for them from the stable owners to the vet. They also introduce other horses as their friends such as Cinnamon, Amy’s horse (Morgan’s sister) and the future filly that Cinnamon has.
The authors relate the training that the horses and girls go through and we get to watch as they all grow into seasoned horse riders and well-trained competition horses. The best thing is that the family always looked for the best people to help them with their learning curve about horses and training, from mucking out the stalls to training for barrel racing. Everything was done with the safety and health of the horse in mind.
Barbara's hobby is genealogy and after twenty-five years of research, she has written numerous articles for genealogy papers. Additionally, her first published writing was a historic, romantic novel about her ancestors beginning in 1790 entitled George's Creek to Georgia. Once she discovered she had a talent for writing, she has since penned eight additional books and has a ninth at the editors. She and her husband are retired and live in the beautiful Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. They have one son who is in Afghanistan.
Bonnie Ellis has worked for the Mesquite Independent School District for a number of years. She's a wonderful story teller and collaborated with Barbara on several books about her childhood. Bonnie has two grown children and four grandchildren and has a wealth of stories to tell. Her hobbies are cooking and sewing.