Background
Babcock, Bernie was born on April 28, 1868 in Unionville, Ohio, United States. Daughter of H. N. and Lottie B. Smade.
Babcock, Bernie was born on April 28, 1868 in Unionville, Ohio, United States. Daughter of H. N. and Lottie B. Smade.
Removed to Arkansas when 10 years old. Educated Little Rock U.
After being widowed at age 29 with five children to support, she began working as a writer Babcock was society page editor of the Arkansas Democrat and later owned and edited The Arkansas Sketch Book, the first venture of its kind in the state. She wrote Mammy, a drama read at Chautauqua and on lyceum circuits.
She is also the author of:
Yesterday and To-Day in Arkansas (1917)
The Coming of the King (1921)
The Soul of Ann Rutledge, Abraham Lincoln"s Romance (1919)
The Soul of Abraham Lincoln (1923)
Foreign her novels she was paid $300 to $500 each.
In May 1927, she wrote, “no money in sight to pay bills due June One.. Well — there’s nothing to do but keep trying.
Who wants an easy job anyway.” The Great Depression found her almost destitute. She worked as a folklore editor for the Federal Writers" Project.
In 1953, she retired to a home on Petit Jean Mountain, where she continued to write, publishing a volume of poetry, The Marble Woman, at age 91 in 1959.
She died at her home on June 14, 1962. A neighbor found her with a manuscript still in her hand.
Married William F. Babcock, April. Children: Mary Lucille (Mistress South. G. Boyce), Charlotte Burnelle (Mistress West. West. Shepherd), Frances M. (Mistress J. East. Thornburgh, Junior.