In 1913, there is a water-powered sawmill in rural southeast Guilford County, NorthCarolina. The Gilmer family, including Samuel, his wife Anna and their children live with Anna's father, Lee Hanner, in the home beside this mill. The two men own andoperate the sawmill, and the entire family works together to maintain this farm. The story begins during a winter blizzard in late February, flowing throughout theyear 1913, culminating in a Thanksgiving celebration. Will Granger, who has livedby himself on the next farm for three years now is so disagreeable that he has alienated his neighbors. The Gilmer youngsters attend a one-room school, wheretiny six-year-old Lillie faces a bully. Molly, Jake, and Lillie work hard around the farm and sometimes get into frightening situations. Young men in 1913 learn howto use firearms at an early age; they help provide food for their families and protectthem. Jake, age ten, is skillful with his shotgun, but gets into trouble when heaccidentally trespasses on land of their angry neighbor. Molly, a mature sixteen-year-old, is quite bright, and she is recommended by their teacher to complete herstudies at Tucker School and then to attend college in Greensboro and be educatedas a teacher. The lives of early Native Americans in rural Guilford is explained, andalso the history of Alamance Presbyterian Church, founded 1762. Farming in rural North Carolina is just becoming mechanized in 1913, changing how planting andharvesting are done. During this time, church is the center of the community. Livesare changed, and churches also provide social activities. Folks living in this area work hard, but they also enjoy celebrations, music, food, and fun. Little Mill on Beaver Creek is the story of the hardships, the struggles and joys of living in ruralNorth Carolina in the early part of the 20th century. It is about a family who work, pray, and play together, keeping their sense of humor and faith in God.
About the Author: Jackie Jobe Haines was raised outside Greensboro in southeast Guilford County, North Carolina on land that had been farmed by her mother's family for four generations. Jackie is a lifelong member of Alamance Presbyterian Church. She graduated from Southeast Senior High School in 1972. Following her dream to do something in the medical field, Jackie attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where she also played clarinet in the UNC Bands. She graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theraputic Recreation. Jackie was employed by Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro from fall of 1977 until April of 1984 as Recreation Therapist on Pediatrics. She married Marion D. Haines on April 28, 1984, moving to Port St. John (between Titusville and Cocoa), FL. Marion retired in 1989 from the U.S. Air Force, then took a job as Networking Specialist (computers) with Brevard County, FL in 1990. Also in 1990, Marion and Jackie became parents to their sson, Benjamin. The Haines family joined Indian River City United Methodist Church in 1992. Marion and Jackie planned to retire to Greensboro and build a home on the Jobe farm, but Marion died of pancreatic cancer on Halloween night, 2008. Jackie Haines lives in Titusville, FL as well as Greensboro, in the neighborhood where she had grown up. She published an article about her Grandfather, Albert Jobe's garage, service station and store in 2014, just before it was demolished to make room for a new road. Jackie sings in the choir in both her churches, and does volunteer work in the community, including her churches and the local hospitals. Jackie has written avariety of things for family and friends, but this is her first novel