Effie Waller Smith
Encyclopedia
Effie Waller Smith was an African-American
poet of the early twentieth century. Her published output consisted of three volumes of poetry: Songs Of the Month (1904), Rhymes From the Cumberland (1904), and Rosemary and Pansies (1909). Her poetry also appeared in the publication, Harper's Weekly, as well as in various regional newspapers.
. Her father, Frank Waller, migrated to the East Kentucky mountains sometime after the Civil War
, having spent most of his early life as a laborer on a Virginia
plantation. Her mother, Sibbie Ratliff, was born and raised in East Kentucky and met the former Virginia slave in the early 1870s.
Frank Waller established himself as both a blacksmith and a real estate
speculator soon after his arrival in the Chloe Creek community. This mountain community was unique in comparison to other communities of the time in that it was racially integrated. This condition, coupled with Waller's early training as a blacksmith while still a slave, helped him to become financially successful and to win the respect of his neighbors, both white and black. The Wallers, realizing the hardships caused by their own limited education, decided that their children would receive the best quality education available to them at the time.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
poet of the early twentieth century. Her published output consisted of three volumes of poetry: Songs Of the Month (1904), Rhymes From the Cumberland (1904), and Rosemary and Pansies (1909). Her poetry also appeared in the publication, Harper's Weekly, as well as in various regional newspapers.
Early life
Effie Waller was born to former slaves in the rural mountain community of Chloe Creek in Pike County, KentuckyPike County, Kentucky
Pike County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2010, the population was 65,024. Its county seat is Pikeville. Pike is Kentucky's largest county in terms of land area. Pike County is the 11th largest county in Kentucky in terms of population preceded by Bullitt County and...
. Her father, Frank Waller, migrated to the East Kentucky mountains sometime after the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, having spent most of his early life as a laborer on a Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
plantation. Her mother, Sibbie Ratliff, was born and raised in East Kentucky and met the former Virginia slave in the early 1870s.
Frank Waller established himself as both a blacksmith and a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
speculator soon after his arrival in the Chloe Creek community. This mountain community was unique in comparison to other communities of the time in that it was racially integrated. This condition, coupled with Waller's early training as a blacksmith while still a slave, helped him to become financially successful and to win the respect of his neighbors, both white and black. The Wallers, realizing the hardships caused by their own limited education, decided that their children would receive the best quality education available to them at the time.