Dr. Jack Furbee authors 'Growing Up Appalachian'
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
In a story that explores the history of his family, and a community they founded, a local resident is publishing a book chronicling the tales of his childhood in rural West Virginia.
Dr. Jack Furbee, a Hillsboro resident, said his book, "Growing Up Appalachian in the Van Camp community of Wetzel County, W.Va.," is currently in the final stages of publication.
While his goal was to create a record of fond memories of his family, and to capture the essence of life on an Appalachian farm during the Great Depression and World War II, Furbee said that it¹s really a book of human experiences and emotions that he hopes everyone can identify with.
"The book is just a lot about growing up in West Virginia," Furbee said.
Encouraged by high school classmates, with whom he kept in touch through his high school's alumni website, Furbee put pen to paper. Over the course of more than 25 years, he composed the story of his life in West Virginia.
"There's a lot in the book about the schools in the county at the time, and growing up on a very remote farm," Furbee said. "I've been working on it from, I'd say, 1985 on. The inspiration really came from my high school website. For years I'd been feeding these stories to them, and I got a lot of feedback, and a lot of encouragement to put them into a book."
Among the rocks and hills in West Virginia, Furbee said his parents had a "sustenance farm," where they didn't grow cash crops, but food to survive.
"We didn't make anything off of it, but we made a living," he said.
Foremost, Furbee said that the book came from wanting to pay tribute to his mother, Gertrude.
"I love my mother," Furbee said. "I grew up in the community where (his family) was part of the legend and the lore, and I just wanted to get into the fabric of our family's history. That got me into my mother's side of the family, the Van Camp side. Van Camps were the earliest settlers."
Described as being, "north of Parkersburg but south of Wheeling," the Van Camps settled in the area "as part of the Northwest Ordinance," Furbee said.
The original 1,000 acres the family settled stayed in the family for generations, until portions of it were sold off by relatives in recent decades. Furbee said that he wanted to make certain that the name and the history was preserved, so he applied for and received a state historical marker for the site.
Because there are not a lot of photos from the area at the time he describes, he created sketches of the farm and the landscape, that will be included with the stories.
In the book, Furbee details the process of receiving official historical status for the community, along with anecdotes about family. Among the stories is one memorable night in which 8-year-old Furbee had to fetch a midwife and doctor for the impending birth of his sister. To commemorate another special birth, Furbee said he once spent Christmas Eve in a manger, which was the best way he thought to honor the night Jesus was born.
From those humble roots in the Appalachian Mountains, Furbee applied himself to his education. He became the first in his family to attend college, going on to receive a masters degree and a doctorate in education.
"I'm the first in my family to go beyond the eighth grade," said Furbee, who attributed his dislike for farm work as his catalyst for study.
"Farm work, as my dad introduced me to it, was a turnoff," Furbee said.
"Work wasn't always pleasant. I loved my dad, but I didn't like the work, and that's what put me into books. I really got started in high school. I loved stories and dramatic arts and plays, and that led me to education. I can still remember sitting on the front porch waiting for the mail to get my papers that said I'd been accepted to college."
After graduating from West Liberty State College in Wheeling, he pursued higher degrees at West Virginia University. He held positions at colleges and universities across the United States, eventually ending up at Olivet Nazarene University, south of Chicago. He taught there from 1970 to 1989, and achieved professor emeritus status.
Although he may have traveled the country, Furbee said his heart stayed in that little town in West Virginia.
"Homesickness results," he said. "I've always wanted to go back. I haven't been able to manage (to live there permanently) but I've always traveled back."
Furbee and his wife, Donna, initially moved to Ohio to the Milford area to be close to their daughter. But they wanted be in the country, and found that the rolling hills of Highland County bear a striking resemblance to his native West Virginia.
"Hillsboro probably satisfies us as much as any place," Furbee said. "And now we find it hard to leave. It's beautiful here."
Furbee said that he hopes his new neighbors in Hillsboro will appreciate his book.
"The emotions in the book are international. You don't have to be from West Virginia," Furbee said. "It's a human interest story, and emotions know no boundaries. I think it would appeal to the people of Hillsboro because they're not too far away geographically, plus, the rural stories are common everywhere. The Depression was the Depression everywhere. World War II was World War II everywhere. All of those are in the story."
"Growing Up Appalachian in the Van Camp Community of Wetzel County, West Virginia" is currently in the final stages of publication at the McClain Publishing Company in Parsons, WVa. Copies are anticipated in bookstores – including local M&W Books in Hillsboro – by mid-February.
For more information, Furbee can be reached at jckfrb@gmail.com.
Dr. Jack Furbee, a Hillsboro resident, said his book, "Growing Up Appalachian in the Van Camp community of Wetzel County, W.Va.," is currently in the final stages of publication.
While his goal was to create a record of fond memories of his family, and to capture the essence of life on an Appalachian farm during the Great Depression and World War II, Furbee said that it¹s really a book of human experiences and emotions that he hopes everyone can identify with.
"The book is just a lot about growing up in West Virginia," Furbee said.
Encouraged by high school classmates, with whom he kept in touch through his high school's alumni website, Furbee put pen to paper. Over the course of more than 25 years, he composed the story of his life in West Virginia.
"There's a lot in the book about the schools in the county at the time, and growing up on a very remote farm," Furbee said. "I've been working on it from, I'd say, 1985 on. The inspiration really came from my high school website. For years I'd been feeding these stories to them, and I got a lot of feedback, and a lot of encouragement to put them into a book."
Among the rocks and hills in West Virginia, Furbee said his parents had a "sustenance farm," where they didn't grow cash crops, but food to survive.
"We didn't make anything off of it, but we made a living," he said.
Foremost, Furbee said that the book came from wanting to pay tribute to his mother, Gertrude.
"I love my mother," Furbee said. "I grew up in the community where (his family) was part of the legend and the lore, and I just wanted to get into the fabric of our family's history. That got me into my mother's side of the family, the Van Camp side. Van Camps were the earliest settlers."
Described as being, "north of Parkersburg but south of Wheeling," the Van Camps settled in the area "as part of the Northwest Ordinance," Furbee said.
The original 1,000 acres the family settled stayed in the family for generations, until portions of it were sold off by relatives in recent decades. Furbee said that he wanted to make certain that the name and the history was preserved, so he applied for and received a state historical marker for the site.
Because there are not a lot of photos from the area at the time he describes, he created sketches of the farm and the landscape, that will be included with the stories.
In the book, Furbee details the process of receiving official historical status for the community, along with anecdotes about family. Among the stories is one memorable night in which 8-year-old Furbee had to fetch a midwife and doctor for the impending birth of his sister. To commemorate another special birth, Furbee said he once spent Christmas Eve in a manger, which was the best way he thought to honor the night Jesus was born.
From those humble roots in the Appalachian Mountains, Furbee applied himself to his education. He became the first in his family to attend college, going on to receive a masters degree and a doctorate in education.
"I'm the first in my family to go beyond the eighth grade," said Furbee, who attributed his dislike for farm work as his catalyst for study.
"Farm work, as my dad introduced me to it, was a turnoff," Furbee said.
"Work wasn't always pleasant. I loved my dad, but I didn't like the work, and that's what put me into books. I really got started in high school. I loved stories and dramatic arts and plays, and that led me to education. I can still remember sitting on the front porch waiting for the mail to get my papers that said I'd been accepted to college."
After graduating from West Liberty State College in Wheeling, he pursued higher degrees at West Virginia University. He held positions at colleges and universities across the United States, eventually ending up at Olivet Nazarene University, south of Chicago. He taught there from 1970 to 1989, and achieved professor emeritus status.
Although he may have traveled the country, Furbee said his heart stayed in that little town in West Virginia.
"Homesickness results," he said. "I've always wanted to go back. I haven't been able to manage (to live there permanently) but I've always traveled back."
Furbee and his wife, Donna, initially moved to Ohio to the Milford area to be close to their daughter. But they wanted be in the country, and found that the rolling hills of Highland County bear a striking resemblance to his native West Virginia.
"Hillsboro probably satisfies us as much as any place," Furbee said. "And now we find it hard to leave. It's beautiful here."
Furbee said that he hopes his new neighbors in Hillsboro will appreciate his book.
"The emotions in the book are international. You don't have to be from West Virginia," Furbee said. "It's a human interest story, and emotions know no boundaries. I think it would appeal to the people of Hillsboro because they're not too far away geographically, plus, the rural stories are common everywhere. The Depression was the Depression everywhere. World War II was World War II everywhere. All of those are in the story."
"Growing Up Appalachian in the Van Camp Community of Wetzel County, West Virginia" is currently in the final stages of publication at the McClain Publishing Company in Parsons, WVa. Copies are anticipated in bookstores – including local M&W Books in Hillsboro – by mid-February.
For more information, Furbee can be reached at jckfrb@gmail.com.