Annie Maria Barnes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Annie Maria Barnes
Born	Annie Maria Barnes May 28, 1857 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Pen name	"Cousin Annie"
Occupation	author
Language	English
Nationality	U.S.
Genre	juvenile literature, novels
Subject	missionary stories
Notable works	The Acanthus

Annie Maria Barnes (who also wrote as Cousin Annie; born May 28, 1857 – death date unknown) was an American writer and editor from South Carolina. She was known for writing many books for young people.

Annie started writing very early. When she was just eleven years old, she wrote an article for a big newspaper called The Atlanta Constitution. By the time she was fifteen, she was writing for them regularly! In 1887, she started her own magazine for young people called The Acanthus. Annie wrote novels from 1887 until at least 1927.

Annie's Early Life

Annie Maria Barnes was born in Columbia, South Carolina, on May 28, 1857. Her parents were James Daniel and Henrietta Jackson Neville Barnes. Her family, like many in the South after the American Civil War, lost most of their money.

Annie went to public schools in Atlanta, Georgia. Her family had many editors, so it was natural for her to become a writer. Her first article for the Atlanta Constitution was published when she was only 11. The editor liked it a lot. By age 15, she became a regular writer for the newspaper.

Annie's Writing Career

A Lass of Dorchester (1904)

Annie Barnes became a well-known writer of books for young people in the Southern United States. Many of her first stories appeared in a magazine for kids called Sundayschool Visitor.

Annie also worked as a junior editor for a church group called the Woman's Board of Missions. She was in charge of their children's magazine and other reading materials. She often wrote for popular magazines like Godey's Lady's Book. She also edited two other church magazines, Young Christian Worker and Little Worker.

In 1887, Annie started her own magazine for young people called The Acanthus. It was one of only two magazines for kids published in the South at that time. Even though it was a good magazine, it didn't make much money.

Annie's first book was Some Lowly Lives, published in 1885. She then wrote The Life of David Livingston (1887) and Scenes in Pioneer Methodism (1889). Her book The Children of the Kalahari, a story about Africa for kids, was very popular in both the U.S. and England.

She wrote many other popular stories, including:

• The Ferry Maid of the Chattahoochee
• How Achon-hoah Found the Light
• Matouchon
• A Lass of Dorchester
• The Red Miriok
• Little Betty Blew

Some of her books were written under her famous pen name, "Cousin Annie."

Annie's Home Life

Annie Barnes lived in Summerville, South Carolina.

Selected Works