The Jordans' Journey
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Imagine finding a story circa 1938, written by your deceased Mother when she was just 18 years old. Imagine reading it and discovering a novel so compelling, you forget who the author was and become immersed in a revelation of a familyâs settlement years in the burgeoning West of the late 1800âs to the 1930âs.
The charm of âThe Jordansâ Journeyâ, a work of approximately 41,000 words, comes from its authenticity. The author, Mina Pruitt Barry, our mother, was a second-generation settler who was privy to the memories of her grandmother, Melissa Jordan Knight, who lived in Nebraska during our nationâs Westward Expansion.
Mina was a talented writer when she penned this original piece, working at the same time as a journalist at a newspaper in Iowa, âThe Daily Chief.â Upon reading her work, we, as educators, saw its merit and potential. We heard her âvoiceâ and took the fledgling story to its present state.
Synopsis
Short Synopsis of âThe Jordansâ Journeyâ by Susan Barry Burton and Patricia Barry Haggerty based on the work of Mina Pruitt Barry.
In the beginning, the protagonists, Bruce and Vi Jordan, leave Illinois to pursue a new life in the Nebraska Territory. Can they successfully establish a viable life on the prairie? Can they overcome problems from their pasts?
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Susan Barry Burton is a retired NYS certified teacher having worked in public schools for 35 years. Susan has a Masterâs degree in education and has done much post graduate work in all areas of reading and writing. Susan was also a member of the local Reading Council of Suffolk County, NY. She has received recognition for her teaching in being awarded SCOPEâS âAll Star Teacherâ (2000), New York Stateâs âEducator of the Weekâ award (2005) and Phi Delta Kappa International âFriends of Educationâ award (2012). Susan resides in Sayville, NY with her husband.
Patricia Barry Haggerty is a retired NYS certified teacher. Her career spanned 33 years. After completing a Masterâs degree in education, Patricia went on to obtain a New York State Reading Certificate. She also participated in a Reading/Writing Workshop under the training of Lucy Calkins at Columbia University in New York City. Patricia was also a member of the local Reading Council of Suffolk County, NY. Patricia was also twice honored at âFounders Dayâ in her school district. Patricia resides on Long Island
Mina Pruitt was born on May 1,1920 in Humphrey, Nebraska. She lived on a farm with her parents and maternal grandmother, Melissa Jordan Knight, who was Minaâs primary source of information about life on the prairie as Melissa was born and raised in a pioneer family.
Mina graduated from high school in 1938 and although a recipient of several college scholarships, the economic climate of the times dictated that she enter the work force. She left Nebraska immediately after graduation and secured a position as a journalist at âThe Daily Chiefâ, a newspaper in Perry, Iowa. Mina eventually became the Society Editor and remained with the paper until 1941. It was during her tenure at the paper that Mina wrote the novel, âThe Jordansâ Journeyâ, basing it largely on her grandmotherâs experiences.
By 1942, Mina moved to Washington, D.C. where she was an administrative assistant to Mr. Whitehead in J.Edgar Hooverâs office. In Washington, D.C., Mina met and married John F. Barry, Esq. They settled in Sayville, N.Y. where they raised seven children. Mina continued using her literary skills in her involvement in both her community and church.
By 1965, Mina had accrued her real estate license eventually becoming a broker and owning a successful agency. During this time, Mina did all the listing copy for her advertising. She ran this business until her death in 1978.
In 2014, two of Minaâs daughters, Patricia Barry Haggerty and Susan Barry Burton were asked by their brother John Barry to revise their motherâs manuscript. They authored the present book based on Minaâs original story.
Mina P. Barry passed away in 1978 at the age of 58 from the âplagueâ of leukemia. Her daughters, Patricia and Susan, who revised her original manuscript, have tried to share with you, Minaâs voice and her portrayal of pioneer life. Like all the good pioneers did when faced with struggles, they confronted them and sought solutions. We are going to do that with this book. Ten percent from the purchase price of $4.99 for EVERY book sold will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Maybe, just maybe, we can be a part of the movement that will eventually donate the magic dollar amount for research and there will be a cure for this âplagueâ of leukemia. It is certainly worth the old pioneer effort!!!
Hope you enjoy âThe Jordansâ Journeyâ.
Respectfully,
John Barry
Book Producer
