William Nathaniel Harben

William Nathaniel Harben (5 July 1858 – 7 August 1919) was an American writer active in the early 20th century. He specialized in stories about the people of the mountains of Northern Georgia. He was sometimes credited as Will N. Harben or Will Harben.

Early life Harben was born in 1858 in Dalton, Georgia to a rich family. He grew up to be a merchant in that same town. At age 30, Harben started writing stories.

His father Nathaniel Parks Harben was a prominent southern abolitionist who served as a spy for the Union and later a scout for General Sherman. His family was forced to flee to the north when William was a small child, eventually returning to Dalton during reconstruction.

Career In 1889, Harben wrote his first bestseller, White Marie, a story of a white girl raised in slavery in the American South.