Ephraim Bales and his family were early settlers in the Great Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee, USA. They lived in a small cabin along the Roaring Fork, where they worked hard to make a living from the land.

Ephraim and his wife, Minerva, had nine children, all of whom grew up in the cabin. The family-owned 72 acres of land, with 30 acres devoted to farming and the rest left wooded.

Life in the cabin was challenging, with the family facing difficult living conditions and working long hours to make ends meet. However, they could provide for themselves by growing their food, raising livestock, and selling excess crops and animals.

Despite the challenges, the Bales family remained in the cabin for approximately 40 years, from 1890 to 1930. The family was known for their hard work and resourcefulness, and they became an integral part of the community in the Roaring Fork area.

Today, the Ephraim Bales cabin is preserved as a historic site in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitors can learn about the family's history and the challenges faced by early settlers in the region. The cabin is one of more than 80 historic buildings in the park, each providing a window into the region's rich history and cultural heritage.