Coolbrith, Ina, b. 03/10/1841, d. 02/29/1928

Biographical/Historical note

Born Josephine Anna Smith in Nauvoo, IL to Agnes Moulton Coolbrith and Don Carlos Smith, she was the neice of the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. After Don died Agnes married Joseph under the Levirate regulation. After he was killed by an anti-Mormon, anti-polygamist mob in June 1844 she moved to St. Louis, MO and married William Pickett, a non-Mormon lawyer and printer. They had twin sons and then moved to Los Angeles, CA in 1851. While riding the wagon train, Pickett read to Ina the works of Shakespeare and poetry by Lord Byron, fostering her early love of poetry. She crossed into California on the horse of Jim Beckwourth, a famous African-American scout. Once in LA, Agnes changed her family's name to avoid association with Mormonism and Ina became "Josephine Donna Coolbrith".

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