Anne Eliza Smith
Encyclopedia
Ann Eliza Smith (born Ann Eliza Brainerd) was raised in St. Albans, Vermont
by her parents Lawrence Brainerd
and Fidelia B. Gadcombe. Ann Brainerd married J. Gregory Smith
in 1842 and together they had six children. It has been believed for some time that the town of Brainerd, Minnesota
was named after her. In fact that town was rather named after her father, Lawrence Brainerd, one-time Governor of Vermont and the head of numerous Vermont railroading enterprises.
Smith wrote essays, poems and other works. She was best known for her three novels, Seola, Selma, and Atla. Her first published work was From Dawn to Sunrise and its success caused Henry K. Adams, author of A Centennial History of St. Albans Vermont to call it "[t]he smartest book ever written in Vermont." From Dawn to Sunrise (1876) dealt with the historical and philosophical religious ideas of mankind. Smith's second work was the novel titled Seola
(1878) which was written as an antediluvian
diary. The next novel published was Selma (1883) which was a Viking
love story. The third novel, Atla
(1886), was about the sinking of the legendary lost island called Atlantis
. In 1924 Seola was revised by the "Bible Students" -later known as Jehovah's Witenesses- and retitled as Angels and Women.
Ann Smith wrote under her married name, Mrs. J. Gregory Smith. Both Seola and Angels and Women were published anonymously and are ascribed by the Library of Congress to her.
St. Albans (town), Vermont
St. Albans is a town in Franklin County, Vermont. The population was 6,392 at the 2010 census. The town completely surrounds the city of St. Albans, which was separated from the town and incorporated in 1902. References to "St. Albans" prior to this date generally refer to the town center, which...
by her parents Lawrence Brainerd
Lawrence Brainerd
Lawrence Brainerd was a businessman, abolitionist and United States Senator from Vermont. He was the father of Anne Eliza Brainerd Smith and the father-in-law of Vermont Governor J. Gregory Smith....
and Fidelia B. Gadcombe. Ann Brainerd married J. Gregory Smith
J. Gregory Smith
John Gregory Smith , railroad tycoon, politician, war-time governor of VermontSmith was born in St. Albans, Vermont, son of John and Maria Smith. The elder Smith was a pioneer railroad builder in Vermont, and a leading lawyer and public man of his generation...
in 1842 and together they had six children. It has been believed for some time that the town of Brainerd, Minnesota
Brainerd, Minnesota
Brainerd is a city in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,590 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Crow Wing County and one of the largest cities in Central Minnesota...
was named after her. In fact that town was rather named after her father, Lawrence Brainerd, one-time Governor of Vermont and the head of numerous Vermont railroading enterprises.
Smith wrote essays, poems and other works. She was best known for her three novels, Seola, Selma, and Atla. Her first published work was From Dawn to Sunrise and its success caused Henry K. Adams, author of A Centennial History of St. Albans Vermont to call it "[t]he smartest book ever written in Vermont." From Dawn to Sunrise (1876) dealt with the historical and philosophical religious ideas of mankind. Smith's second work was the novel titled Seola
Seola
Seola is an antediluvian novel published in 1878, written by Ann Eliza Smith. The publishers of the novel are Boston: Lee and Shepard, New York: Charles T. Dillingham....
(1878) which was written as an antediluvian
Antediluvian
The antediluvian period meaning "before the deluge" is the period referred to in the Bible between the Creation of the Earth and the Deluge . The narrative takes up chapters 1-6 of Genesis...
diary. The next novel published was Selma (1883) which was a Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
love story. The third novel, Atla
ATLA - A Story of the Lost Island
Atla is a fantasy novel by Ann Eliza Smith. It is a tale about the discovery of the Atlantis civilization by the Phoenicians.-Plot:...
(1886), was about the sinking of the legendary lost island called Atlantis
Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
. In 1924 Seola was revised by the "Bible Students" -later known as Jehovah's Witenesses- and retitled as Angels and Women.
Ann Smith wrote under her married name, Mrs. J. Gregory Smith. Both Seola and Angels and Women were published anonymously and are ascribed by the Library of Congress to her.
External links
- Angels and Women--online text of book.
- Page 1 at www.angelsandwomen.com Angels and Women website