Ann Eliza Smith (October 7, 1819 - 1905) (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.[1] 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. [2]
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.