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Facts and Events
In the years following the death of Joseph Smith, the Mormons were persecuted almost everywhere they went. To hide her Mormon origins, especially the identity of her father
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Bogue, Lucile. The Californians: Ina Coolbrith's Secret Mormon Heritage. (Sept/Oct 1987)
page 24. - ↑ An Enduring Legacy, Second Title: An Enduring Legacy, Second Publisher: Ancestry.com, Second Address: Provo, UT. (Daughters of Utah Pioneers, VOL I-XII, Salt Lake City, UT)
"J. Winter Smith was the son of Samuel H. B. Smith and Julia Winter. His father was the only son of Samuel H. Smith, brother of the Prophet Joseph, and his mother was the daughter of Thomas William Winter, pioneer bishop of the old Fifth Ward of Salt Lake City. His grandfather, Samuel H. Smith, brother of the Prophet Joseph, was the first missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1832 Samuel and Orson Hyde were sent by the Church on a mission to Boston and other New England states. There were three converts in Boston who are of interest in the Ina Coolbrith story: Mary Bailey, Agnes Coolbrith, and Augusta Cobb. When Mary and Agnes were preparing to join the main body of the Saints, Augusta, who remained behind, stated prophetically to them: 'You will go and someday you both shall marry brothers who are prominent in the Church.' Mary later married Samuel and Agnes married the Prophet's youngest brother, Don Carlos. "J. Winter was a young engineering student at Stanford University in 1906 when he decided to look up Ina Coolbrith. As a lover of poetry, he had read her poems and had 'felt a kindred spirit' through them. He knew of Agnes Coolbrith and wondered if Ina might be her daughter. As an excuse to meet her, he wrote a poem and took it to her to criticize. She always encouraged young writers of both prose and poetry and agreed to see him. "Just three days before the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, he knocked on her door and she graciously admitted him. They had an enjoyable discussion about poetry and she commented on his poem. When he was preparing to leave, he turned at the door and asked impulsively, 'Is your name Smith?' She replied: 'How did you know? Which Smith are you?' He told her he was a son of Samuel, Jr., who was about her age. She then spoke his father's name fondly, 'Samuel,' and remarked what good times they had together as children. He asked her why she didn't tell who she was. She explained her mother had extracted a promise from her and her sister when they were young not to tell what their real name was or who their father was. She explained her mother had died suddenly without releasing her from her promise and 'to me, promises are sacred.' 'How long shall I keep your confidence?' he asked. After a moment's hesitation, she replied: 'As long as I shall live, then you may tell the world. I want the world to know, for I am proud of my ancestors.' J. Winter then told her, 'If promises are sacred to you, that's good enough for me.' He left after stating he would visit her again.".
- ↑ An Enduring Legacy, Second Title: An Enduring Legacy, Second Publisher: Ancestry.com, Second Address: Provo, UT. (Daughters of Utah Pioneers, VOL I-XII, Salt Lake City, UT).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bogue, Lucile. The Californians: Ina Coolbrith's Secret Mormon Heritage. (Sept/Oct 1987)
page 25.
- ↑ San Mateo Times and Dailey News Leader: Ina Coolbrith of Verse Fame Dies, Location: San Mateo, California, Page: 6. (29 Feb 1928).
- ↑ she was named Poet Laureate of California
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