Nellie von Gerichten Smith
Nellie von Gerichten Smith (April 24, 1871 – May 15, 1952) was an American composer, pianist, violinist, and writer who composed two operas. Smith was born in Sierra County, California, to Cecelia Meta Horeis and Philip Gerichten. Little is known about her education. She married Barnaby Hathaway Smith in 1893 and they moved to Prescott, Arizona, where Barnaby managed the Palace Saloon. During her time in Arizona, Smith made several quilts which remain in Arizona collections today. She eventually returned to California, where she died in 1952. Works
In addition to composing music and playing violin with an orchestra in San Francisco, Smith wrote an essay about the women of early Arizona which was included in Women of the West, a book edited by Max Binheim and published in 1928. Smith's musical compositions include:

Operas 

Lily of the Mohawks: Kateri Tekakwitha (text by Edward C. La More)

Twins of Bistritz

Piano 

"Calizona"
"Montezuma"
"Song of the Pines"
"Storm in the Grand Canyon"

Vocal 

"Back to the West"
"My Happy Home Away Out West"
"Wait, My Little Darling"

References 

American women composers
American opera composers
Women opera composers
1871 births
1952 deaths
Textile artists from California
American quilters
American women writers
Textile artists from Arizona
Writers from California
Writers from Arizona
American women pianists
American women violinists
Musicians from California
Musicians from Arizona
People from Sierra County, California