Alva Belmont

Alva Belmont , ne Alva Erskine Smith, and known as Alva Vanderbilt from 1875 to 1896, was a prominent multimillionaire American socialite and a major figure in the womens suffrage movement. Known for having an aristocratic manner that antagonized many people, she was also noted for her energy, intelligence, strong opinions, and willingness to challenge convention. She was married first to William Kissam Vanderbilt, with whom she had three children, and secondly to Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont.

Alva Erskine Smith was born on January 17, 1853 at 201 Government Street in Mobile, Alabama to Murray Forbes Smith, a commission merchant, and Phoebe Ann Desha. Murray Smith was the son of George Smith and Delia Forbes of Dumfries, Virginia. Phoebe Desha was the daughter of US Representative Robert Desha and Eleanor Shelby, both originally from Sumner County, Tennessee.

Source: Wikipedia