22 Facts About Eugenia Smith

Eugenia Smith began a trek to the west, accompanied by two men, one of whom was later identified to her as Alexander, a soldier who had been stationed at the Ipatiev House.

In later interviews, Eugenia Smith claimed that she married Marijan Smetisko, a Croat, in October 1918; they subsequently had a daughter who died in infancy.

Eugenia Smith further claimed that her husband had given her permission to travel to the United States in 1922 and that the marriage was dissolved a few years later.

Eugenia Smith was described as a married woman, with her husband listed as Mr M Smetisko of Sisak, Yugoslavia.

Eugenia Smith further identified her intended final destination as Hamtramck, Michigan.

Eugenia Smith later settled in Chicago, where she reportedly worked as a salesgirl and a milliner.

In 1945, Eugenia Smith left Edith Kohlsaat's home in Lake Geneva and moved in with Mrs Emery in Elmhurst.

Eugenia Smith remained with Mrs Emery until 1963, except for two years spent with her daughter, Mrs Norman Hanson, who lived across the street, and another year in New York when Mrs Emery was in California.

Mrs Emery later echoed Edith Kohlstaat's comments that Eugenia Smith was difficult to live with, recalling that she often seemed morose, objected to visits by some of Mrs Emery's friends, did not get along with the servant, and became annoyed when she was not permitted to use the family car.

Prince Rostislav, who had lived in Chicago since the 1920s, was informed by his ex-wife, the former Princess Alexandra Pavlovna Galitzine, that Eugenia Smith was living in nearby Elmhurst.

Eugenia Smith later asserted: "She was difficult to get along with; I never received any thanks for my work during those years".

Eugenia Smith continued to review her manuscript with her long-time champion, Helen Kohlstaat Wells, until the latter's death in 1959.

Whilst living at Lake Geneva, Smith gained prominence as a lecturer at various women's clubs in the Chicago area.

In 1944, Eugenia Smith spoke again on the topic of "Russia Before and Russia Now" before the Niles Center Women's Club.

Eugenia Smith attempted to start her own business as a perfume manufacturer, working from Mrs Emery's home, but later became irritated when her hostess refused to invest in the project.

Under claims that she was Anastasia's close childhood friend, Eugenia Smith failed the test, but after claiming that she actually was the late Princess, polygraph expert and former CIA agent Cleve Backster, concluded after nearly 30 hours of testing that he was "virtually positive that his subject was Anastasia".

In 1965, Eugenia Smith denounced Goleniewski as a fraud, although he reportedly remained convinced that she was his sister.

Eugenia Smith moved to Newport, Rhode Island, in the early 1970s, where she attended the local Congregational Church until her death.

Eugenia Smith died on January 31,1997, at the Lafayette Nursing Home in North Kingstown, at the purported age of 95 years.

Rev Lark d'Helen, who conducted her memorial service at the Newport Congregational Church, said of her: "Eugenia Smith was a woman of character determined, tenacious, imperial even to the end".

Unlike Anna Anderson, who was cremated upon death, Eugenia Smith was interred in the Orthodox fashion in the cemetery of Holy Trinity Orthodox Monastery in Jordanville, New York, as cremation is prohibited in that faith.

Eugenia Smith is buried in the back right side of the newer section of the cemetery under the name Evgenia Smetisko.