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Born on May 12, 1868, in Lincoln County, Tennessee, Josephine Myrtle Corbin was destined to lead an extraordinary life. From a young age, it was evident that Myrtle’s physical condition was unique—she was born with four legs due to a rare congenital anomaly known as dipygus. This condition resulted in two separate pelvises side by side from the waist down, leading to the development of four legs, two of which were functional.
A Family’s Decision: Turning Uniqueness into Opportunity
Myrtle’s parents, William and Nancy Corbin, faced financial hardships following the Civil War. Recognizing an opportunity, they began exhibiting their daughter at local fairs and sideshows when she was just a baby. By the age of 13, Myrtle’s unique condition had garnered significant attention, leading to a contract with P.T. Barnum’s circus, where she performed under the moniker “The Four-Legged Girl from Texas.”
Life Beyond the Sideshow: Marriage and Motherhood
At 19, Myrtle married James Clinton Bicknell, a doctor. Despite her unusual anatomy, she bore five children, with reports suggesting that some were carried in one uterus while others developed in the second. This rare occurrence intrigued the medical community and added to her mystique.
A Return to the Spotlight
Financial difficulties later in life led Myrtle back to performing. She appeared in various venues, including Hubert’s Museum in New York City and with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, earning up to $450 per week—a substantial sum at the time.
Legacy and Reflection
Myrtle Corbin passed away on May 6, 1928, from a streptococcal infection. Her family, determined to protect her from posthumous exploitation, poured concrete over her grave to deter grave robbers who sought her body for research.
Myrtle’s life challenges our perceptions of normalcy and highlights the resilience of the human spirit. She transformed what many might have seen as a curse into a source of income and later, a testament to her strength and adaptability. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities of human diversity and the enduring quest for acceptance.
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