Josephine Myrtle Corbin Biography: Net Worth, Age, Death, Ethnicity, Nationality, Wikipedia

Josephine Myrtle Corbin was an American sideshow performer renowned as the “Four-Legged Girl” due to her rare congenital condition, dipygus.

This condition resulted in her having two separate pelvises from the waist down, with each smaller inner leg paired with an outer leg.

However, the inner legs were too weak to support walking. Corbin began her career in the sideshow circuit at 13, quickly gaining popularity and achieving financial success.

Even after she retired from performing, several impostors emerged, attempting to replicate her unique appeal for audiences.

Profile

• Full Name: Josephine Myrtle Corbin
• Stage Name: Josephine Myrtle Corbin
• Born: May 12 1868
• Died: May 6, 1928
• Age: 59 years old
• Birthplace: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: American sideshow performer
• Height: 1.5 m
• Parents: William H. Corbin, Nancy Corbin
• Siblings: Willie Ann Corbin Bicknell, Merida Corbin, Laura Ann Sullens Blakely, James Henry Corbin
• Spouse: James Clinton Bicknell ​(m. 1886)
• Children: Clinton Francis Bicknell, Ruby Eugenia Bicknell Wells, Nancy Estelle Bicknell Altaras ,Lillian Josephine Bicknell
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: Unknown

Early Life And Education

Josephine Myrtle Corbin was born on May 12, 1868, in Lincoln County, Tennessee, to William H. Corbin and Nancy Corbin (née Sullins).

She was one of several children in the Corbin family, with siblings including Willie Ann Corbin Bicknell, Merida Corbin, Laura Ann Sullens Blakely, and James Henry Corbin.

While it is possible that Corbin received some formal education, specific details about her schooling remain unknown.

Corbin was of white ethnicity, although her religious beliefs were not definitively documented.

Career

Josephine Myrtle Corbin entered the sideshow circuit under the stage name “Four-Legged Girl from Texas,” quickly gaining widespread attention.

Her performances were immensely popular, with promotional materials describing her as “gentle of disposition as the summer sunshine and as happy as the day is long.”

As her fame grew, other showmen attempted to replicate her success by staging fraudulent four-legged performances, known as gaffs, to capitalize on the public’s fascination with her condition.

Corbin’s unique physical condition made her a celebrated attraction in traveling shows and vaudeville, transforming her from a mere curiosity into a figure of both marvel and respect. Audiences were captivated not only by her rare anatomy but also by her engaging personality.

Beyond public fascination, Corbin also drew significant interest from the medical community. Her condition, dipygus, resulted in her having two separate pelvises and, remarkably, two sets of reproductive organs.

Medical professionals closely monitored her pregnancies, particularly after complications in her first pregnancy led to an abortion. Despite this, she later successfully carried multiple pregnancies to term without significant health concerns.

As Corbin grew older, she gradually withdrew from public performances, choosing to focus on her family and personal life.

She maintained relatively stable health throughout her later years and sought to provide a normal upbringing for her children.

Despite her early fame, Corbin preferred a quieter existence, stepping away from the spotlight while remaining an enduring figure in sideshow history.

Social Media

Josephine Myrtle Corbin does not have any active social media accounts.

Personal Life

Josephine Myrtle Corbin married James Clinton Bicknell on June 12, 1886, in Blount, Alabama, and together they had five children: Clinton Francis Bicknell, Ruby Eugenia Bicknell Wells, Nancy Estelle Bicknell Altaras, and Lillian Josephine Bicknell.

She passed away on May 6, 1928, in Cleburne, Texas. Due to concerns about grave robbers attempting to steal her remains, her casket was encased in concrete, with family members keeping watch until it had fully set to ensure its protection.

Net Worth

Josephine Myrtle Corbin’s net worth remains undocumented, but her earnings were considerable for her time.

At the peak of her career, she reportedly earned up to $450 per week—equivalent to approximately $14,000 today—an exceptional income for a performer of that era.

This level of financial success underscores her popularity and the significant public interest in her unique condition.