Jessamyn West was born on July 18, 1902 in Vernon, Indiana, USA. She was a writer, known for The Big Country (1958), Stolen Hours (1963) and Friendly Persuasion (1956). She was married to Harry Maxwell McPherson. She died on February 22, 1984 in Napa, California, USA.
Second cousin of President Richard M. Nixon. The character of Jess
Birdwell in Friendly Persuasion (1956) (played by Gary Cooper ) was based on their great
grandfather.
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume
One, 1981-1985, pages 864-865. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons,
1998.