• 1861-1915
• Real Name: Dixie Annie Jarratt Haygood
• Birthday: ?
• Birthplace: ?
• Buried: Memory Hill Cemetery
  Milledgeville, Georgia

Billed as the "Little Georgia Magnet", Annie Abbott's act consisted of feats of weight and motion resistance. Despite her tiny size, large male volunteers would be unable to lift her or remove a pool cue in her hand. She was most famous during the late 1800's, taking her act directly from the well-known Lulu Hurst, but distinguishing herself by presenting here performance as a physical phenomenon as well as a spirit medium.

Dixie Haygood and her new husband, Charles, witnessed the wonderful Lulu Hurst and her resistance act in 1884, and by early 1885 Dixie had changed her name to Annie Abbott and was performing the act herself. She had immediate success, which was a good thing, since Charles was murdered in 1886 and Annie had to support herself and her children.

Her act was very impressive. She could lift a group of four men perched a chair by simply touching the chair. She would resisting the combined efforts of four men to move her while she was standing on one foot. She could even lift a man off the floor by placing her open hands upon his head.

During her 20-year career, Annie became famous in both the United States and abroad, traveling on successful tours through Europe and Russia. Annie Abbott performed from 1885 until 1906, when she retired to enjoy her wealth and spend time with her family.

From her obituary in the Macon Telegraph: "She appeared before virtually all the royal houses of the world during the past fifteen years. It is said that Dixie Jarratt Haygood, whose stage name was Annie Abbott, had a strange 'power'. She could lift four men on a chair by simply touching the chair. She could stand upon one foot and resist the united efforts of four strong men to move her. She could lift men into mid-air by placing her open hands upon their heads. She is believed to have performed for the Prince of Wales, Queen Victoria, the Czar of Russia, and other royalty of Europe."

She also taught her young son to perform the act; a small boy was as much of a wonder performing the act as a tiny woman.

The Resistance Act was so popular that it was performed by a number of others, including Mattie Lee Price, Carrie Arnold, Anna Eva Fay, Mrs. C.F. Coleman, and Mamie Simpson.

In 1911, Annie Abbott became ill and housebound. When she died in 1915, she was interred in a grave which remained unmarked until 2001, when a group of her descendants placed the headstone on it.

Credit: This biography originated on MagicTricks.com. Please credit this source if you use this information.