Born female, aged about 33. Lived most of his adult life as a man under the name of Nicolai De Raylan. An immigrant, he worked in a Russian consular office in Chicago. Said to have enjoyed cigars, strong drink and the company of women (he married twice). One who knew him said that De Raylan tried to enlist in the U.S. Army at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War but was turned down because he was considered too slight of build for the rigors of Army life.

De Raylan came to Phoenix after a diagnosis of tuberculosis, but died on December 18, 1906. His secret was discovered by the undertaker as his body was prepared for burial, and the story was picked up by newspapers around the nation. It is believed that De Raylan's birth name was Anna Taletsky/Terletsky.

A local LGBTQ organization provided a headstone for De Raylan on November 16th, 2019. The ceremony was covered by reporter Karina Bland, and her article entitled "Honored As Who He Was" appeared on the front page of the Arizona Republic newspaper a few days later on November 18th, 2019.