Hoover - Mary Morrison
Source: 19th Century Indiana Physicians Record #10930
One of the earliest and one of the few women doctors was Mary Hoover. She came to Crawfordsville in the early 1850's. She was prominent in Church circles and had an extensive practice among women and children. She died in 1887.
Hoover, Mary
Schools attended:(Cincinnati Eclectic School of Medicine) - later Penn Medical College, Philadelphia (grad 1866)
Year Medical Grad or Attendance: 1864
County: Montgomery (Crawfordsville)
Sources: P1886 / Indiana State Board of Health 1882, 1884, 1890
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Source: Crawfordsville Journal Jan 4, 1894
Mrs. Mary HOOVER, M.D. died this afternoon at 1:15 o'clock after a long illness, from a complication of diseases.
The funeral will occur on Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
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Source: Zach, Karen Bazzani. Montgomery Medicine Men and Women .... Crawfordsville, Indiana: Montgomery County Historical Society, 2002.
As early as 1866 Mary Hoover had a business card reading, "Mrs. M. Hoover, Physicianm Office and Residence on Vernon Street, nearly opposite the Post Office, will give exclusive attention to the practice of Medicine and Obstetrics; also to the treatment of the diseases of Women and CHildren A share of the public patronage is respectfully solicited."
Dr. Hoover was born to Richard and Eleanor (Martindale) Morrison in 15 July 1829. The event of her birth occurred in Circleville, Ohio. She moved with her parents and family to Richmond, Indiana in 1837, At the age of 19, she married John Hoover, a tinner. They lived in Frankfort a few years, then came to Crawfordsville. In 1864, she attended the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College from which she graduated. She also graduated from the WOman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. The couple had two daughters, Mollie and Mattie and two other children who died in infancy. Mollie arried John Rice and Martha, John Nicholson.
Mary Hoover did her doctoring, raised her family, was active in area affairs, all with the help of only one servant. In the 1880s, she and her family lived on East Wabash Avenue. Both Mollie nad Mattie, as well as niece, Kate are listed as doctresses (seamstresses) in the 1880 census.
Dr. Mary was especially active in the Center Presbyterian Church. She was also a member of the Daughters of Rebecca and IOOF. Said to be portly and fine looking, she had an "affable and winning manner," with her patients.
Her husband was bright and genial and they were said to have led a life of "sweet harmony," until his death on June 13, 1886.
Dr. Mary practiced up until the several month long sickness that resulted in her death which occurred 3 January 1894 in her beloved home in Crawfordsville.
Additional information from kbz:
In her lengthy obituary in the C'ville Star, she was described as "possessing a big heart as well as a big brain," and said that she was "a kind and loving wife and mother and always ready to do anything for the needy, and the night was never too dark nor the day too long if she thought she could be of any service to any one in distress to render all the help she could."