BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Martha E. Hutchings Griffith
Portrait & Biographical Records of Montgomery,
Parke & Fountain Counties, Indiana. Chicago: Chapman
Brothers, 1893, p586-587
MARTHA E. GRIFFITH, M.D.
Martha E. Griffith, M.D., was born near Madison,
Jefferson County, Ind., her parents being John W. and
Elizabeth (Craven) Hutchings. She received the
advantages of a fair education at the Vernon Academy, and
when about twenty-one began to read medicine with Dr. N.
Richardson, an old friend of the family and one of the
best-known physicians in southern Indiana. She has
always been of a lively nature and was a general favorite
with both sexes of those near her own age, but her
determination to read medicine was such an unusual and
unheard of thing that it was not long before her former
friends had deserted her, and she was given to understand
that some of them could not accept as a companion a girl
who would so break away from all tradition as to enter
the practice of medicine. She was shunned by some of her
former companions, and everything was done to dissuade
her from her intention.
Although she was almost ostracized, she was of a
determined mind and had a strong will, and she became
more determined than ever to carry out her plans;
therefore she continued her studies and became more and
more interested as she searched the depths of the
science. At this time there were but two lady physicians
in regular practice in the State. One of these was a
woman who has been very closely connected with the
history of Crawfordsville, Mrs. Dr. Mary Wilhitt, and the
other was Dr. Mary Thomas, of Richmond.
When prepared, Miss Hutchings repaired to the
Philadelphia Woman's Medical College and matriculated at
the opening of the school in 1866. She continued her
attendance there until she graduated in March, 1870,
having spent some time in special hospital work and study
at the New England Hospital for Women at Boston. She was
the first woman to enter a medical school from Indiana,
and her classmates were earnest women, with similar views
of woman's ability and fitness for the duties of a
physician's life. Among these were many who have
attained more than local prominence in medical life.
Miss Hutchings returned to her old home in 1870,
opened an office in Madison and entered upon a general
practice. A lady physician was still something strange
to the people, and as she had expected her practice grew
slowly. She realized that time and time only could
overcome the old-established predjudices, but her ever
gentle manner, guided by the heart of a true woman,
brought her friends and practice. She met with success
in her treatment of cases from the start, and in no long
time was widely known as a successful practitioner.
Miss Hutchings remained at Madison until her union for
life with Dr. Griffith and she has since kept up her
practice at Darlington and Crawfordsville. Since the
death of her predecessor and friend, Mrs. Wilhitt, who
has but recently been called higher, Mrs. Griffith is the
only lady physician in Montgomery County. She is highly
respected by the members of the profession, who for some
years made her Vice-President of the Medical Society, in
which she is an active and influential worker. Her
practice in recent years has grown more toward the
diseases of women and children, and in these she is
considered eminently successful in her treatments. She
is a lady of wide information, and while she keeps
abreast with the advances made in her profession, she
also finds time to keep familiar with the efforts made by
other as earnest women who are working for the
advancement of the sex. Dr. Griffith is a member of the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and has frequently
attended the State conventions as a delegate. The
demands of a practice and a family preclude her engaging
more fully in the great work, yet every move meets with
her sympathy, and takes such pleasure in the fact that a
time has come, when in the eyes of the world a woman may
be a doctor and still retain her refinement and
tenderness. In her, woman suffrage finds a supporter,
and the venerable mother (now deceased) of Frances E.
Willard casting her vote at Evanston was to her a sight
worthy of imitation. She is a member of the Woman's
Relief Corps, and also of the Woman's Aid Society of the
Christian Church.
Mrs. Griffith has been the mother of two children:
Helen, who died at the age of two and one-half years;
and James Barton, a student in the Sophomore class at
Wabash College. Mrs. Griffith is a member of the Indiana
State Medical Society.
Dr. Martha Griffith
Waveland Independent
Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana
January 2, 1925
Dr. Martha Griffith, the mother of Dr. J.B. Griffith, died in Crawfordsville on Sunday. Dr. Griffith was one of the few women doctors of this state and has been engaged in practice with her husband, the late Dr. T. J. Griffith. Besides her professional work Dr. Griffith found time for social activities, and was instrumental in obtaining some of the best medical legislation in Indiana. The funeral was in charge of M.A. West of this place and was held at the home on Tuesday afternoon. Burial at Darlington.
Griffith, Martha E.H.
Schools attended: Woman's Medical College of Penns., Phila.
Year Medical Grad or Attendance: 1870
Membership in Medical Orgz.: Indiana State Medical Society 1882-83
Obit location: J. Ind. state Med. Assn. v„ 18; 76 1928
County: Montgomery (Darlington / Crawfordsville)
Med. Reg./Exam.: 1.13.98
Sex: F
Sources: P1886 / Physicians Directory of Kentucky and Indiana 1893 / Indiana State Board of Health 1882, 1884, 1890
Record# 10650 in database 19th Indiana Century Physicians
Source: 19th Century Database of Indiana Physicians
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