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Show 174 incentive to go into medicine was two-fold: grinding poverty plus a grandfather and several uncles who were doctors. When her family received the gospel in New York, Elvira was also baptized. She was then twelve years old. One year later, in Nauvoo, both parents died, leaving five children "almost penniless." She married in 1849 at age 17. Not long afterwards, both husband and wife were called on a mission which, for some reason, was postponed, "...finally, in 1870 at 51 she started, in company with Apostle Parley P. Pratt, who was going to Chile." What had happened to her husband was not mentioned. She educated herself and earned the money to go east and study medicine. After she began her practice, she taught classes. Elvira died January 12, 1909 in Salt Lake City at age 77. Martha Hughes Cannon (also Mattie Paul Hughes) Few dates were provided in the paragraph about her. She was a woman of many accomplishments. While traveling in Europe, she visited hospitals and, as the first woman state senator in Utah (1897-99) was able to procure health-oriented legislation. OTHER EARLY WOMEN PHYSICIANS: Dr. Emma Atkin of Tooele, who "died some years ago." Dr. Jane Ivins McDonald, who lived in Nephi and practiced in St. George. |
