the blizzard
hit. Jennie’s
insight to keep
the children in
the schoolhouse
when the storm
hit undoubtedly
saved their lives.
Finally,
Jennie had saved
enough money
to attend medical
school. Now she
was faced with
the challenge of
finding a medical
school who
accepted women.
In addition,
another hurdle which existed at this time finding a hospital or clinic
who allowed women to practice. It is no wonder less than 5% of all
physicians in the United States were women. (Saturday Evening Post)
Jennie was accepted into the Hahnemann Medical School in
Chicago. The school was named after Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, a
German physician who founded the philosophy of homeopathy. Upon
admittance, it was explained if she did not place within the top of the
class there would be no place for her. She accepted this challenge and
worked extremely hard in her courses (Hintgen). The intensity of the
courses and undoubtedly the stress of the environment took a toll on
Jennie. She was diagnosed with tuberculosis and returned home to
recover. She did so quickly and returned to school.
In 1893, Jennie received her medical degree from Hahnemann and
completed an internship at the temporary hospital at the Chicago’s
World Fair. She returned to the Dakota’s briefly working in Gregory,
SD before returning to Yankton to join practice with Dr. E.W. Murray.
Now thirty, Dr. Jennie Murphy participated in the formation of the
Yankton Hospital Association in 1895. The Association converted a
small home on Fourth Street west of Walnut into a small facility. Two
years later the Association was involved in founding Sacred Heart
Hospital.
Dr. Murphy
decided she
needed more
training
regarding
diseases
affecting
women and
children, so she
traveled to New
York for post
graduate work.
Upon returning
home, with a
degree from a
homeopathic
institution and
newly acquired
training in
treating diseases in women and children, she opened a private practice
in Union Block (located where Riverfront Event Center now stands).
She was now ready to tackle the issues facing the women, children, and
residents of Yankton.
Known to ride a bicycle about town in the warmer months, she
could be seen traveling house to house treating patients and delivering
babies. Among the many babies she helped into the world was
Chandler Gurney, the future United States Senator. It is reported she
also sewed his finger back on when it was cut off by a bicycle sprocket.
(Karelovetiz).
To reach the country patients, she traveled by horse and buggy. She
traveled the surrounding area making trips into Nebraska from time
to time. She mended broken limbs, battled fevers, infections, and
contagious diseases. She reported at times she would be exhausted
from her long days in the country and would fall asleep in her horse
drawn buggy. Her horses continued on the path while she slept
delivering her home safely to her residence at 409 Douglas. In later
years, she drove a big Cadillac and was the first women to drive a car
out and about on the country roads (Hintgen).
vMURPHY continued on page 25
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