Showing posts with label Oregon Trail. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oregon Trail. Show all posts

Sunday, December 5, 2021

Dr. Minnie Hayden Howard (1872-1965) Frontier Doctor of the West

 Johann Gottfried Hauer (John Godfrey Howard) Family Line

Dr. Minnie Hayden Howard (1872-1965) Frontier Doctor of the West
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by Carolyn Ann Howard

Dr. Minnie Howard may not be related to me through blood, but I'm still incredibly proud to have her same last name, Howard. Dr. Minnie was the wife of my third cousin, twice removed. Click on photos to enlarge

Dr. Minnie Howard

Dr. Minnie was born Minnie Hayden in Memphis, Missouri, to a farmer and his wife, Jacob and Carina (Carrie). When she was 14, she moved with her parents and siblings to Larned, Kansas. The reason for the move may have been the call of the west, which was strong at that time. It might be that opportunities were better for their children in Larned. This would be information that perhaps an extended study would find.

Dr. Minnie attended Central Normal College in Great Bend, Kansas, before embarking on a career in teaching in rural Kansas.

Five of Dr. Minnie's letters to her then future husband, which can be found on-line through Idaho State University, show that Dr. Minnie was well-educated and highly regarded. In the letters, she called her future husband, William Forrest Howard, her "esteemed friend." She also, in these few letters, outlines her brother, Will's, carriage accident, in 1890. Will fractured his skull and almost died. He did recover from his injuries, and, in his adult life, he was a pharmacist. I'm wondering if his accident was something that caused Minnie to consider becoming a doctor. According to Idaho's Remarkable Women by Lynn Bragg, her husband talked her into getting a medical education, so that she would understand the lifestyle. Her mother, Carrie, died in 1892, another factor that may have caused Dr. Minnie to make a decision on becoming a doctor.

Minnie's brother, Will

Dr. Minnie's husband, William Forrest Howard, also graduated from Central Normal College. After their marriage on 23 Aug 1894, in Larned, Kansas, at the home of the bride, they both taught school. William and Dr. Minnie graduated from the University of Kansas Medical School, Minnie in 1899. Upon their graduation, the couple practiced for a few years in Cuba, Kansas. In 1902, however, they moved their practice to Pocatello, Idaho.

Pocatello, Idaho circa 1890
Public Domain via Wikipedia

I have no insight, again, as to why they moved to Pocatello, but, my goodness, it was so gorgeous. Situated all throughout the Pocatello, Idaho region are many summits and mountain ranges.

Mountain scape of Pocatello

The Howards did a lot of good in Pocatello, so much so that in 1983, a mountain range was named after them: Howard Mountain!

Minnie herself did much philanthropic work in Pocatello, for example, heading the committee to get a grant from Andrew Carnegie for the Carnegie Library that still serves the community to this day.

Modern day Pocatello Library
Tricia Simpson via Wikimedia Commons

Most of the biographies I have read about Dr. Minnie states she gave up her medical practice after the birth of their second or third son. depending on the source. I don't think this is true. Sure, in essence, she gave up her practice, but she continued to use her medical knowledge for the good of her family and those around her, particularly the Native Americans who lived nearby in the Fort Hall Reservation. The reservation was originally founded in 1868 and was home to the Shoshone and Bannock tribe. Indeed, Pocatello was named for Chief Pocatello (1815-1884).

Tribute to Chief Pocatello
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

The consumption of alcohol at this time in United States history was a serious problem. Although we know now that temperance was a terrible idea, many people then saw no other way to reign in America's drinking problem. Dr. Minnie was no exception. She held offices with the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and affiliated herself with the Prohibition National Party. 

It is a myth that Native Americans have a predisposition to alcoholism, but during Dr. Minnie's lifetime, it was widely accepted as the truth, unfortunately. Because of this, Dr. Minnie worked tirelessly to keep alcohol out of the hands of the Shoshoni and Bannock tribes. She is said to have been a friend of Chief Pocatello's daughter, though, so her work with the tribes would have been sincere. She offered them medical care as well as food.

Another reason to believe in Dr. Minnie's sincerity is her interest in, not only local history, but her attempts to locate the original Old Fort Hall, considered by some to be the most important location on the Oregon Trail. Along with a few others and her husband, the location was discovered, although "experts" disputed it. An archaeological excavation in 1993 proved Dr. Minnie and her crew's findings correct. The site is now the home of The Fort Hall Replica and Museum, 3000 Avenue of the Chiefs in Pocatello.

3000 Avenue of the Chiefs
Google Maps
Proper Attribution Given


Courtyard of the Replica of Fort Hall
Jeffrey G. Backes via Wikimedia Commons

The first marker at Fort Hall in 1916
Public Domain via Wikipedia

The Discovery of Old Fort Hall
Public Domain via Ancestry

Dr. Minnie was an avid history buff, particularly of Old Fort Hall. She wrote several articles for the newspaper concerning Fort Hall as well as the history of Pocatello. According to Idaho State University's web site, she was a member of the Library Committee, Art & Travel Club, Music Club, and Southern Idaho Historical Society. She was also on the City and County Welfare Board and was Bannock County Historian from 1931 to about 1956.

For his part, Dr. William Forrest Howard, who also was with the group to place the first marker at Fort Hall, was active in the community. According to the Idaho State University web site, he served as coroner and city physician. He was active with the Masons, Shriners, and the Kiwanis Club. According to Idaho's Remarkable Women by Lynn Bragg, Dr. Howard and his wife helped to found Pocatello General Hospital in 1905.

This blog posting merely scratches the surface on the life of Dr. Minnie Howard. It would be an amazing feat to write an entire book about her. Unfortunately, that would include an extended stay in Idaho for study. While that would be a great time, and I would love it, it's just not feasible. It is my hope that this blog posting will honor her memory.

Dr. Minnie and her husband had four sons. They all grew up to be physicians.

The Howard Sons
Public Domain via Ancestry


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