 |
    
|
|
Available Sources Records 1875 A. T. Andreas Atlas
Dubuque Genealogy Coordinator
Logo by Ginger Cisewski |
NANCY R. HILL, M. D., who is successfully engaged in the practice of medicine in Dubuque, is a worthy representative of the profession in this city and county. She was born and reared in West Cambridge, Mass., and is a daughter of William and Harriet (Swan) Hill, the former a farmer by occupation. In the common schools of the home neighborhood she began her education and later entered Mt. Holyoke Seminary, where she pursued a thorough course of study. She was one of those brave and unselfish women who during the war sacrificed home interests and social pleasures and aided in the care of those who went forth to the defense of the Union. As a volunteer she went to the Armory Square Hospital in Washington, D. C., and there remained for three years; her kindly services and ministrations added greatly to the comfort of the wounded soldiers. Immediately after the battle of the Wilderness nearly three hundred wounded soldiers were put on transports and sent by way of Aquia Creek to Alexandria, whence they walked to Armory Square Hospital. By some mistake their papers had not been forwarded to the officers, and by order of Secretary Stanton they were refused admission into the hospital. Dr. Bliss, head surgeon, was afraid to disobey the orders of Stanton, and rather than to witness the men suffering in the street he went home. Not so with Miss Hill. Born with the high courage that had characterized her Revolutionary ancestors, and too good and brave to allow such a wrong to be permitted, she opened the gates and bade the guards turn their backs, as she intended to bring the wounded men into the hospital and give them needed attention and succor. The guards did as requested and the wounded men followed her into the building, where their wounds were dressed and given proper attention. It had been supposed that they were deserters, but such was not the case, as on the following day their credentials arrived. Then Miss Hill was complimented by all for her prompt and noble action on behalf of the wounded men. So successful was Miss Hill in hospital work, that Dr. Bliss advised her to study medicine, and acting upon this suggestion she began her professional readings on returning to her home in Massachusetts. Later she took a course of lectures in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, graduating in 1874. She then received an appointment in the New England Hospital for women and children at Roxbury, Mass., where she spent one and one-half years. From the old Bay State she came to Dubuque and opened an office on Locust Street. Since that time she has been successfully engaged in practice, making a specialty of diseases of women and children. She is a member of the Dubuque Medical Association, the Cedar Valley Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. A lady of culture and intelligence, she possesses broad and liberal views, and in social as well as professional circles she holds a high position. Dr. Hill's sister, Miss Harriet A., resides with her. She received the rudiments of her education in the common schools of West Cambridge, Mass., and subsequently attended the seminary at Exeter, N. H. For three years she engaged in teaching in her native town, and after the death of her father came to Dubuque, where she has since resided. A lady of scholarly attainments, she is prominently connected with the Dubuque Literary Society and the Daughters of the Revolution.
Dr. Hill is descended from worthy ancestors, the family having been founded in America by emigrants
from Lincolnshire, England, who crossed the Atlantic in 1630. They were loyal to their new home,
and members of the family took an active part in the War of the Revolution. The four
great-grandfathers of Dr. Hill participated in the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, a
circumstance which can be found in but few of the old American families. Her grandparents, William
and Nancy (Bond) Hill, were both natives of the old Bay State and were members of the
Congregational Church. Great-grandmother Swan, during the Revolutionary War, went heroically from
her home and nursed some of the patriots, as well as the enemy. It was her fortune to cause to be
taken to her house a wounded British officer, whom she nursed back to health. He had formerly been
a friend and comrade of General Washington at the battle of Ft. Duquesne (popularly called
Braddock's defeat) and subsequently when the General came to Cambridge he thanked Mrs. Swan for her
kindly care of his friend.
|
| Site maintained by Julia Krapfl | Copyright
© 1996-2004 | Page updated 5 October 2004 Designed by Kelly Krapfl |