The ""Electric" Physician

 Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Image (C) Doris McCraw

The following is taken from an earlier post.

I have spoken of Dr. Harriet Leonard before, but I felt she deserved for folks to know more about her.

She was born in New York in 1829 and died in Colorado in 1907 at the age of 79 (?). She was married to John Leonard, and they had seven children, four of whom survived to adulthood, according to the 1900 census. John died in 1895/6.

Along with Julia E. Loomis, the first woman doctor in Colorado Springs, Harriet Leonard was the first woman doctor in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Her advertisement appears as early as July of 1878. Her ad read: "Mrs. H. A. Leonard M.D. ELECTRICIAN. Special attention given to nervous and chronic diseases. Office in the Mineral Bath House. Manitou." This form of treatment was not that unusual in the 1870’s. You can read more at: http://blog.nyhistory.org/electric-medicine/

Dr. Leonard was the proprietor of the Bath house in Manitou Springs, a rather unusual position for a woman. Nonetheless, Harriet was constantly working and learning. There is some indication she may have gone to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (originally known as Hot Springs) for a time, but no definite proof has been found. It would not be out of the question, as the town has numerous hot springs. The springs in Manitou are mineral, not hot springs. It would make sense, given her history, that she would spend time there. She was in Denver when she first arrived in the area, according to Denver City Directories.

Another difference between Dr. Leonard and the other female physicians was that she was an allopath, whereas Dr. Loomis and others were homeopaths. Dr. Leonard graduated from the Keokuk College for Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Loomis, a graduate of the Cleveland Homeopathic College for Women, as were the two other women doctors who joined these two early pioneers.

When she fell and broke her leg, she declined quickly and passed away in September 1907, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, CO.

If you want to learn more about Harriet and the other women doctors, you can check out the ebook "Under the Stone" at this link: "Under the Stone"  

Until Next Time,

Stay Safe and Enjoy Life

Doris

Dr. Harriet Leonard

Post (C) Doris McCraw

aka Angela Raines

Image (Photo) (C) Doris McCraw

Dr. Harriet Leonard:

Born in New York in 1829 and died in Colorado in 1907 at the age of 79 (?). She married John  Leonard, and they had seven children, with four surviving to adulthood according to the 1900 census. John died in 1895/6.

Along with Julia E. Loomis, the first woman doctor in Colorado Springs, Harriet Leonard was the first woman doctor in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Her advertisement appeared as early as July of 1878. Her ad read: "Mrs. H. A. Leonard, M.D. ELECTRICIAN. Special attention given to nervous and chronic diseases. Office in the Mineral Bath House. Manitou." This form of treatment was not that unusual in the 1870s. You can read more at: http://blog.nyhistory.org/electric-medicine/

Dr. Leonard later became the proprietor of the Bath house, a rather unusual position for a woman. Nonetheless, Harriet was constantly working and learning. There is some indication she may have gone to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (originally known as Hot Springs) for a time, but no definite proof has been found. It would not be out of the question, as the town has numerous hot springs. The springs in Manitou are mineral, and not hot springs. It would make sense given her history.

Manitou Bath House Building
Image from Wikipedia

Another difference between Dr. Leonard and the other female physicians was that she was an allopath, while Dr. Loomis, the first woman doctor in Colorado Springs, and others were homeopaths. Dr. Leonard graduated from the Keokuk College of Physicians and Surgeons.   http://www.keokuk.net/history/1820sto.htm  Dr. Loomis, like the two other women doctors who joined these two early pioneers, graduated from the Cleveland Homeopathic College for Women.

Dr. Leonard, before the fall that led to her decline and subsequent death, was planning to open a massage parlor in Colorado Springs with both a male and female masseuse. 

For over fifteen years, I have been passionate about the study and research of these early women doctors. Stay tuned as I share more about the women doctors who practiced in Colorado before 1900.

Amazon - ebook

Until next time.

Doris

Angela Raines - Amazon

Doris A. McCraw - Amazon