they would turn in their graves

Dr. Martha Purple Martha Purple was born about 1816 in Connecticut, the daughter of Isham and Phoebe Purple. She grew up in the east and came to Michigan with her family after her sister Mary was married to Morgan Lyon, who was given bounty land in Michigan in compensation for his father’s death in the War of 1812. Apparently, Martha was engaged to be married when she was young, but her fiancé died just before their wedding was to take place. Martha was devastated, but then dedicated her life to the practice of medicine. In 1858, Martha was newly located in Battle Creek, Michigan but had already been a practicing physician for ten years. Martha lived in Battle Creek and gave her occupation as “doctress” when the 1860 census was taken.   Elizabeth Blackwell, generally accepted as the first female physician in the United States, graduated from Geneva Medical College in New York in 1849. Unfortunately, we have not been able to discover the origin of Martha Purple’s medical training, b...

Wilma Pearl Mankiller Wilma Pearl Mankiller was born in 1945 in Tahlequah, Cherokee County, Oklahoma, to Charley Mankiller and Clara Irene (Sitton) Mankiller. In 1950, Wilma was living with her parents and six siblings in Wauhillau, Adair County, Oklahoma. Her father was working as a farm laborer; all members of her family identified as native American.   Arizona Republic , 8 April 2010: “Wilma Mankiller, 64, the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation in modern times, whose leadership on social and financial issues made her tribe a national role model, has died at her home in Adair County, Okla. She had metastatic pancreatic cancer. Mankiller, principal chief of the Cherokee from 1985 to 1995, tripled her tribe’s enrollment, doubled employment, and built new housing, health centers and children’s programs in northeastern Oklahoma, where most of the 200,000 or so tribal members live. In 1990, she signed an unprecedented agreement in which the Bureau of Indian Affairs surrendered ...

Christina Hammock Koch Christina Marie Hammock was born in 1979 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the daughter of Ronald Mack and Barbara Ann (Homrich) Hammock. Her parents were married in 1978 in Grand Rapids, Michigan:   The Grand Rapids Press , 18 February 1978: “Miss Barbara Ann Homrich and Dr. Ronald Mack Hammock of Grand Rapids were united in marriage Saturday afternoon in Holy Trinity Church. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Walter C. Homrich of Comstock Park and Mrs. Ruby Hammock of Westland. Matron of honor was Mrs. Beth Jammal. Bridesmaids were Miss Barbara Christ, Mrs. Wendy Morrison, Mrs. Teresa Roderick, Miss Denise Hammock and Miss Doris Hammock. Best man was Dr. John Walker. Groomsmen were Michael, William, David and James Homrich and Dr. Jack Dekkinga. The reception was held in the Casino Club Hall. The couple will reside in Grand Rapids.”   In 1950, Ronald Hammock and his family were living in Tennessee. Barbara’s parents Walter and Dolores Homrich were both bo...