Cumberland - Mary Speed
MARY SPEED CUMBERLAND
Source: Zach, Karen Bazzani. Montgomery Medicine Men .... Crawfordsville, Indiana: Montgomery County Historical Society, 2002.
I did not want to go to press knowing nothing else about Mary Cumberland, but not much is found about her except that she was in the household of Jesse W. Cumberland, presumable her father, in 1850 as a baby and in 1870, age 19, as a medical student. Her mother was Margaret A. Speed, carrying an infamous Montgomery County surname. Her father was listed first as a carriage maker; then grocer and lastly a Boot and Shoe Dealer. Mary was likely born right here in Montgomery County, but nothing could be found further about her.
Note: She married Albert Cunning Jennison in Montgomery County, Indiana 18 Oct 1883 and died in 1898 Montgomery County, Indiana. Before her marriage, still living with her parents, she is listed as a music teacher in the 1880 census. Although there were a FEW early women who practiced medicine here before about 1920, there were FEW.
Evidently, she threw herself into teaching after marriage and taught in the Lafayette and area schools. Her pupils loved her. "She was a faithful and earnest teacher, to whom students own some of the best inspirations of their lives, for she had a rare genius in exciting her pupils ambition to make the best of themselves."
Before she became ill (having died on 27 March 1898) she was active in several philanthropic and educational/philosophical organizations. She was well loved! -- glad I found a bit more :)