Women of distinction/Chapter 42

CHAPTER XLII.

CAROLINE V. ANDERSON, A. M., M. D.

Caroline V. Anderson, A. M., M. D., the daughter of Hon. William Still, of "underground railroad" fame, was born in 1849. Reared in the "Quaker City" at a time that "tried men's souls," she early gave evidence of an aspiring mind and intellectual powers not of the ordinary. As a graduate from Oberlin College in 1868, at the age of eighteen, she had, in a measure, realized the rich promise of her early girlhood. She entered actively thence into the work for which by nature and accomplishments she was especially fitted. The work of teaching engaged her attention for a few years. Her instructions in the class-room were always clear, comprehensive, progressive, embellished by all the lights and graces which admirable common sense, observation and extensive reading could give. Her geniality was inspiring although it did not prevent her from being firm to her convictions, when convictions had to be maintained against assaults. In 1875 and '76 she held the position of teacher of music and instructor in drawing and elocution at Howard University, Washington, D. C. The movement in the direction of greater freedom to women, opening up avenues before closed and widening those already opened, found an earnest advocate in Dr. Anderson. In 1876 she entered the Medical Department of Howard, completing her course at the Women's Medical College in Philadelphia. Independent as she was resolute, the young physician by her unaided efforts built up a practice which was of several fold importance to her, to her sex and to her race; important to her not only from its pecuniary standpoint, but also in her deservedly receiving the respect and high esteem of her brother and sister practitioners of both races; for her sex and race it is a vindication; In several of the hospitals of the city she has served as resident, visiting and consulting physician. As the wife of Rev. Matthew Anderson, pastor of the Berean Presbyterian Church, she finds a special channel for various other energies in that work that is doing the most to humanize and elevate mankind. She is ardent in all Christian work, public-spirited and affectionate, and as a teacher, physician, mother and wife her life has been rich in incident, and with a modesty equal to her talents she invariably ascribes the attainment of her distinctions to persevering attention rather than to unusual mental capacity.