Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-13
A NOTABLE IOWA WOMAN.
DIR. Jennie McCown, President of the
Academy of Natural Sciences.

Dr. jennie MCiOwn, PreStuent OF the
Academy of Natural Sciences.
DR.. Jennie McCowen, of Davenport,
Ia, has been unanimously elected pres
ident of the Academy of Natural
Sciences, in this city, says the Davenport
ia. letter TO the Chicago Tribune: Dr.
McCowen had for two years previously
acted as corresponding secretary of that
organization, and for three years pre-
ceding that as librarian, having in
charge the 5000 volumes upon its
shelves. She is one of the best known
and most popular women in a state fa-
nous for its progressive and aspiring
daughters. The range of her industry
and accomplishment would put to the
blush many an ostentatious business
man. Her own profession, in which
she has high rank, is not enough to sat-
isfy her poised and indefatigable spirit.
For rest and recreation she merely
'changes work. When her duties as
physician tax her strength she turns
to literature, philanthrophy or science
as an Offset DR.. McCowen is of French
extraction, Presbyterian on her fathers
side and Quaker on her mothers. She
was born near Cincinnati, and is the
daughter OF II physician. Her parents
both died when she was young, and she
educated herself for a teacher at a nor
NAL school in Ohio, from which she
now has an "A. NJ" title. She taught
and studied, studied and taught,
until she was able and old
enough to become a doctor
She assumed her own support at six
teen, and became n resident of Iowa in
1864. She took three years course in
the medical department of the state
university. Upon her graduation she
was Immediately offered position on
the medical staff of the state hospital
for the insane at Mount Pleasant, She
remained there three years, and then
began private practice, with the deter
mination of making mental diseases,
especially those of her own sex, her life
work. Her value in her chosen field
has been generously recognized. She
has been three times elected to the Sec
retaryship of the Scott County Medical
society. AT the close of her last term
as secretary she was elected president
of the society, q thing hitherto un
dreamed of in the history of the medi-
cal world. She is also a member of vari-
Gus medical societies, among them the
New York Medico-Legal society. She
was elected to this in 1884, when there
were but two other woman members to
400 men. She has been associate edi-
tor since 1880 OF the Iowa Medlcal Re-
porter, and contributor to many OF
medical journals, chiefly on insanity.
In 1883 she began the issue Of a little
paper in connection with the Working
Woman's club, which club is her espec-
ial pride. This paper is called Lend Ii
Hand Echoes, aud all the work done
upon it is done within the membership
of the club. The motive throughout is
philanthropic being the improvement
and encouragement of working girls
and women in Davenport.
In person, DR.. McCowen is said to re-
semble Frances Willard. but the re-
semblancc is only -in the type. Her
hair has tinge of warmth, her eyes
are blue. her teeth even and white, her
laugh hearty and contagious, her dis
position sunny, her insight keen and
her will strong.