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Point Pleasant in Mason County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
 

Dr. Jesse Bennett

 
 
Dr. Jesse Bennett Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 28, 2018
1. Dr. Jesse Bennett Marker
Inscription. Grave and home (½ mile W.) of Dr. Jesse Bennett, whose Caesarean operation on his wife, 1794, was the first in America. Bennett, colonel of Virginia Militia, 1804–1814, refused to aid Blennerhassett, Burr in their ambitious plan.
 
Erected 1973 by West Virginia Department of Archives and History.
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1794.
 
Location. 38° 50.868′ N, 82° 8.182′ W. Marker is in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, in Mason County. Marker is on Viand Street (West Virginia Route 62) north of 9th Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Point Pleasant WV 25550, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Pioneer Cemetery (here, next to this marker); Rev. Francis Dutton (a few steps from this marker); Early Graves (within shouting distance of this marker); 915 Viand Street (within shouting distance of this marker); 906 Main Street (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 902 Main Street (about 300 feet away); 903 Main Street (about 400 feet away); 1002 Main Street (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Point Pleasant.
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1. Wikipedia Entry for Jesse Bennett. (Excerpt:) Desperate to save her child, Elizabeth begged her husband to perform the Caesarian section. Dr. Bennett assembled a crude operating table from two boards supported by barrels. Dr. Bennett gave his wife laudanum to make her sleepy and had two negro servants support her on the table while Elizabeth's sister, Mrs. Hawkins, held a tallow candle to light the operating table.

Dr. Bennett cut his wife's abdomen with a single sweep of his knife and extracted his infant daughter, Maria. He then removed both of Elizabeth's ovaries, saying he'd "not be subjected to such an ordeal again." Finally he sutured the surgical wound with stout linen thread, the kind used in frontier homes to sew heavy clothing.

Elizabeth recovered and was able to be up a month later. Dr. Bennett declared his wife healed as of March 1, 1794, writing a cryptic case history on the title page of one of his medical books. Elizabeth Bennett lived for thirty-six more years, passing away on April 20, 1830. Maria Bennett lived until 1870, married twice, and bore six children.

Dr. Bennett refused to publicize the details of the surgery during his life. He said other doctors would never believe that a woman could survive this hazardous operation, done in the backwoods of Virginia, and he was "damned if he'd give them a chance
Dr. Jesse Bennett Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, August 29, 2023
2. Dr. Jesse Bennett Marker
The Dr. Bennett marker is the further of the two.
to call him a liar."

Because Dr. Bennett didn't report the operation during his life, it was long believed the first successful American Caesarian section had been performed in 1827 by Dr. John Lambert in Ohio. Dr. Lambert lived only ten miles across the river from Dr. Bennett's practice.” (Submitted on October 21, 2018.) 

2. Wikipedia entry for the Burr Conspiracy. (Synopsis:) The Burr conspiracy was a suspected treasonous cabal of planters, politicians, and army officers in the early 19th century. The alleged cabal was led by Aaron Burr, the former Vice President of the United States (1801–1805). According to the accusations against him, his goal was to create an independent country in the center of North America including the Southwestern United States and parts of Mexico. Burr's version was that he intended to farm 40,000 acres in the Texas Territory which had been leased to him by the Spanish Crown.

President Thomas Jefferson ordered Burr arrested and indicted for treason, despite a lack of firm evidence. Burr's true intentions remain unclear to historians, some of whom claim that he intended to take parts of Texas and the Louisiana Purchase for himself. He was acquitted of treason, but the trial destroyed his already faltering political career. (Submitted on October 21, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)
Dr. Jesse Bennett (1784-1842) image. Click for full size.
Courtesy West Virginia Division of Culture and History
3. Dr. Jesse Bennett (1784-1842)
One of the first physicians in present-day Mason County, Bennett performed the first-known Caesarean operation in North America while living in present-day Virginia in 1794. [WV State Archives Portrait File]
 
 
Point Pleasant Cemetery image. Click for full size.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 28, 2018
4. Point Pleasant Cemetery
View from this marker. Dr. Bennett’s gravesite monument is in the back, left of center.
Dr. Jesse Bennett’s Graveside Monument image. Click for full size.
Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 28, 2018
5. Dr. Jesse Bennett’s Graveside Monument
It reads, “Sacred to the Memory of Dr. Jefse Bennet Born in Frankford, Philadelphia Co Pa, July 10th A.D. 1769. Died July 22nd A.D. 18F2, aged 73 years & 12 days. He was a faithful Friend and an Affectinat Husbend.”
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 743 times since then and 56 times this year. Last updated on August 29, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. Photos:   1. submitted on October 21, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.   2. submitted on August 29, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.   3, 4, 5. submitted on October 21, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.

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Mar. 29, 2024