Near Lexington in Rockbridge County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Jane Todd Crawford

Photographed By Dan Fisher, June 20, 2010

1. Jane Todd Crawford Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Jane Todd, pioneer heroine of abdominal surgery, was born 12-23-1763 just west of here across Whistle Creek near Todd’s Mill. She married Thomas Crawford in 1794. In 1809 she rode 60 Mi. on horseback to the home of Dr. Ephraim McDowell in Danville, Kentucky., where she underwent the worlds first ovariotomy. The ordeal lasted 25-min., without anesthesia. She recovered, lived 32 more years and died near Graysville, Indiana. The restored McDowell home is a surgical shrine.

Erected 1974 by Woman's Auxillary to the Southern Medical Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Science & Medicine • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1794.

Location. 37° 48.507′ N, 79° 28.383′ W. Marker is near Lexington, Virginia, in Rockbridge County. Marker is at the intersection of West Midland Trail (U.S. 60) and Beatty Hollow (Virginia Route 669), on the right when traveling west on West Midland Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lexington VA 24450, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. New Monmouth Church and Morrison’s Birthplace (within shouting distance

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of this marker); Liberty Hall Academy Ruins (approx. 1.6 miles away); Liberty Hall Academy (approx. 1.7 miles away); Founding of Kappa Alpha Order (approx. 1.9 miles away); Omicron Delta Kappa (approx. 2.1 miles away); Historic Lexington Train Station (approx. 2.1 miles away); Last Home of Traveller (approx. 2.2 miles away); John Chavis (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lexington.

Also see . . . McDowell House Museum in Danville, Kentucky. Here on Christmas morning 1809, Dr. Ephraim McDowell performed surgery on Jane Todd Crawford for the removal of an ovarian tumor. (Submitted on June 22, 2010.)

Photographed By Dan Fisher, June 20, 2010

2. Jane Todd Crawford Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,465 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 22, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.