Today in Wheeling History: April 22 — Dr. Lydia Cromwell Hearne, pioneering physician, civic reformer, president of the Wheeling Woman’s Club, director of the West Virginia Historical Society, and the first woman to carry West Virginia’s electoral vote to Washington, dies in Wheeling and is entombed at Greenwood Cemetery (1961).
Lydia Herts Cromwell Hearne was a pioneering physician and one of Wheeling’s most influential civic leaders. Born in Bedford, Pennsylvania, in 1874 to William F. and Eliza Bowles Cromwell, she graduated with high honors from Bedford High School in 1893 and studied medicine under Dr. Amos A. Taylor before entering Hahnemann Medical College in Chicago. She earned her M.D. in 1896 and served as assistant physician at Pennoyer Sanitarium in Wisconsin, later becoming resident physician at Galen Hall Sanatorium in Atlantic City. She also served as secretary of the Atlantic City Homeopathic Medical Club.
After marrying Julian G. Hearne on June 6, 1900, she settled in Wheeling at “Hearnlee,” the Hearne family home in Woodsdale, and shifted her focus to civic leadership. Hearne served on the boards of the Anti‑Tuberculosis League, Associated Charities, Salvation Army, and advised on Wheeling’s water filtration system. She led the Children’s Home of Woodsdale, the Wheeling YWCA, and twice served as president of the Wheeling Woman’s Club. She was appointed director of the West Virginia Historical Society and became a prominent Republican leader. In 1924, she became the first woman to carry West Virginia’s electoral vote to Washington.
Her son, Col. Julian G. Hearne (1904–1995), became a distinguished attorney, World War II officer, and composer of the state song “West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home.” He also helped draft legislation establishing Wheeling’s Council‑Manager government.
Lydia Hearne died in 1961 and is entombed at Greenwood Cemetery.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/y3djskvp) (https://tinyurl.com/32vczsdd); Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/y4fye8dm), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/3k4mvbe6) (https://tinyurl.com/mrzdhpvh), Smithsonian Institution (https://tinyurl.com/5h8hkn4w)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave, Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps
Lydia Herts Cromwell Hearne was a pioneering physician and one of Wheeling’s most influential civic leaders. Born in Bedford, Pennsylvania, in 1874 to William F. and Eliza Bowles Cromwell, she graduated with high honors from Bedford High School in 1893 and studied medicine under Dr. Amos A. Taylor before entering Hahnemann Medical College in Chicago. She earned her M.D. in 1896 and served as assistant physician at Pennoyer Sanitarium in Wisconsin, later becoming resident physician at Galen Hall Sanatorium in Atlantic City. She also served as secretary of the Atlantic City Homeopathic Medical Club.
After marrying Julian G. Hearne on June 6, 1900, she settled in Wheeling at “Hearnlee,” the Hearne family home in Woodsdale, and shifted her focus to civic leadership. Hearne served on the boards of the Anti‑Tuberculosis League, Associated Charities, Salvation Army, and advised on Wheeling’s water filtration system. She led the Children’s Home of Woodsdale, the Wheeling YWCA, and twice served as president of the Wheeling Woman’s Club. She was appointed director of the West Virginia Historical Society and became a prominent Republican leader. In 1924, she became the first woman to carry West Virginia’s electoral vote to Washington.
Her son, Col. Julian G. Hearne (1904–1995), became a distinguished attorney, World War II officer, and composer of the state song “West Virginia, My Home Sweet Home.” He also helped draft legislation establishing Wheeling’s Council‑Manager government.
Lydia Hearne died in 1961 and is entombed at Greenwood Cemetery.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/y3djskvp) (https://tinyurl.com/32vczsdd); Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/y4fye8dm), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/3k4mvbe6) (https://tinyurl.com/mrzdhpvh), Smithsonian Institution (https://tinyurl.com/5h8hkn4w)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave, Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps
RSS Feed