West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
DR. HINKHOUSE

Dr. Myrtle J. Hinkhouse, daughter of R. W. and Anna Smiley Hinkhouse, was born on a farm near Wilton but has made her home in West Liberty for many years. She attended country school; was graduated from the German-English college at Wilton; later was graduated from Grinnell college where for two years she was a menber of the Student Volunteer Band, a missionary organization.

In preparation for medical service, she attended the Woman's Medical college of Pennsylvania from which she was graduated in 1914, taking her internship at the New York Infirmary for women and children. While there she received her appointment to China from the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions and sailed in January of 1916. She was first located at Teugchowfu, Shantung province, where she studued the language, assisted a Chinese doctor, and had the medical call of the two missionary groups at that station.

In 1918 she was sent to Peking to teach in the Union medical college for women and was made a member of the Presbyterian Mission Hospital staff which consisted of one other American woman doctor and one Chinese doctor. They also conducted the school of nursing which was the first one opened in north China.

Since 1924 Dr. Hinkhouse has been at Paoting. Following the martyrdom of Dr. and Mrs. Hodge and Dr. Taylor, there during the Boxer uprising in 1900, two memorial hospitals have been built and dedicated to the Lord. These have been consolidated under the Taylor Hodge Memorial and have 120 beds.

Today a staff of Chinese doctors and nurses are carrying a large part of the work. Here Dr. Hinkhouse finds great joy in service. She is head of the obstetrical department, conducts out clinics, is on call for general hospital service, including emergencies night and day. She is treasurer and is responsible for much of the hospital management. She also teaches in the school of nursing.

In all her contacts which includes access to the homes of the rich and poor, she carries on a definite religious work. She considers herself fortunate above most women to have had so large a part of meeting the physical and spiritual needs of so responsive a people.

West Liberty is justly proud of Dr. Hinkhouse and wishes her Godspeed as she returns to her work in June of this year.

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