It was likely a warm summer day when the steam locomotive huffed and hissed into the Salem railroad depot in 1890, and the travel weary, newly minted graduate of the American Medical College of St. Louis[1] stepped onto the platform.  As the potentially apocryphal account recorded in the Capital Journal newspaper some seventy years after fact: “A Salem doctor had engaged this young physician to assist him with his practice.  Doubtless he expected to receive a young doctor groomed in tails, with sideburns and wearing a topper.  When he came to the Salem depot to receive his new assistant and perceived that Dr. Susan Araminta Davis was a woman, he refused to even help her with her bags.”[2]

It likely wasn’t the first or last time Dr. Davis faced difficulties being a woman in the field of medicine in the late 19th Century.  She was one of only four women in her graduating class,[3] and the school had only been accepting women for a few years when she matriculated.[4]  Perhaps experiences like these were what led her to attend the Congress of Women held in Portland in June 1896,[5] a suffrage movement event, in which she likely heard Abigail Scott Duniway, Susan B. Anthony and Sara Brown Cooper speak on the rights of women.[6]

Dr. Susan Araminta Davis Bean, 1898. WHC Collections 1992.013.0003

Undeterred by her welcome party to Salem, Dr. Davis rented an office, hung her own shingle, and took out an advertisement in the Oregon Statesman newspaper: “Minta S.A. Davis, M.D. Graduate of American Medical College, offers her professional services to those who may need them.  Special attention given to diseases of women and children.  Office upstairs in New Bank Building, Commercial Street.”[7]  The office, which also served as her home in the early years,[8] stood at 265 Commercial Street Northeast, on the west side of the street about midway between Court and Chemeketa Streets.[9] The building no longer stands.[10]  She would continue to practice medicine in Salem from that office for over fifty years.[11] Described as 6’ tall and 115 lbs. in the 1895 Marion County Census,[12] she must have been a very commanding sight perched atop the buggy she drove to make house calls.[13]

After a rocky start, Dr. Davis did make some headway with her peers locally.  She served as an officer (both Vice President and Treasurer) of the Oregon Eclectic Medicine Association (OEMA)[14] —  a group of like-minded physicians who ascribed to the eclectic philosophy.  “Electics” as the newspaper termed them, were physicians who aligned themselves somewhere between allopaths and homeopaths in the quickly professionalizing medical discipline.[15]  Firm believers in scientific method, they also looked to other disciplines to inform their care including herbal remedies and physical therapy in their treatment regimes.[16]  They believed that every patient was unique and that therapeutics should be applied with specificity to the situation and symptoms, as opposed to rote prescription based on a disease name or diagnosis – well at least that’s what they preached.  As fellow OEMA member and Salem doctor W.S. Mott loftily wrote of the Eclectics creed upon their founding: “Medical eclecticism embraces a field as vast as the universe.  It implies mental freedom in its fullest sense.  It means reform.  It means progression.  It means a rational practice of medicine.  It means not only the choosing of good common sense, but the rejection of nonsense.  In short it means the art and practice of the principles of specific diagnosis and specific medication.  It means not only the choosing of proper remedy in appreciable doses for direct effect of certain symptoms in a given case, but also the rejection of remedies or means which endanger or impair life or which leaves an impaired health.  It means the selection of such remedies and means as conserve life, assuage pain, shorten the duration of disease, and give a sound recovery.  In short, we practice specific medication, principals of which are so clearly enunciated in “Scudder’s Principals of Medicine.”[17]

We get glimpses of Dr. Davis medical approach in newspaper coverage of her practice.  She could set a bone to precision and utilized anesthetics like ether[18] similar to what an allopath would do. But she also began researching and cultivating her own herbal remedies.  She experimented with growing ginseng and Hydrastis (Golden Seal) on her West Salem farm for medicinal purposes.[19]

Just before her 40th birthday, and after nearly 16 years of practicing medicine in Salem, Dr. Davis married fellow Salem physician Dr. Orland W. Bean in a quiet ceremony.  Their honeymoon to California included taking in “a lecture course at the Los Angeles Eclectic Medical college.”[20]  The couple moved into a house at 595 Center Street[21] (northwest corner of Center and Church Streets), where Dr. Davis Bean, as she was called after her marriage, would live until her death.[22]

In addition to their medical practice, Drs. Bean and Davis Bean purchased the Holly Summit Fruit ranch in West Salem, about 4 miles from town in about 1911.[23]  It was there they experimented with growing herbs for treatments[24] and got away from the hustle and bustle of town.  But they were always reachable.  As numerous articles taken out in the Salem papers read: “Dr. Davis Bean will be in the country much of the time after office hours,” but that “Dr. Davis Bean will answer calls from farmer’s phone 58F13 after office hours and on holidays.”[25]

In about 1915, Dr. Bean had to start scaling back his practice because of ill health,[26] but Dr. Davis Bean continued her practice well into her 70s and her diagnosis with bladder cancer.  Her last house call was made less than a month before her death in 1941.[27]

Cited Sources

[1] “American Medical College.” St. Louis Globe-Democrat 05 June 1890 pg 7 (Newspapers.com) lists graduates including “S.A. Davis, Pennsylvania.”;  Advertisement. Oregon Statesman 05 Sept 1890  pg 3  (Newspapers.com)

[2] “Old photographs released.” Capital Journal 23 June 1961 pg 7 (newspapers.com) tells the story.  Could have talked with someone who new her and to whom she had told the story, but no way to know for sure.

[3] “American Medical College.” St. Louis Globe-Democrat 05 June 1890 pg 7 (Newspapers.com);

[4] “Early Medical Education for Women in St. Louis.” Bernard Becker Medical Library Digital Collection.  Washington University in St. Louise School of Medicine.  http://beckerexhibits.wustl.edu/mowihsp/health/mededucstl.htm  (Accessed 6/26/2023).   Exhibit text states: “The American Medical College, an eclectic medical school founded in 1873, graduated its first woman in 1888. In 1911 the American Medical College combined with the Barnes Medical College. The following year the combined school became the Medical Department of the National University of Arts and Sciences in St. Louis. The National University then merged with the St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons around 1915.”

[5] “Personal.” Capital Journal 19 Jun 1896 Page 4 (Ancestry.com)

Dr. S.A. Davis, Salem’s popular lady physician, returned this morning from Portland, where she was in attendance upon the woman’s congress.

[6] Susan B. Anthony at the Congress of Women, Portland, Oregon, June, 1896 · Women in Oregon · Lewis & Clark Digital Collections (lclark.edu); Items in brief.  Dalles Times-Mountaineer. 13 June 1896 pg 2 columns 1 and 2 (Historic Oregon Newspapers)

[7] Advertisement. Oregon Statesman 05 Sept 1890  pg 3  (Newspapers.com)

[8] Advert.  Capital Journal 02 May 1892 pg 4 (Newspapers.com) reads:” Office in New Bank Blk., 305 Commercial Street. Residence same; Salem City Directory 1905 Polk’s (Ancestry.com) – wrong metadata, look at fronts pages in book — Davis, Susan A., physician 305 Commercial, rooms Same.

[9] Advert.  Capital Journal 02 May 1892 pg 4 (Newspapers.com) reads : “Office in New Bank Blk., 305 Commercial Street. Residence same.; Salem City Directory 1905 Polk’s (Ancestry.com) – wrong metadata, look at fronts pages in book — Davis, Susan A., physician 305 Commercial, rooms Same; “Dr. S.A. Davis Bean Dies at Residence.” Capital Journal 11 March 1941 (Newspapers.com)

Dr. S.A. Davis Bean, Salem physician since 1890, died Monday night at her home, 595 Center street, at the age of 74 years.  Bean first opened her office at 265 North Commercial Street on July 1, 1890, after completing medical school and had never moved her offices from that location; NOTE Salem Changed address numbering system in 1904 (https://www.willametteheritage.org/house-numbering-address-ordinances/) so 305 Commercial and 265 Commercial are potentially the same location.  See also:

1895 Sanborn Map shows 305 Commercial Street north on the west side of Commercial Street between Court and Chemeketa Streets.  Buildings described as: “Offices and Furnished rooms 2nd Floor.” (library of Congress). 1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows address 265 on west side of commercial street midway up between Court and Chemeketa Streets (Salem Public Library Card holders can access here)

[10] But you can see it in the distance in this picture form the Salem Public Library Ben Maxwell Collections

[11]; “Old photographs released.” Capital Journal 23 June 1961 pg 7 (newspapers.com). “Dr. S.A. Davis Bean, Salem woman doctor who had her office at 262 N. Commercial Street for 50 years, was an accomplished photographer as well as physician.”  Also “On July 1, 1890, she opened her Commercial Street office that served as her clinic and pharmacy for five decades.”  Not it appears this address is in error as an even numbered address would be on east side of the street and does not match contemporary sources;  See foot note 5 for other sources.

[12] 1895 Marion County Census (Ancestry.com)

Transcription reads: Davis, M.S. Born Pennsylvania, 6’ tall 115 lbs, light complexion.  Physician, Protestant Female, 29.

It is possible this is an error in the transcription, as all was have available is a transcription of the original document, but it is what the publication says.

[13] Description of buggy accident which showcases she used a buggy and she drove it herself.  “Smashed a Wheel.” Oregon Statesman 4 Dec 1891   (newspapers.com)(Historic Oregon Newspapers republished 2 Dec 1948 pg 5)

[14] “A Meeting of Medical Men –” Weekly Oregon Statesman 18 Jul 1890 pg 6 (Newspapers.com) – “Vice President S.A. Davis, M.D. Salem.”;  “The Eclectics.” Oregon Statesman 09 June 1892 pg 4 (Newspapers.com):  “Dr. S.A. Davis Vice president.”; “The State Eclectics.” Oregon Statesman 15 Oct 1895 pg 4 (newspapers.com): “S.A. Davis, M.D. of Salem, treasurer.”

[15] Speech of Dr. W.S. Mott of Salem at the formation of the Oregon Electic Medical Association. Published in ““Eclectic M.D.’s” Oregon Statesman 05 September 1890 pg 3  (newspapers.com). Provides a pretty clear outline of what they believed.

[16] “Eclectic Medicine” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclectic_medicine (Accessed 6/23/2023)

[17] “Eclectic M.D.’s” Oregon Statesman 05 September 1890 pg 3  (newspapers.com)

[18] “Leg Broken.” Capital Journal 09 Jul 1896 pg 4 (Newspapers.com).  .  “Dr. S.A. Davis, of Salem, was called, but enough ether could not be administered to overcome the patient, and the broker bones were set without anesthetics”;  “a Few Accidents.” Oregon Statesman 22 Aug 1897 pg 5 (Newspapers.com) , “…dislocating his elbow and jarring him severely.  Dr. S.A. Davis was summoned and soon had the little sufferer in comparative comfort.”; “Miss Mildred Clarke Breaks Her Ankle.” Capital Journal 29 June 1916 pg 3 (Newspapers.com) “Mildred, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Clarke of 549 N. Capitol street broke two bones in her ankle last night when she jumped to the ground from a cherry tree where she had been picking fruit.  Dr. S.A. Davis Bean attended Miss Calrke who refused to take an anesthetic while the fracture was being set.”

[19] “Made a Start in Crude Drugs Here.” Oregon Statesman 01 May 1924 pg 8 (Historic Oregon Newspapers)  Dr. O.W. Bean and Dr. Davis Bean are well known Salem physicians – husband and wife.  They have a farm on the Oak Grove road, about four miles from Salem.

Some years ago, they made a start in crude drug growing, and they intended to go into the industry on a considerable scale.  They grew some ginseng and some hydrastis, or golden seal, and were getting ready to experiment in other plants that form the crude supplies of the drug manufacturers.

[20] “Married.” Oregon Statesman 19 April 1906 page 3 (Newspapers.com)

Bean-Davis —  at the residence of W.L. Wade, North Salem, on Wednesday evening April 18, 1906, Dr. O.W. Bean and Dr. Minta S.A. Davis, Rev. F.B. Culver officiating.  It was a quiet wedding, only a few friends and relatives being present.  Both the contracting parties are successful practicing physicians and very popular with their acquaintances.  They started last night for a wedding trip through California and will before returning take a lecture course at a Los Angeles Eclectic medical college, after which they will make their home in this city at the corner of Church and Center Streets.

[21] Ibid; 1910 US Federal Census (Ancestry.com)

[22] “Residence Razed.” Oregon Statesman  11 December 1941 page 5 (Historic Oregon Newspapers) describes property as on the NW corner of Church and Center Streets.  The 1926 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map (Salem Public Library subscription to ProQuest Digital) shows the dwelling at the NW corner of Church and Center Streets as having the street address of 595, confirming newspaper account.  Now the Macy’s Parking Garage per Google Maps comparison.  See also: “Dr. S.A. Davis Bean Dies at Residence.” Capital Journal 11 March 1941 (Newspapers.com) “Dr. S.A. Davis Bean, Salem physician since 1890, died Monday night at her home, 595 Center street, at the age of 74 years.”

[23] “Farm Names Registered.” Monmouth Herald 14 July 1911 pg 1 (Historic Oregon Newspapers)

Holly Summit Fruit Ranch – C.W. and S.A. Davis Bean, Salem.

[24] “Made a Start in Crude Drugs Here.” Oregon Statesman 01 May 1924 pg 8 (Historic Oregon Newspapers)

Dr. O.W. Bean and Dr. Davis Bean are well known Salem physicians – husband and wife.  They have a farm on the Oak Grove road, about four miles from Salem.

[25] “Dr. Davis Bean” Capital Journal 3 July 1917 pg 8 (Historic Oregon Newspapers); ; “Around Town.” Capital Journal 18 July 1914 pg 10 (Historic Oregon Newspapers)

[26] “Funeral Services for Dr. O.W. Bean.” Capital Journal 14 Oct 1935 pg 7 (Newspapers.com).  “.  He had been in failing health for 20  years and had been unable to maintain his practice.”  “Dr. Orland Bean Called by Death.” Oregon Statesman 13 Oct 1935 pg 1 (Newspapers.com) The doctor had been unable to practice for 20 years because of poor health.  The 1930 Census lists him as an “Assistant Physician” 1930 US Federal Census (Ancestry.com);

[27] “Dr. S.A. Davis Bean Dies at Residence.” Capital Journal 11 March 1941 (Newspapers.com); 1941 –Death Certificate  Marion County, Oregon  (Ancestry.com) – cause of death Carcinoma of bladder and metastis to rectum.  Suffering 3 years.; “Obituaries” Northwest Medicine Vol. 40 No. 5  May 1941 (internet Archive)

Dr. S.A. Davis Bean, of Salem, died March 10, 1941 at the age of 74 of carcinoma of the urinary bladder with metastases.