Cordelia Post was born in St. Lawrence, New York in 1827. At some point, her family moved to Ohio where she met Charles W. Hickox. At the age of 16, she and Charles married on September 25, 1843, at Bainbridge, Ohio. They had three children over the course of their 55-year marriage; a son and two daughters: James, Kittie, and Grace.

The Civil War began in 1861 and by 1862, it was clear on both sides that the war would not end with a swift northern victory as was initially thought. The Hickox’s decided to move to Iowa and made a new home on a farm in small town, Mt. Vernon. Charles was a grocer for many years and Cordelia raised their three children while pursuing her passion for medical knowledge to assist residents.

Cordelia wanted to be a doctor, but women with doctorates were rare at this time in America especially since most colleges did not allow women to attend. The exception were homeopathic medical colleges who were mostly open to both men and women. Wondering what’s the difference between a homeopathic college and regular medical college during that time? I got you covered!

Homeopathic medicine was the primary medical practice based on experiments and plant-based remedies. Homemade remedies, poultices, and tonics had been used for centuries and can be found in many 19^th century “best practice” literature. This continued into the early 1900’s when medical-based science and prescriptions began to grow and standardize. Medical colleges also existed in the 1800’s, but the medical science was still fairly new. Several homeopathic colleges existed throughout the 19^th century to expand the number of doctors and teach the homeopathic research and experiments known at that time. Graduates earned a doctorate diploma and practiced medicine as a physician. The first decade after the turn of the century shows more commercial products than homemade remedies as the industrialization in America continued to thrive.

In 1862, Cordelia enrolled at Cleveland Homeopathic College. She was the first woman to enroll, but in 1863 (out of the blue) the college closed its doors to women, so she was no longer able to attend. For the next 10 years she continued her passion to serve the residents. In 1868, the college had an epiphany and realized that women’s attendance would actually benefit the college. In reality, it was because several banned women started the Women’s College, and its success helped the men at Cleveland come to their senses. Cordelia was determined to graduate from a co-ed college, so she went back to Cleveland and at the age of 46 in 1873, graduated with her diploma. She practiced in Cleveland for one year and then moved to Cedar Rapids (Linn County), Iowa in 1874 because Charles’ health was declining.

They purchased a home at 521 First Avenue E in 1881. Charles left the grocery business several years after coming to Cedar Rapids to assist his wife with their financial affairs. In 1898, at the age of 78, Charles died from heart failure. For the next seven years, Dr. Hickox continued serving her community. The Gazette in Cedar Rapids reported that after tending one of her patients on February 17, 1905, she became ill with a congestive chill. On February 27, 1905, at the age of 78, she died at home.  She was buried at Oak Hill.

Dr. Hickox was a pioneer in her own right as one of Iowa’s first woman physicians, first female to enroll in the Cleveland Homeopathic College, banned because she was a female, refused to give up, and graduated a decade later.

The writer of the article (unknown) in The Gazette added a personal note as to their observations of Dr. Hickox’s character and it’s important to add to finish out her story.

“The noblest thing a person can do in this world is kindness to others. During the thirty years we have known the doctor she has never lost an opportunity to do good to somebody. Anybody in fact needing help. No night too dark or stormy for her when duty called. She was always prompt in response to appeals for medical assistance no matter whether the one wishing aid was rich or poor. Nobody will ever know the thousands of cases of her charity and benefactions. Many a home will be saddened by her passing on. She met with wonderful success in her profession. Never boasting of what she had done. Mrs. Hickox always went at her work of relieving the sick with a determination to succeed. She was a good, noble woman, and leaves a record that would be highly prized by many another, a record of great success, honor and good humanity.” – The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, February 27, 1905