Ellen Brooke Ferguson

Ellen Brooke Ferguson was appointed as the first resident physician and surgeon for Deseret Hospital in 1882.

She was born to Eliza and William Lombe Brooke in April 1844 in Cambridge, England. She immigrated to the United States about 1860 and lived in Ohio and Illinois. She married Dr. William Ferguson in about 1857. They practiced medicine in Ohio and she and her husband also managed the local newspaper until 1865. They had four children.

She returned to England and Europe for her health, and in her absence, her husband was converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They moved to Utah Territory in June 1876 and were both baptized on July 1 in St. George. They moved to Provo in October. They moved to Salt Lake City in 1877. In 1879-80 she ran a music conservatory and practiced medicine with her husband. After her husband died in 1880, she devoted her time fully to medicine. She moved to New York City and studied obstetrics, gynecology, and minor surgery. She returned to Salt Lake City after 1882.

Ferguson encountered some difficulties while in charge at Deseret Hospital. She insisted that her staff would comply with antiseptic practices and was using opioids to treat her painful back. An account appears in the Journal of Discourses[1], explaining that she demanded a level of professionalism and obedience, while those who served under her command called for her resignation. A Church council was held to review the situation and President John Taylor was called upon to be present at the council. He interviewed board members and those involved. He following are some of his thoughts:

In this case, we have a hospital. There is a Board of Directors. Then there is a resident surgeon, and it becomes her duty to attend to certain rules and principles that are laid down to use medical talent and ability for the benefit of the patients and the hospital and to manipulate certain things committed to her charge. Sister Ferguson, it would seem, got up a set of rules. They might be very good, but it would seem they were not adopted by the Board, and it would also seem that the Board held the power in its own hands to manipulate these affairs. So that, although the rules drawn up by Sister Ferguson might have been very good and very advantageous if adopted, it appears they were not.” Sister Ferguson came from hospitals, from back east, where the resident surgeon makes final decisions of which the Board is to comply. When confronted, her feathers got a little ruffled and she assumed a dictatorial air according to the Board members.

Being members of the Church, we have covenanted to live the law of the Gospel, where we must demonstrate forbearance, kindness, and harmony. This law is preparatory to the celestial law. We have not got it yet quite, and we are not prepared for it quite; but we are trying to introduce those things, and the Gospel has been restored for that purpose, and revelation has been given for that purpose, and the heavens have been opened for that purpose, and the Priesthood of God has been organized for that purpose in all its various forms and ramifications, and predicated upon that principle.

The Executive Board of the hospital was desirous to be set apart by the Priesthood that they might act under the blessing of God. The difficulty arose amongst some of the Board members, and while Sis. Eliza Snow tried to bring things back to harmony; it was not obeyed, so they now appear in this council.

Bitter feelings led to character defamation. Sis. Ferguson was accused of taking opium. She does take this as a medicine to ease her neuralgia of the heart and sometimes it can overcome her. Instead of accusations, those sisters of the Board should have been compassionate. (He lamented that she had to stand before the fire of her accusers against her moral conduct, her actions, and her reputation.)

Now, I suppose that these sisters were mistaken in their ideas. I do not think that they have bad hearts; but sometimes when people allow their prejudices to run against a person, they carry these things too far. While we are desirous to put down iniquity, we must not go to work and act a cruel part toward anybody. God does not do it. He pours blessings upon all, and He has to be merciful to us all, otherwise we would not be as we are today, surrounded with the blessings we enjoy.

Some things were said to be strangely disappearing, so that she was accused of being a thief; but when we came to inquire into these things we find there was no foundation for the charges. They seem to have arisen from unworthy jealousies. 

Joseph Smith taught that even though we may have the gift of discernment, and be able to see into the hearts of men, we have no business bringing charges against any person without evidence and witnesses. As Latter-day Saints we ought to be under the law of love, of kindness, and of mercy. Yet, it is appropriate to ferret out evil and search for evidence when necessary. Both are necessary. If, in fact, there is a guilty party, the law stands ready to condemn. It is not for us to condone the sin, but we must let the law of God do its deed.

Sister Ferguson, I give you my right hand of fellowship and say God bless you, and try and be a little more humble. And I will do the same to those other sisters. God bless you all in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.[2]

She was active in women’s suffrage and organized the Woman’s Democratic Club of Salt Lake City.

Ferguson ceased her activity in the Church in 1897 and then moved to New York City in about 1900. She died there in March 1920.