Catharine Merrill

(1824-1900)

Catharine came to Indianapolis, the new state capital, at just nine months old in 1824 as part of an ox-drawn caravan carrying the State Treasury from Corydon, led by her father Samuel, the Indiana State Treasurer.

Merrill grew into a well-loved educator, author and nurse. In 1869, she became the second female university professor in the United States when she took a position at what is now Butler University. As a nurse, she tended to many Civil War wounded and most famously to naturalist John Muir after he severely wounded his eye in an accident while living in Indianapolis. They became lifelong friends.
Burial: Section 7, Lot 16; GPS (39.8213678,-86.1751498)
Ref: https://vault.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/writings/people/catharine_merrill_tribute.aspx