BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Esther L. W. MARBOURG, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 141-2
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DR. ESTHER L. W. MARBOURG, a name identified with the medical profession of 
Johnstown, this county, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a 
daughter of William Wright, of Philadelphia and Rachel (Lukens) Wright. Her 
father was a civil engineer and professor of languages, of Philadelphia, and a 
man of prominence. His cousin, Abednego Wright, was the founder of the Girls' 
Normal school of that city.
     Dr. Marbourg was educated in the public schools of her native city. Her 
inclinations from youth, however, led her to the study of medicine, and at an 
age when young women usually attend to frivolous pursuits, we find her earnestly 
engaged in the study of medical lore under the preceptorship of Dr. Benjamin B. 
Wilson, of Philadelphia.
     In 1869 she entered the Woman's Medical college of Pennsylvania, at 
Philadelphia, and in March, three years later, completed the course. Although 
this was not many years ago, so few women had graduated as physicians that Dr. 
Marbourg may be called a pioneer woman physician, and the pioneers in every 
great work should be held in remembrance, especially when they are of importance 
by right of character or unusual attainments.
     Very soon after graduating she came to Johnstown, where she has practiced 
her profession with encouraging success ever since. In addition, Dr. Marbourg is 
an honored member of the Cambria County Medical society, the Pennsylvania State 
Medical society and the American Medical association, she being a delegate to 
the meeting of the latter association when it convened in Chicago in 1887. She 
was one of the incorporators of the Conemaugh Valley Memorial hospital, being 
the only lady among the incorporators, and has served a period on the staff of 
that institution.
     Dr. Marbourg was twice married. Her first husband, J. Charles Nippes, was 
killed at the battle of Gettysburg. It was shortly after his death that she took 
up the study of medicine. By this first marriage she had one child, Chester W. 
C. Nippes, a farmer of Indiana county.
     She was married the second time in March, 1872, after her graduation, to 
Dr. H.W. Marbourg, who was born in Centreville, Indiana county, Pennsylvania. He 
was educated in the public schools and at Pennsylvania college, Gettysburg, 
Pennsylvania. He studied medicine with Dr. John Lowman, of Johnstown, and 
entered Jefferson Medical college, graduating in 1857. After graduating he 
located in Johnstown, where, with the exception of a period during the Civil 
War, he practiced continually until his death, which occurred during the 
disastrous flood of 1889.
     He entered the Civil War in the latter part of 1863, and served one year as 
a contract surgeon. Dr. H. W. Marbourg, like his estimable widow, was married 
twice. To his first union were born two children: Eva L.,   wife of McClellan 
Leggett, of Johnstown, and Edgar M., a physician of Pueblo, Col. His first wife 
was also a physician, who graduated in 1869 from the Woman's Medical college, of 
Philadelphia, and practiced for one year in Johnstown.
     Dr. Marbourg, the husband of our subject, was a physician and citizen of 
worth and character. He was a member of St. Paul's Lodge, F. & A. M., of 
Philadelphia, and of the Cambria County Medical society, of which association he 
enjoyed the distinction of being secretary for a number of years.
     Dr. Esther Marbourg and her husband were both members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, in which body they shed the good influences of heir lives, 
united in aims and works.