Florence Pearre McKaig, 1857-1915

Florence Pearre McKaig (1857-1915)

Florence McKaig was the President of the Allegany County Just Government League. This was a branch of the women’s suffrage organization in Allegany County. McKaig was also a pioneer in the establishment of free health services for economically disadvantaged women. These services were provided through the Western Maryland Hospital which had been located on Baltimore Avenue in Cumberland.

McKaig had been among a group of women who in 1888 established an “old folks” home simply named the Western Maryland Home. It soon became the Western Maryland Home and Infirmary as there was a need to treat and provide medical care for the citizenry, especially for the victims of railroad accidents. It later became known as the Western Maryland Hospital, then (after relocating) Memorial Hospital, then the Western Maryland Health System and as of today (again after relocating) the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-Western Maryland (UPMC-WM).

It is interesting to note that her brother, George A. Pearre (1860-1923), served as a Congressman from Allegany County representing the Sixth Congressional District in the United States Congress. He voted against women’s suffrage.

Florence McKaig had been married to Merwin McKaig (1849-1927), a prominent local businessman and industrialist.