Clara Jane Farr was born in Indiana on September 4, 1882. On March 2, 1919, Clara married Dr. Noah Achor of Illinois. According to her marriage license, Clara was a school teacher at the time. I am unclear how they came to to be in Texas.
Clara became an osteopathic physician, and in the early part of the twentieth century was the only licensed female doctor practicing in Brownwood. Her sister, Rose Denson, was her nurse and assistant.
Clara’s husband, Noah, was also a doctor. He was a veteran of the Philippine Insurgence, between 1899 and 1902, and also served in both the Spanish American War and World War I. While he practiced medicine in Brownwood, he was active in the Masonic Lodge. Noah died in the VA hospital in Waco in 1939, long before Clara.
Doctors Noah and Clara had two sons: Merlin and William. Merlin grew up to be a doctor like his parents. William served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II. His grave stone states, “Teacher and Engineer, At Peace with God.”
During her life, Clara was active in her community. She was a member of the Brownwood Business & Professional Women’s Club, at a time when not that many women in this area qualified. She married, raised children, was involved in her community, and was a physician. She seems to have proven that women can, indeed, have it all.
Dr. Clara Achor died at the age of 77 on December 3, 1959, and was buried beside her husband at Greenleaf Cemetery. Her headstone reads, “Mother, Teacher, Physician, Perfect Peace in God.” -Freda