Sarah Jane Orgain

From the Galveston Daily News, Galveston, Texas, August 3, 1924: Woman's Life One of Many Services....Modern Hospital Stands at Bastrop As A Lasting Memorial....Bastrop, Texas -- August 2, Seventy years a Texan is indeed a record for any woman, but when those years were spent with all talents trained on the forces of constructive work and the betterment of humanity it must truly be a wonderful personality. But to Bastrop, Mrs. E.J. Orgain has been that and more. Although material things don't tell the story of her life as she lived it, a two-story, modern brick hospital with the latest scientific equipment is one of the monuments to the memory of Mrs. Orgain, who at the age of 94 years, died recently in California while on a summer tour.

She was born in New York City, June 13, 1833. The girl, Miss Sarah Jane Kimball, met and married E.J. Orgain and came to Texas with him in 1850. In Bastrop her life was a monumental one and she was a woman of fine scholarship, broad culture and lofty ideals, and she gave unreservedly of her talents and money to constructive uplift. To the Baptist Church here she was the vital source of inspiration and a $5,000 parsonage, besides her regular contributions, attests her interest in the work. And to the cause of early education in Texas, she was equally faithful, teaching for many years and being the principal of the first school here. To the Mexican Baptist Church she recently gave $1,150, but her largest public benefaction and the one probably that will benefit humanity most was that which made it possible for Bastrop to have the F.A. Orgain Memorial Hospital, named for her son. It cost approximately $45,000, is fitted up with X-ray and all the latest equipment.

Following the death of her son, Murray Orgain, her grandson was her mainstay and comforter. With his wife he accompanied Mrs. Orgain on the trip to California and was with her during the last hours. The body was brought back to Bastrop for interment, and although her personality is no more, her memory is still held dear to all those who knew her for her life that was a monumental one for many outstanding achievements.

The Memorial Hospital, made possible by her benefactions, is in charge of Dr. J.G. Bryson, who has an efficient corps of nurses and an assistant surgeon and physician in the person of Dr. W.J. Shude.

The following article was next to the one shown above in the newspaper:

Bastrop Gets Memorial Hospital Given by Pioneer Woman Resident...Orgain Hospital For the Infirm: Memorial to a remarkable life of service during her more than fifty ears in Texas, F.A. Orgain Memorial Hospital at Bastrop, costing $45,000 is today through the benefactions of Mrs. E.J. Orgain, a gift to the city and a fitting monument in her and her son. Three generations, Mrs. Orgain, philanthropist and educator; Rev. Horace Orgain of Elk City and Murry Orgain, her grandson, are shown above.