Mrs. C. H. Wray and Children of Cedartown, GA

What was probably the first Caesarean operation, bringing twins into the world, in the history of surgery, was performed in Atlanta on January 6, 1909, by Dr. W. B. Lingo, at the Hospital Medical college.

This fact was brought out yesterday as the result of a telegram from Boston to the effect that the first operation of this kind was performed in Boston during February.

The Atlanta patient was Mrs. C. H. Wray, of Cedartown, GA. She was the patient of Dr. T. H. Cox, but Dr. Lingo performed the operation. The children, both girls, were born alive, and are still well and strong.

The story from Boston is as follows:

“Boston, Mass.–For the first time in the history of surgery twins have been brought into the world by a Caesarean operation. They were born here in McLean hospital on Lincoln’s birthday, and are both well and strong. The mother is progressing finely, and it is said at the hospital that she will recover. She has three other children, all brought into the world by the Caesarean operation. The mother is Mrs. Sarah F. Hampton. She is a sister of Peter Walker, trainer of the Boston National baseball team.”

It will be seen from the story that the Atlanta operation occurred about one month earlier that the one in Boston.

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Although this article sounds hopeful, further research on this family shows that not only did the mother, Mrs. Anna Grace Herndon Wray, pass away on January 14, 1909 (a little over a week after the surgery), but one of the infants passed away as well. Nannie Grace Wray (d. January 15, 1909) is buried at Lime Branch Cemetery with her family. The other twin, Annie M. Wray Shaw lived to the age of 93, and her porcelain doll is now housed at the museum.