Martha Waldron Janes (June 9, 1832 – ?) was an American minister, social reformer, and columnist. Born in Michigan, Janes educated herself by doing housework at US$1 a week. She was converted when very young, and by her religious zeal and exhortations became so conspicuous that many considered her "crazy" and "mentally unsound". Though she had preached for some time from the pulpits of the Free Baptist Church, she was not regularly ordained until 1868, being the first woman ordained in that conference. The denomination espoused more egalitarian views than others of the time, which matched well with Janes' convictions regarding social reform. She opposed prescriptive gender beliefs regarding limitations on educational opportunities to girls. At a young age, she embraced women's suffrage and