Jean Ankrom Obituary
1903
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Miss Jean Ankrom, Supt. of Ponce Schools, met death in a carriage accident. She was the
daughter of A. I. Ankrom, a citizen of Franklin Township. She was 32 years of age, graduated
from Waynesburg College in 1894. She done Missionary work in Mexico, returned in 1897
because of poor health, but in 1899 she was sent by the War Department to Porto Rico.
Her mother died five years ago. She leaves three sisters, Miss Anna, Lottie, and Mrs.
H. L. Sproat and her father.
Waynesburg Republican, June 18, 1903 (Greene County, Pennsylvania)\
PARTICULARS OF THE DEATH OF MISS JEAN L. ANKROM. Remains of the Honored Porto Rican School Superintendent Arrived Last Evening - Burial Thursday. The remains of Miss Jean L. Ankrom, Superintendent of Schools District of Ponce, Porto Rico, who was killed on June 16, arrived here last evening. They were taken to the home of her father, A. I. Ankrom, in Franklin township, where the funeral will be held on Thursday. The interment will be in the burial ground at the homestead. From Miss Kate Thompson who accompanied the remains from Porto Rico, and who boarded in the same house with Miss Ankrom, we learn the following facts of the sad accident. Miss Ankrom had just left Miss Thompson about ten minutes before, to secure a room to hold a teachers' examination in the next day. She was to examine 42 native teachers and found it necessary to have a larger room than the one provided. Having arranged for the room, she got into her buggy to return, when her horsebecame uncontrollable and ran away. In turning a street corner, the horse fell and she was thrown over the dashboard. The back of her head struck the stones and her skull was crushed, it was found also that her neck was dislocated and the large arteries bursted. People ran to her assistance and she was carried to a hospital where she died in ten minutes. Miss Thompson says no such sad shock had ever occurred on the island. The entire people mourned, the news being telegraphed to every town. Her funeral was held June 18, services being conducted by Rev. Thomas, the Episcopal minister. There it is not customary to have public funerals, but the entire populace attended Miss Ankrom's, and three carriages were required to carry the beautiful floral offerings brought. The pall-bearers were three American and three Porto Ricans, the school teachers and children all attended in a body and hundreds of native men and ladies followed the sda procession to the cemetery. The remains were placed in a vault until sent home. The following communication and resolutions have been furnished us:
Department of Education, MR. J. B. F. RINEHART Waynesburg, Pa. Dear Sir: Under separate cover I send you the original of resolutions passed by school superintendents of Porto Rico on the death of Miss Jean L. Ankrom. Will you have the kindness to see that this reaches Miss Ankrom's father. I do not have his address. I also enclose copies of the resolutions and request you have the kindness to have them published in newspapers of her home town. Thanking you in advance for these favors, I remain,
Respectfully yours, Whereas, Our worthy and esteemed friend and co-worker, Jean L. Ankrom, has been suddenly removed from our midst; and Whereas, The relations sustained by her wit the other School Superintendents in the educational work of Porto Rico make it fitting that we record our apprecitaion of her and her work; therefore be it Resolved, That the wisdom and ability with which she has fostered the cause of education and discharged her duties as Superintendent of School of the Ponce district be held in remembrance. Resolved, That by purity of life, by strength of character, by kindness of spirit and by patience and fidelity in the discharge of the numerous duties of her office she has won the love and confidence of the people of the Ponce district and has inspired all those who have come under her influence with nobler and higher views of life. Resolved, That her sudden removal from the present corps of School Superintendents leaves a vacancy and shadow that will be deeply realized by all connected with the educational work of Porto Rico, and will prove a grievous loss to the community where for three years past she has labored. Resolved, That we express our deep sympathy with the afflicted relatives and friends of the deceased in their bereavement. Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be sent to her relatives, to the "Porto Rico Eagle" and to such papers in the United States as the committee may select.
San Juan, P. R., June 17, 1903. Waynesburg Republican, July 2, 1903 (Greene County, Pennsylvania)\ |
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