Who was Anna Louisa Hogeboom?

Anna Louisa Hogeboom was a prominent American socialite and Titanic survivor who lived from 1860 to 1947. Known for her resilience and adventurous spirit, she became one of the most well-known passengers to survive the ill-fated maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic in 1912.

Early Life and Family

Born on May 5, 1860, in Livingston, Columbia, New York, Anna Louisa Andrews came from a distinguished family. Her father, Robert Emmet Andrews (1819-1901), was a respected lawyer and later judge, while her mother, Matilda Scudder Fonda (1821-1911), was also a native New Yorker. Anna was the youngest of nine children, growing up in a household that valued education and social standing.

Education and Early Adulthood

While specific details about Anna’s formal education are not provided, her background suggests she likely received a quality education befitting her social status. At the age of 18, Anna embarked on her first European tour, visiting France, England, and Switzerland. This early travel experience would foreshadow her lifelong love of adventure and exploration.

Marriages and Family Life

Anna’s personal life was marked by two marriages:

1. First Marriage: She wed Percival Cadby, an English-born man, around 1885. With Cadby, Anna had three children:

   • Mathilda Andrews (b. 1885)
   • Kenneth Scudder (1888-1893)
   • Robert Andrews (b. 1891)

2. Second Marriage: In 1898, Anna married John Clinton Hogeboom (b. 1837), a lawyer from Hudson, New York. This marriage brought her two stepchildren:

   • Sarah Vedder (b. 1864)
   • Henry (b. 1869)

Anna was widowed in 1908 when John Clinton Hogeboom passed away.

The Titanic Journey

Why was Anna Hogeboom on the Titanic?

In 1912, at the age of 51 (fifty-one), Anna Hogeboom boarded the RMS Titanic in Southampton as a first-class passenger. She was returning from an extended trip to France and Italy, which had begun in November 1911. Anna was accompanied by her sister Cornelia Andrews and niece Gretchen Longley.

What was Anna Hogeboom’s experience during the Titanic disaster?

Anna’s account of the Titanic disaster provides a vivid description of that fateful night:

• She was awakened by a crash and noticed ice crystals through open portholes.
• Initially reassured by a steward, the continued commotion prompted them to don lifebelts.
• Anna and her companions boarded lifeboat 10, one of the last to be lowered.
• From the lifeboat, she witnessed the Titanic’s final moments, including the ship breaking in two.
• Anna described the horrific sounds of people struggling in the water and the vast ice fields surrounding them.

Life After the Titanic

Following her rescue by the Carpathia, Anna continued to lead an active life:

• She resumed her travels, with passport records from 1922 describing her physical appearance.
• Anna lived with various family members, appearing in census records in Ohio and New York.
• Her later years were spent between New Jersey and New York.

Legacy and Final Years

Anna Louisa Hogeboom passed away on October 7, 1947, in Chatham, Columbia, New York, at the age of 87 (eighty-seven). She was laid to rest in Cedar Park Cemetery, Hudson, New York, alongside her sister Cornelia.

Her survival story and detailed account of the Titanic disaster have contributed significantly to our understanding of that tragic event. Anna’s life, spanning from the Civil War era to the post-World War II period, serves as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of her generation.