Who was Mrs Anna Sophia Warren?

Mrs Anna Sophia Warren was a 60-year-old (sixty-year-old) American first-class passenger who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. She was the wife of Frank Manley Warren, a prominent businessman from Portland, Oregon, who perished in the disaster.

Early Life and Family

Anna Sophia Warren (née Atkinson) was born on October 24, 1851, in Oregon City, Clackamas, Oregon. She was the daughter of George Henry Atkinson (1819-1889), a missionary, and Nancy Bates (1815-1895). Her parents were natives of Massachusetts and Vermont, respectively, who married on October 8, 1846, in Springfield, Vermont.

Anna had two known siblings:

George Henry (1849-1884)
Edward Moses (b. 1854)

Her father, George Atkinson, played a significant role in the development of Oregon:

Ordained as a congregational minister in 1847
Sent to Oregon as a missionary in the same year
Settled in Oregon City and led the Congregationalist Church
Founded the First Congregational Society of Oregon City (later renamed Atkinson Memorial Congregational Church)
Established various public schools in the area

Education and Early Career

Anna’s education and early career were marked by several notable achievements:

Moved to Portland with her family in 1865
Graduated from Mills College
Taught for a time at St Helen’s Hall in Portland

Marriage and Family Life

In 1872, Anna married Frank Manley Warren, a Maine native born in 1848. Frank was the founder of Warren Packing Co., a fish canning company. The couple had four children:

Frances Elizabeth (1873-1960, later Mrs Walter Alfred Holt)
Frank Manley (1876-1947)
George Atkinson (1878-1938)
Anna Grace (1881-1977, later Mrs Donald R. Munro)

The Warrens were active members of their community:

Attended the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Portland
Frank served on the board of trustees of Pacific University, which was co-founded by Anna’s father

The Titanic Voyage

In early 1912, the Warrens embarked on a three-month European vacation to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Their return journey would tragically become part of history.

Titanic Boarding Details

Embarked: Cherbourg
Class: First Class
Ticket Number: 110813
Ticket Cost: £75 5s
Cabin: D37

The Night of the Disaster

Mrs Warren provided a detailed account of the events on the night of April 14, 1912. Here are some key moments from her recollection:

Around 10 p.m.: The Warrens were in the lounge listening to music
10:30 p.m.: They retired to their cabin
11:45 p.m.: Awakened by a grinding noise and the ship stopping
Initial reactions: Mr. Warren assured his wife there was no danger
The couple dressed and went to investigate
Mr. Warren returned with a piece of ice as a souvenir
They waited in the corridors, talking with other passengers and crew

Evacuation and Separation

As the situation became more serious:

A steward instructed them to put on lifebelts and go to the boat deck
They encountered the Astors and Helene Østby on the boat deck
Mrs Warren was beckoned to Lifeboat 5
She entered the lifeboat, expecting her husband to follow
She last saw Mr. Warren assisting other ladies into the boat

Lifeboat Experience

Mrs Warren described her lifeboat’s descent:

The boat dropped alternately at the bow and stern
She could see through portholes as the lifeboat settled in the water
She observed the Titanic settling by the head with a pronounced list to starboard

Life After the Titanic

Following the disaster:

Anna returned to Oregon as a widow
She remained active in her community, particularly in her church and the YWCA
She lived in Portland for the remainder of her life

Legacy and Death

Mrs Anna Sophia Warren passed away on July 16, 1925, at the age of 73 (seventy-three) in Portland, Oregon. She was laid to rest in River View Cemetery in the same city, leaving behind a legacy of survival and community service.

Her firsthand account of the Titanic disaster provides valuable insights into the experiences of first-class passengers during that fateful night, contributing to our understanding of one of the most infamous maritime tragedies in history.