Introduction
Anna Johntra was born in Camden around 1859 to Daniel and Sarah Rogers Johntra, one of at least seven children. Daniel Johntra was moulder by trade, but had worked on the Camden police force around 1870, and later as a turnkey at the Camden County Jail. She became a teacher in 1876, when she taught at the Liberty School in Camden. She remained at the Liberty School through 1890.
The 1880 census shows the family living at 113 North 8th Street. Members of the Johntra family would reside within a block of this address through the 1950s. Brother Jesse Johntra was then married, and was working as a stone cutter. He and wife Mary C. Johntra were living with his parents at the time of the 1880 Census. Jesse Johntra and his family would soon move to 818 Carpenter Street, where they were residing in 1887. Next door at 816 Carpenter Street lived the Daniel Carter family. Son Peter B. Carter would later become the Chief of the Camden Fire Department.
In the 1890s, Anna Johntra was living at 113 North 8th Street. In 1890 she was appointed principal of the boys’ department upon the opening of the newly-constructed Linden School at 10th and Linden Street, which stood on the site of the present Powell Elementary School in North Camden. In 1905 she was named principal of the entire Linden School. She remained in that position until her retirement in 1916.
Three of Anna Johntra’s sisters, Ella, Carrie, and Daisy Johntra, were also teachers in the Camden school system. Between the four sisters, there was a Johntra working in Camden schools from the 1870s through the 1950s. Jesse Johntra worked as a letter carrier in Camden for many years. Retired by 1930, he lived with his sisters from the late 1920s until his death in 1941.
Anna Johntra passed away at the age of 90 in February of 1950.
Camden Teachers Receive Certificates
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Named: Virginia Stewart, Florence Bowen, Blanche M. Rice, Oliver B. Kern, Grace S. Oliphant, Anna Johntra, Stella S. Wells, Alfarata Sharp, Agnes Draper, Elizabeth Cassady, and Ruth Huston.
Obituary
Camden Courier-Post —
Rites Wednesday For Miss Johntra
Services for Miss Anna M. Johntra, 90, who taught in Camden public schools nearly 40 years, will be held Wednesday at 11 a. m. in the funeral home of Benjamin R. Denny, 433 South Sixth street. The Rev. W. I. Roberts, pastor of Bethel Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.
Miss Johntra, who resided at 732 Market street, died in her home Friday after a long illness. Born in Camden, she was a lifelong resident. She became associated with the Camden school system in September, 1876, when she taught at the Liberty school.
On Dec. 4, 1905, she was named principal for boys and girls at the Linden school, Tenth and Linden streets, since torn down. The Powell school now occupies the site, Miss Johntra held the post to June 3, 1916, when she retired.
Surviving are two sisters, Miss Daisy Johntra, also a retired Camden school teacher, of the Market street address, and Mrs. Carrie Hibbert, of Camden, wife of Samuel Hibbert, retired Camden policeman; several nieces and nephews. Jesse Johntra, a brother of Miss Johntra, a Camden letter carrier, died in 1941.