Conner - Mary E (flag lady)
Source: Indiana State Board of Health Certificate of Death 19880
Mary Emily Conner died June 7, 1953
Usual Residence: 412 E. Main St.
Single
Born Jan 27 1855
Age: 98
Occupation Public School Teacher
Born: Montgomery County, Indiana
Father: Willis
Mother: Unknown
Cause of death: Cerebral apoplexy – 10 days with arteriosclerosis
Dr. TZ Ball
Burial June 9, 1953 Rose Hill Cemetery, Chicago
Proffitt & Sons Funeral Directors
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review 8 June 1953 p 1 (Monday)
Miss Mary Emily Conner, 98, a Montgomery County daughter of a Civil War soldier who fell in battle died at Culver Hospital Sunday afternoon at 2:45 p.m. Her home was near Waveland. Miss Conner was the former school teacher in charge of School No. 9 in Clark Township near Ladoga. During her teaching career she was presented with a medal, a gold watch and a silk banner award. The silk banner was given to her for protecting the flag on her schoolhouse when vandals tore it down. On arriving at School No. 9 one morning, Miss Conner found that vandals had broken the flag pole and the flag had been lowered. She boldly accused a man with whom she previously had had trouble and gained a confession of the vandalism. She then personally supervised the erection of a new flag pole and the raising of the colors. For her act she received more than 400 letters from all over the country commending her valor and patriotism. Miss Conner was born Jan 27, 1855 in Montgomery County in the Waveland community. She lived in Ladoga for many years and was a member of the Presbyterian Church there. There are no survivors Funeral arrangements are incomplete but friends may call at the Proffitt and Sons Funeral Home. – thanks to Kim H