Gertrude Ingram Bachman

1875 - 1921 

Gertrude Bachman taught vocal and instrumental music at San Fernando Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist school in California, from 1909 to 1919. In November of her last year teaching at SFA, she fell ill from physical exhaustion and died fifteen months later.

Gertrude was born in Elk Point, South Dakota, the daughter of Manville and Lydia Brown Ingram, and grew up in Minnesota. She studied music and taught it before and after her marriage at age 20 to Otto Brayton Bachman. She was converted to the Adventist church in 1908 and the following year traveled to California in response to an invitation to teach at SFA.

She was popular with the students, and they responded well to her leadership, which during her years at the school led to a highly regarded music program. Her music students took charge of the music for both the church and graveside services at her funeral.

ds/2008

Pacific Union Recorder 13 August 1914, 31 May 1917, 24 February 1921(obituary); internet posting, GenForum, by Marjorie Bednarek, 1 February 2007 and email exchange with Bednarek, 15 September 2008.