She always attracted attention in those communities because of her appearance. Anna wore “very coarse clothing and rubber boots” and her attire, as well as her very short hair, tall and muscular build and a heavy stride, caused many to believe she was a man. She always carried a large pole which she used as a walking stick and a defense weapon. While she had no apparent income, Anna always had enough money to buy the very few things she needed.

Anna came from a large family, according to early 1900 Census records. She had seven siblings, including David (sometimes listed as Daniel) Bender who lived on Laurel Avenue in Oil City.

The self-styled recluse would have nothing to do with her family or her neighbors. Some nearby residents brought food to her but Anna refused to accept the contributions and would not engage in conversation. At one point, a local police officer accompanied a woman who said she was Anna’s niece to the Bender shack. The niece, who wanted to tell Anna that her brother had died, was turned away.

While very private, Anna was widely known. Children attending the Morrison School near Pleasantville were frightened of her when she would walk past the school. “She would scold and threaten them, using language unbecoming to a lady,” noted a public report.

In 1914, her shanty burned to the ground and Anna walked seven miles to Rouseville where she appeared before Justice of the Peace E.A. Myers. She told him “enemies” had burned her home and she was without money to quickly rebuild. She asked if she “could go to the county” poorhouse for 30 days until she could raise money through the sale of property she owned in Colorado.

Myers arranged temporary lodgings for Anna at the Oil City Police Department Jail. She was sent to Oil City via trolley but stayed only two days, leaving city hall without telling police officers.

Anna rebuilt her shack and continued her life as a hermit.