Bartel, Nellie Schmidt (1876-1946)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1946 May 9 p. 1

Birth date: 1876 Mar 3

text of obituary:

Piooneer [sic] Missionary Died in China

MRS. H. C. BARTEL AND HUSBAND FIRST MENNONITE MISSIONARIES TO CHINA

Hillsboro, Kansas. — Word was received here recently of the passing of Mrs. H. C. Bartel, pioneer missionary to China, which took place at the frontier station of Schwangshihpu in Shensi Province in China. News of her death was contained in a cablegram to her son, Paul H. Bartel, of Chicago, but details of the death and burial were not given. She was about 70 years of age.

Mrs. Bartel and her husband, Rev. H. C. Bartel, were the first Mennonite missionaries to go to China, arriving there in 1901. They established their own field of service in 1905, and remained there until the recent war forced them to leave. They then established a new field of service which was the scene of Mrs. Bartel's passing, after 45 years of service in China.

Mrs. Bartel's death came a s shock to relatives and friends here. She was known to be in poor health, but recent letters from her indicated that she was improved. The Bartels had planned to come to the United States for a furlough as soon as possible.

A son, Paul Bartel, and family and a daughter, Miss Elsie Bartel, are in this country at present but expect to join other members of the family in mission work in China as soon as possible.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1946 Jun 13 p. 1

text of obituary:

Memorial For Pioneer Missionary

SERVICES COMMEMORATE WORK OF THE LATE MRS. H. C. BARTEL OF CHINA

Hillsboro, Kansas. — Arranged under the auspices of the China Mennonite mission Board, memorial services for the late Mrs. h. C. Bartel, who together with her husband established the first Mennonite mission in China, were held at the Gnadenau Mennonite church here on Sunday afternoon, June 2.

Mrs. Bartel, who died on April 15 of this year, now lies buried under the ground of her beloved China, where she spend so many years preaching the Gospel. She is survived by her aged husband.

An interesting report on the life and work of Rev. and Mrs. Bartel was given by Rev. J. P. Baltzer, Dr. P. R. Lange of Tabor college, the guest speaker, emphasized the fact that the late missionary's work will continue despite her absence and will reveal fruit also in eternity.

Soon after the service Dr. Lange prepared to leave for Winnipeg, Man., where he was to serve as one of the speakers at a Bible conference at the Mennonite Brethren Bible College.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1946 Jul 4 p. 4, 5

text of obituary:

Pioneer China Missionaries

Shown above are Rev. and Mrs. H. C. Bartel, pioneer missionaries in China. Memorial services for Mrs. Bartel, who died in china on April15, 1946, were held at the Gnadenau Mennonite church near Hillsboro on Sunday afternoon, June 2, Guest speaker was Rev. P. R. Lange of Tabor college. — Cut used courtesy Der Wahrheitsfreund.

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45 Years of Faithful Missionary Service

From The Christian Witness

The following is the brief life story of Mrs. H. C. Bartel, whose significant and fruitful ministry in China came to a close with her death on April 15, 1946.

The article is from the Christian Witness, official English publication of the K. M. B. conference.

Nellie Schmidt Bartel was born March 3, 1876 near Avon, South Dakota. Her parents had shortly before migrated from Russia and were starting life anew, enduring the rigors of pioneer life on the open prairies. Early in her life, she had a deep desire for spiritual things. She herself wrote of those early experiences as follows: "I often felt burdened and prayed all the prayers which I had from my godly mother. The truth of regeneration and sins forgiven was not known to us till in the spring of 1892, when the Lord sent His messengers from various places and a mighty revival was brought forth through the Holy Spirit. When the truth was preached so clearly and earnestly I soon got to see that I was a great sinner and I cried to God for forgiveness.

He heard my prayer and spoke peace to my soul through his word Matt. 15;28. This filled my heart with such joy that I could only praise Him for forgiving my sins and receiving me as His child. On August 26 I followed the Lord in baptism and made an open confession before the world that I wanted to follow Jesus.

A New Life

"In the beginning I was much blest and very happy in this new life but later on I found that sometimes I did not have victory over sin and did not make progress in my spiritual life. This made me sometimes question if I really were converted, a deep longing often filled my soul for a life of victory and communion with the Lord.

"At the age of 19 it pleased the Lord to take our dear mother from us. There now being fourteen of us and I being the oldest of the girls, I had to take mother's place in caring for the smaller ones. This almost seemed too hard as the smallest one was only 10 days old, but it was a good school of preparation for me for the future. The longing for a life of closer fellowship with the Lord grew more and more and I was very glad when God sent us more light concerning a full surrender. When I began to see what I needed I began to pray that the Lord with His sanctifying power might cleanse me from all that is of self and fill me with his blessed Spirit. The Lord heard my simple prayer and fulfilled His promise according to Luke 11:13.

Dedicated To Him

"Now the longing to wholly serve the Lord in His work became yet more real and stronger than before, although I felt myself too unworthy for such noble work. I was glad to know that my life now was in the Lord's hand and I sought to make myself useful in my own home and in my church.

"Later Rev. John Harms came and told about the rescue work in the cities. This took hold of my heart and the Lord spoke to me of going into his work, but I could not understand why the Lord should call me away as I had so much work in my own home, but the Holy Spirit continued His work in my heart till I was willing to follow in His step. There were many obstacles in the way, my own father as well as brothers and sisters did not understand that the Lord should send me away so far, neither was the church in favor of it. I had hoped that my younger sister would take my place but she took sick and died on the day set for my leaving and therefore I was detained again. After this I put the matter definitely in the Lord's hand and then it did not take long till the way was open. The Lord spoke to me. The Lord spoke to me, 'I have opened the way,why don't you go?' Therefore I got ready at once.

Severe Trials

“It was hard for me, as there was no one to encourage me, but God brought sweet comfort to my heart through His word. Brother and Sister Sprunger (of the Light and Hope Mission) were in Dakota at that time, I took the opportunity and went along. We arrived the 17th of June. The joy to be in the Lord’s service overcame all sorrow and homesickness. I had much to learn, soon a class of small girls was entrusted to me with whom I felt much at home. I am so glad the Lord permitted me to come to such a home where those who had the oversight took such hearty interest in us and spared no time and strength in training workers for the Lord and His cause. During the three years in the Orphan’s Home inumerable [sic] blessings were bestowed upon me.”

It was while in the Light and Hope work, that Mrs. Bartel met Henry C. Bartel, a young Mennonite farmer from the plains of Kansas. He too had come to work for the Lord. They were led to unite in marriage during the period that they were together in the work.

In March, 1901, Rev. Horace W. Houlding, came through Berne, Indiana, and spoke at the Orphanage of the need in China. God used him in a mighty way to stir hearts and to urge upon them the call of God. Through his messages Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Bartel were led to consider the need of China for missionaries. After much prayer and waiting on God, they were convinced that the Lord would have them serve Him in China. With deep consecration and hearts willing to serve and to suffer these young people resolutely set their faces toward the opened harvest field.

That field had so recently experienced its baptism of fire and blood in the awful Boxer Uprising, but now was to be opened to the Gospel as never before. They arrived on the northern coast of China, November 23, 1901.

Service in China

The early years of ministry in China were accompanied by much conflict with the forces of darkness but the joy of the Lord was their constant portion. Four years were spent in fellowship with the workers of the South Chihli Mission under Rev. Houlding. This association came to a close in 1905, when Mr. Bartel felt a definite urge of the Lord to open a work for which our Mennonite churches should be directly responsible.

The site chosen for the new center was the city of Tsaohsien in southern Shantung Province. This city was surrounded by a large area with dense population. This new move of faith was again to be attended by much conflict of spirit and great spiritual battles. Soon after moving into the new center, Mr. Bartel felt it was necessary to make a hasty trip to the United States, in 1906, to acquaint the churches at home with the work. This meant that Mrs. Bartel had to remain and together with one other worker, “hold the fort” in his absence.

The Closing Years

Many times they were called upon to help protect native Christians or workers from the outrages of the Japanese. Under the gracious guidance of the Lord they felt led to leave the old field in 1941 and make a trip to Szechwan where they would spend some time with their son Paul. This visit was a great joy to Mrs. Bartel. Her humble quiet spirit was a benediction to all who met and learned to know her among the mountains of Szechwan.

The visit was of brief duration for they felt the urge to go on to a new field that was much on their hearts. Again this new venture brought with it much suffering and endurance. While delayed in Chungking for several months, they were compelled to live in a noisy Chinese hotel with the troublesome rats annoying them both day and night. Then going on to the new field they suffered much in body and in spirit.

Quietly her spirit slipped away on April 15, 1946. She has fought well the fight of good faith and has now entered into the presence of Him whom she served so faithfully. We can only wish that we too might live as she lived and give as she gave for them surely shall there be no need for regrets.

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MLA Personal Photos Collection

Biographical note:
Avon, South Dakota
Daughter of Jacob J. and Aganetha (Foth) Schmidt (wife 1)
Married Henry Cornelius Bartel 1900 November 4, Berne, Indiana
Missionary (KMB) -- China 1901-46

Bethel alumni note:

Photo holdings:
See Henry Cornelius Bartel for family photos
See Frank A. Schmidt (1874-1946) for sibling photo

Sources:
This Mountain is Mine p. 30-31
Schmidt Family Record 1948 p. 25-26
Ramseyer, Mennonites in China p. 1-3, 107
Alice (Wiens) Bartel 1989 corresp.
MWR 07/04/1946 p. 4
Grandma Online Profile #31271
Find A Grave 9501357