Bartel, Nellie Schmidt (1876-1946)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1946 May 9 p. 1

Birth date: 1876

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.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1946 Jul 4 p. 4