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A Missionary in China, 1905

From Kansas to Ningbo China, Martha Crow Covert became a missionary with the America Baptist Foreign Mission Society.

Martha was born February 27, 1875 in Madison, Greenwood county Kansas, the 4th child of 8 born to Mary A Bowes Covert and Philip Marcus Sinclair Covert. She was only 8 years old when her father passed away unexpectedly in 1883.

Martha Crow Covert, about 1887, Kansas. From her mother’s family photo album.

Martha grew up in Greenwood County, Kansas, and was educated in the public schools and at the Kansas State Normal School in Emporia. After which she spent twelve years as a school teacher in several Kansas counties.

Martha Crow Covert – middle row, 4th person on the right.

At about the turn of the century, Martha entered the Woman’s Baptist Missionary Training School in Chicago. After several years of preparation she was sent by the Woman’s Baptist Foreign Missionary Society to Ningbo, China. (Sometimes spelled Ningpo.) Martha arrived in China on November 8, 1905.

Certificate of Registration of American Citizen, Martha C Covert, Shanghai, China 8 Nov 1905

Charles Denby, the US Consul General at Shanghai, China completed a certificate of registration form for Mary Covert, indicating that she arrived 8 Nov 1905 in China, and that the purpose for her residence in China is mission work (1).

Below are a series of photos that Martha sent back home to her family in Kansas, depicting life in Ningbo and at the mission.

Martha Covert seated in the rickshaw on the left, China about 1910
Martha’s room at the baptist missionary in Ningbo, China.
Martha Crow Covert, on the left, at the entrance of the missionary dining hall, America Baptist Foreign Mission Society, Ningpo.
Martha Crow Covert, Easter in Ningbo China. Caption on the back: Pearl opening her Easter basket.

In 1911 Martha traveled back to the United States for a one year furlough, and spent time in Madison, Kansas with family. According to the Emporia Kansas newspaper article below a reception was held for Miss Covert as she was preparing to return soon to her missionary work in China.


Emporia Gazette, 17 Aug 1912, Greenwood County, Kansas. (2)
Martha “Mattie” Covert, Ningpo China

Sadly it was just a few years later that Martha became quite ill with Stomach cancer, and passed away at the Red Cross Hospital in Shanghai, China, February 25, 1916. She was buried in the Foreign Mission Cemetery, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. (3, 4)

Sources

  1. (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 Apr 2019), entry for Martha C Covert, 6 Apr 1909 civil date; citing U.S., Consular Registration Certificates, 1907-1918; compiled 1907–1918. ARC ID: 1244186. General Records of the Department of State, 1763–2002, Record Group 59. National Archives at Washington, D.C.
  2. Martha Crow Covert (17 Aug 1912). Emporia Gazette, Emporia KS, page 4.
  3. (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 Apr 2019), entry for Martha Crow Covert, 25 Feb 1916 death date; citing Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad, 1835-1974. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Washington, D.C.; General Records of the Department of State; Record Group: RG59-Entry 205; Box Number: 4648; Box Description: 1910-1929 China.
  4. Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 14 April 2019), memorial page for Martha Crow Covert (27 Feb 1875–25 Feb 1916), Find A Grave Memorial no. 119833116, citing Foreign Mission Cemetery, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China ; Maintained by Rebecca Ewing Peterson (contributor 46987065).