Jesse B. Hartwell
His Chinese interpreter refused to believe, but through constant witness and love, that would change.
His Chinese interpreter refused to believe, but through constant witness and love, that would change.
Jesse Hartwell understood the challenges of leading the Chinese to Christ. Preaching was often received with skepticism and anti-foreign attitudes. The dedicated missionary befriended his interpreter, however, and the two men spent hours together. Though the interpreter insisted that he could not believe Jesse’s message, he eventually put his faith in Christ, was baptized by Jesse, served as a deacon in a new church plant, and later became the first Chinese pastor in the region of Penglai.
Not only did Jesse plant churches in China, but he started a seminary and saw hundreds of Chinese come to faith. When returning to the U.S. was necessary for his wife’s failing health, he continued his passion to reach the Chinese who had immigrated to California. After his return to China, his faithfulness continued until his death in 1912.
Graves of Elizabeth Jewett Hartwell (first wife), Jesse B. Hartwell and Charlotte Norris Hartwell (third wife).
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Jesse B. Hartwell
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Dr. C.W. Pruitt and Dr. Jesse B. Hartwell in China.
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Jesse B. Hartwell with his daughter Anna, Anna’s Chinese nurse (standing), and Mrs. Kwah, whom Jesse helped as a child in Shanghai during the Tai Ping War.
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Jesse B. Hartwell, center, with Presbyterian missionaries Corbett and Mateer on either side.
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Dr. C.W. Pruitt and Dr. Jesse B. Hartwell with the students of the first regular class of the North China Training School, which was later developed into the Bush Theological Seminary.
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Jesse B. Hartwell and his third wife, Charlotte Norris Hartwell.
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Dr. C.W. Pruitt and Dr. Jesse B. Hartwell and a seminary class.
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