The voicemail from one of the Clark County Historical Society members was a surprising one.

“Connie, this is Edie. I’m putting together a cemetery walk as a historical society fundraiser. Different people will portray a Marshall person of interest who is buried at our Marshall cemetery. I came across a couple who were missionaries in China for 27 years and thought you’d be a perfect fit. You’ll have to dress in costume. I already have the script for you to read. Let me know if you’re interested or if you’ll be gone by then. “

Interested?! Absolutely! Gone by then? Fortunately not.

Before receiving Charles and Louise Killie’s story from Edie, I researched a bit more about this couple. I found quite a lot about missionaries to China via the Presbyterian Historical Society’s carefully documented website.

Charles Killie’s brief history

Charles Killie was born in Marshall, Illinois in 1857. After completing high school, he obtained work first at a newspaper, then as railroad clerk and finally in the insurance business. In 1879 he married Louise Scott. In 1886, at the age of 29, Killie entered Princeton Seminary. Following his graduation in 1889 Killie and his wife applied and were accepted as itinerating missionaries for the PCUSA’s Board of Foreign Missions. (PCUSA is the Presbyterian Church of the USA.)

Killie’s first appointment was to the Shantung Mission at Ichou-fu. (See the above, the Killies and Chinese converts at the mission). In 1899, he and his wife were transferred to the Peking Mission. Killie’s work in Peking corresponded with the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 and he used that opportunity to report and photograph the events. (See a few of his photos below)

As a result of his services during the siege of Peking, Killie was voted the bronze and gold medal of the Military Order of the Dragon by the U.S. Army and Navy officers. Killie left Peking in 1902 and was then transferred to Paoting-fu where he served until 1912. In 1912 he withdrew from the field in ill-health, and returned to the U.S. with his wife and spent the remainder of his years lecturing for the Board of Foreign Missions.

More of Charles’ Photos Available Online

Interested in viewing even more of his incredible photos documenting the Boxer Rebellion? See the below link

https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/search/%22rg%20226%22?type=dismax

And this one will lead you to his published album, 50 Views of Siege of Peking (1900).

My Person, Louise Scott Killie: Her Story and Life

My research into Charles intrigued me greatly but what about Louise, my person?

Once I gave the go-ahead, Edie emailed me what she had put together for Louise. Here she is:

Hello. I’m Louise Scott Killie, widow of Rev. Charles Andrews Killie.  My husband and I were married in Vermillion County, IL in early 1879.  He was born here in Clark County, IL and I was born in Iowa.  By 1880 we were living in Indianapolis, IN where he was a salesman in a cigar store.  In 1881, when President McKinley was assassinated, my husband sent the Indianapolis newspapers back to Marshall so that the local paper could have all the details.  He had not forgotten his home town!

A few years later, while we were in Washington, D.C., we heard Dwight L. Moody preaching and my husband felt a call to the foreign missions.  He attended Princeton Theological Seminary and, in the Spring of 1889, we sailed for China under the direction of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions.  We lived at the Shantung Mission, at Ichowfu and later at Peking and Paotingfu.  During the Boxer Rebellion we were in Peking, but were inside the British Compound during those terrible months.  After the Rebellion we were allowed into the Forbidden City, a beautiful palace complex which is surrounded by opulent gardens. Rev. Killie was able to photograph the beauty. We traveled from community to community often on the back of a donkey or in a Chinese style wheelbarrow.  We covered thousands of miles from 1889-May, 1912.  That is 27 years!  Rev. Killie had the educational background as a preacher, but I was there with him during those years.  I helped in whatever ways I could.  Rev. Killie became seriously ill and we returned to the States.  He was under a doctors care for about 18 months.  You might think that a man in his mid 50s would be at the end of his career, but you don’t know Rev. Killie!  He loaded up his photos(which he had made into slides)  and his experiences in China, and of course, his Bible.  For the next 2 ½ years he logged over 61,000 miles, making over 900 speeches.  Through these talks all over America, thirty-seven young people joined the foreign missions!  But Rev. Killie was still not well.  In the summer of 1916, after his third serious operation, Rev. Killie died and body was brought back here to Marshall.

I came back to Marshall also.  I found several ways to honor Rev. Killie. In 1938 a U.S. flag that he purchased in China was donated to Marshall Township High School for Armistice Day in his memory. During the Centennial Celebration for the Congregational Church I donated one of the large floral arrangements for the celebration.  In 1943 I was laid here beside him. 

Photo of Louise in China

Thanks to the Internet and the excellent Presbyterian Historical Society archives of PCUSA missionaries, I found the below photo. Charles is standing, on the far left, and Louise is standing to the far right. Others missionaries are pictured here as well, serving alongside them. No date was given but I would assume 1890 – 1900.

My Reflections during the Sunday, November 5 Event

There were 9 stations throughout the cemetery, with 9 of us taking on the roles of past residents of my hometown. During our 11 – 2 p.m. impersonations, over 50 attended, clustered in groups of two to six. In all, I gave Louise story a total of 8 times with each repetition creating more and more of a connection to this person a few weeks before I had never known.

When we finally finished, I hung back after all had left to reflect upon Louise.

I contemplated her commitment to missionary service, her deep-rooted love of China and its people, not to mention her fears, joys and struggles of living during such a turbulent time period in her Asian home. Then there came her final years back in the States, traveling with her husband to share their overseas experiences and the outcome of their 27 years preaching the gospel to the Chinese. What a life fully lived, and one worthy of recognition. I felt honored and humbled to be included in this wonderful, meaningful event.

Such a fitting send-off for me, one who has a similar commitment of serving others, as I leave for my new overseas placement in Laos.