1880 Fairplain, Montcalm Co,MI - Wilbur, head Jacob 44 NY (both parents b NY), wife Elizabeth 39 NY (both parents b NY), son Charles S 22 NY (both parents b NY), son Wm 13 WI (both parents b NY), son Edwin H 11 WI (both parents b NY), son George E 9 NY (both parents b NY), daughter Mary S 7 NY (both parents b NY), son Freddie J 3 NY (both parents b NY) & daughter Ida May 1 NY (both parents b NY)
1870 Hoosick, Rensselaer Co,NY - Wilber, head Jacob 35 NY & Douglass, Henry 39 NY & Wilber, Elisebath 28 NY, Choebes E 12 NY, John 9 NY, William 3 WI, Edward 1 WI & Webster, Dorcas S 45 NY
***********************************************************
Name: Edwin H Wilbur
Gender: Male
Age: 33
Birth Place: Janesville, Wis
Marriage Date: 21 Jul 1902
Marriage Place: Tama, Iowa
Father: Jacob Wilbur
Mother: Elizabeth Webster
Spouse: Susan Haskel
Gender: Female
Age: 30
Birth Place: Carlton Twp, Tama Co, near Garwin
Marriage Date: 21 Jul 1902
Marriage Place: Tama, Iowa
Father: Lafayette Haskel
Mother: Margaret Stevens
***********************************************************
Report of Death of American Citizen Abroad
American Consular Service, 28 May 1914
Name: Edwin Himes Wilbur
Death Date: 1 May 1914
Death Place: Pakhoi, China
Cause of Death: Malaria & heart failure
Disposition: British and Customs Cemetery, Pakhoi
Spouse: Mrs Susan Wilbur
***********************************************************
Edwin Hymes Wilbur (1869–1914)
BY Flornce Nagel
daniel-chen-476672-unsplash.jpg
Edwin Hymes Wilbur was born on April 2, 1869 in Easton, New York. His parents, Jacob Wilbur and wife, had early learned of the Adventist faith and were anxious for young Edwin to be a worker for God. Even in youth he did not seem to be very healthy. This, however, did not dampen his courage.
After leaving the farm at 18 years of age he learned the printing trade and later worked in the Review and Herald Publishing House in Battle Creek.
We next find him at the Des Moines, Iowa, Sanitarium taking the nurses course. It was there that he met a young lade in training by the name of Susan Haskell. Edwin had a burden to go to China and shared this desire with Susan and wrote the Mission Board many letters pleading with them to send him to China. At the end he would always sign, "Yours for China, Edwin Hymes Wilbur." But for some time the answer was in the negative due to his poor health. He kept saying, if he was to die soon he might as well die in a mission field as at home.
Early in the spring of 1902 Elder Spicer and Daniels visited the Iowa Sanitarium giving workers an invitation for overseas duty. Susan accepted the call.
Edwin knew nothing about her decision, and no one had talked to him. Somewhat discouraged, he went for a walk on the hospital grounds. While in deep thought, he did not hear Elder Spicer's footsteps coming from behind him, and tapped him on the shoulder and asked, "Still yours for China, Brother?" As he spun around Elder Spicer told him that now the Board was ready to send him to China. In his excitement, he asked if he had to go alone. Soon Spicer, Daniels and Edwin were looking for Susan. How happy the four were when Mrs. White also gave her approval for the appointment. On July 21, 1902 the young couple were married at Garwin, Iowa and soon after were sailing on the "Empress of India" from Vancouver to China, landing in Hong Kong, a British Colony, on Victoria Island, in late October.
They became the first SDA workers to settle inside China at Canton, Kwangtung Province. In Hong Kong they were met by Elder and Mrs. J. N. Anderson who were the first missionaries to China arriving in February of the same year but had not gone into China as yet. Abram La Rue, a self-supporting missionary, greeted them with much joy, for he had been praying for 14 years for someone to come and help him.
On December 1, 1902, Edwin and Susan moved up to Canton to live. At that time it was a town of over 2 million people. They immediately began learning the Cantonese language and sold copies of religious literature to those who could read English. In April of the next year due to their health, they exchanged places with the Andersons. It was at this time that Susan nursed Abram La Rue during his terminal illness of pneumonia, with malaria and typhoid complications. He died on April 26, 1903 being 80 years, five months and 1 day old. He had been the first to bring the Adventist truth to China.
In September, he and Susan with Miss Ida Thompson went over to the Portuguese Colony of Macao. Here there was a much better climate with the cool ocean breezes blowing throughout the hot months. A Chinese business man in Hong Kong gave them free use of his large well-furnished home there. In one of Edwin's letters he remarked, "How he had found many Chinese who were hungry for the gospel and in one year's time he had sold 66 bound books, 90 copies of the new Testament, 468 Periodicals, and taken nine subscriptions to the "Good Health" and one to the "Pacific Health Journal".
On July 27, 1904, the Wilburs again moved back to Canton, Edwin looked for 10 days for a house to stay in but to no avail. He went over to the Anderson home and picked up a copy of volume 8 of the Testimonies by Mrs. E. G. White and read these encouraging words: "Obstacles to the advancement of the work of God will appear but fear not…The plans of the enemies of His work may seem to be firm and well established, but He can over throw the strongest of these plans, and in His own time and way He will do this, when He sees that our faith has been sufficiently tested, and that we are drawing near to Him, and making Him our counselor."
That very afternoon a Chinese woman and her son, who had been living with the Wilburs, took Robert Wilbur with them and found the very house the Wilburs had wanted. Thus, God answered their prayers. Soon after moving into their new house, the Wilburs adopted a Chinese baby girl and named her Oilene. The girls school reopened on August 14 and at the same time Edwin opened the mission's first boy's school. Also, plans were made for the publication of literature to be done. A chapter in Steps to Christ, entitled "The sinner's Need of Christ," was ready for the press along with other tracts.
"By the end of 1904 a church had been established with a membership of 20, five companies which totaled 24, and 20 isolated Sabbathkeepers making a total of 64. In 1905 Edwin held evening services in a chapel in Canton. It also accompanied his Christian Chinese language teacher on a long trip looking for places to open up new work.
In January 1909 all the missionaries of China were called together for a meeting to lay plans for the furtherance of the work. It was at this council on the 22ndday of January, 1909, Elder Spicer, who had touched Edwin's shoulder seven years earlier ordained Edwin.
On February 4, 1910 the Wilbur family returned to America for their first furlough and while visiting his home town of Garwin, Iowa a third child was born and named Fred Daniel, on June 21. The summer was spent speaking at camp meetings. People were anxious to hear the reports from China and gave many thousands of dollars towards the work.
Upon returning to Canton where they labored for the next two years and were moved to Fatshan where they helped Dr. Law Keem in the hospital there. At Pakhoi a good work was started and on February 3, 1914 Edwin took charge of the work there.
Pakhoi is about 500 miles by water south of Canton on the gulf of Tonkin. Soon upon arrival the family went on a trip to Limchow, 27 miles inland. Here Edwin baptized 4 persons.
Little did Edwin realize that this baptism was his last in China. A few days later, back in Pakhoi, he became ill. Susan sent the Chinese evangelist and son Robert to call a French doctor. Bro. Wilbur was very sick with malaria and heart trouble. On May 1, 1914 he fell asleep in Jesus, a telegram was sent to Elder Harlow, who as them Mission Director of the South China work, but it took him 2 weeks to arrive at Pakhoi. His request to Susan was that if ever he died he wished to be buried in a Chinese coffin. The German and English Consulates of Pakhoi wanted Edwin to be buried in their official graveyard. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. W. E. Hipwell of the English Episcopal Church and Mr. Pun, the Chinese evangelist.
The death of Edwin was quite a shock to the workers and Chinese who loved Bro. Wilbur so dearly. Elder Sherman Nagel wrote the Review from Waichow in South China a report of Edwin's passing.
"Like thunder out of a clear sky, comes the sad news of Bor. Wilbur's death…Personally, I feel the loss to our work here most keenly…Bro. Wilbur was a man greatly loved by the Chinese. When I told the workers of his death, at prayer meeting last evening, the tears flowed freely down their cheeks."
Bro. Nagel then added the following lines in memory to Edwin…
Earnest, unselfish, consecrated, true, with nothing but the noblest end in view choosing to toil in distant fields unknown, contented to be poor and little known. Faithful to death! O, man of God, well done! Thy fight is ended, and thy crown is won."
Elder Wilbur was a great reporter and we have 31 articles from his pen recording the progress of the SDA Church during those 12 years of service in China. Susan desired to remain in China and after moving back to Canton when she served as treasurer of the Bethel Girl's School. After three more years of service she was advised by the doctors to return to America. Upon recovering her health in the United States, she at once began work for the Chinese people in Portland, Oregon. Later, at the request of the Mission Board she was transferred to San Francisco, California, where with the help of a Chinese worker a Chinese church as built. Only in heaven will we learned the results of Edwin and Susan's life work.
1870 Hoosick, Rensselaer Co,NY - Wilber, head Jacob 35 NY & Douglass, Henry 39 NY & Wilber, Elisebath 28 NY, Choebes E 12 NY, John 9 NY, William 3 WI, Edward 1 WI & Webster, Dorcas S 45 NY
***********************************************************
Name: Edwin H Wilbur
Gender: Male
Age: 33
Birth Place: Janesville, Wis
Marriage Date: 21 Jul 1902
Marriage Place: Tama, Iowa
Father: Jacob Wilbur
Mother: Elizabeth Webster
Spouse: Susan Haskel
Gender: Female
Age: 30
Birth Place: Carlton Twp, Tama Co, near Garwin
Marriage Date: 21 Jul 1902
Marriage Place: Tama, Iowa
Father: Lafayette Haskel
Mother: Margaret Stevens
***********************************************************
Report of Death of American Citizen Abroad
American Consular Service, 28 May 1914
Name: Edwin Himes Wilbur
Death Date: 1 May 1914
Death Place: Pakhoi, China
Cause of Death: Malaria & heart failure
Disposition: British and Customs Cemetery, Pakhoi
Spouse: Mrs Susan Wilbur
***********************************************************
Edwin Hymes Wilbur (1869–1914)
BY Flornce Nagel
daniel-chen-476672-unsplash.jpg
Edwin Hymes Wilbur was born on April 2, 1869 in Easton, New York. His parents, Jacob Wilbur and wife, had early learned of the Adventist faith and were anxious for young Edwin to be a worker for God. Even in youth he did not seem to be very healthy. This, however, did not dampen his courage.
After leaving the farm at 18 years of age he learned the printing trade and later worked in the Review and Herald Publishing House in Battle Creek.
We next find him at the Des Moines, Iowa, Sanitarium taking the nurses course. It was there that he met a young lade in training by the name of Susan Haskell. Edwin had a burden to go to China and shared this desire with Susan and wrote the Mission Board many letters pleading with them to send him to China. At the end he would always sign, "Yours for China, Edwin Hymes Wilbur." But for some time the answer was in the negative due to his poor health. He kept saying, if he was to die soon he might as well die in a mission field as at home.
Early in the spring of 1902 Elder Spicer and Daniels visited the Iowa Sanitarium giving workers an invitation for overseas duty. Susan accepted the call.
Edwin knew nothing about her decision, and no one had talked to him. Somewhat discouraged, he went for a walk on the hospital grounds. While in deep thought, he did not hear Elder Spicer's footsteps coming from behind him, and tapped him on the shoulder and asked, "Still yours for China, Brother?" As he spun around Elder Spicer told him that now the Board was ready to send him to China. In his excitement, he asked if he had to go alone. Soon Spicer, Daniels and Edwin were looking for Susan. How happy the four were when Mrs. White also gave her approval for the appointment. On July 21, 1902 the young couple were married at Garwin, Iowa and soon after were sailing on the "Empress of India" from Vancouver to China, landing in Hong Kong, a British Colony, on Victoria Island, in late October.
They became the first SDA workers to settle inside China at Canton, Kwangtung Province. In Hong Kong they were met by Elder and Mrs. J. N. Anderson who were the first missionaries to China arriving in February of the same year but had not gone into China as yet. Abram La Rue, a self-supporting missionary, greeted them with much joy, for he had been praying for 14 years for someone to come and help him.
On December 1, 1902, Edwin and Susan moved up to Canton to live. At that time it was a town of over 2 million people. They immediately began learning the Cantonese language and sold copies of religious literature to those who could read English. In April of the next year due to their health, they exchanged places with the Andersons. It was at this time that Susan nursed Abram La Rue during his terminal illness of pneumonia, with malaria and typhoid complications. He died on April 26, 1903 being 80 years, five months and 1 day old. He had been the first to bring the Adventist truth to China.
In September, he and Susan with Miss Ida Thompson went over to the Portuguese Colony of Macao. Here there was a much better climate with the cool ocean breezes blowing throughout the hot months. A Chinese business man in Hong Kong gave them free use of his large well-furnished home there. In one of Edwin's letters he remarked, "How he had found many Chinese who were hungry for the gospel and in one year's time he had sold 66 bound books, 90 copies of the new Testament, 468 Periodicals, and taken nine subscriptions to the "Good Health" and one to the "Pacific Health Journal".
On July 27, 1904, the Wilburs again moved back to Canton, Edwin looked for 10 days for a house to stay in but to no avail. He went over to the Anderson home and picked up a copy of volume 8 of the Testimonies by Mrs. E. G. White and read these encouraging words: "Obstacles to the advancement of the work of God will appear but fear not…The plans of the enemies of His work may seem to be firm and well established, but He can over throw the strongest of these plans, and in His own time and way He will do this, when He sees that our faith has been sufficiently tested, and that we are drawing near to Him, and making Him our counselor."
That very afternoon a Chinese woman and her son, who had been living with the Wilburs, took Robert Wilbur with them and found the very house the Wilburs had wanted. Thus, God answered their prayers. Soon after moving into their new house, the Wilburs adopted a Chinese baby girl and named her Oilene. The girls school reopened on August 14 and at the same time Edwin opened the mission's first boy's school. Also, plans were made for the publication of literature to be done. A chapter in Steps to Christ, entitled "The sinner's Need of Christ," was ready for the press along with other tracts.
"By the end of 1904 a church had been established with a membership of 20, five companies which totaled 24, and 20 isolated Sabbathkeepers making a total of 64. In 1905 Edwin held evening services in a chapel in Canton. It also accompanied his Christian Chinese language teacher on a long trip looking for places to open up new work.
In January 1909 all the missionaries of China were called together for a meeting to lay plans for the furtherance of the work. It was at this council on the 22ndday of January, 1909, Elder Spicer, who had touched Edwin's shoulder seven years earlier ordained Edwin.
On February 4, 1910 the Wilbur family returned to America for their first furlough and while visiting his home town of Garwin, Iowa a third child was born and named Fred Daniel, on June 21. The summer was spent speaking at camp meetings. People were anxious to hear the reports from China and gave many thousands of dollars towards the work.
Upon returning to Canton where they labored for the next two years and were moved to Fatshan where they helped Dr. Law Keem in the hospital there. At Pakhoi a good work was started and on February 3, 1914 Edwin took charge of the work there.
Pakhoi is about 500 miles by water south of Canton on the gulf of Tonkin. Soon upon arrival the family went on a trip to Limchow, 27 miles inland. Here Edwin baptized 4 persons.
Little did Edwin realize that this baptism was his last in China. A few days later, back in Pakhoi, he became ill. Susan sent the Chinese evangelist and son Robert to call a French doctor. Bro. Wilbur was very sick with malaria and heart trouble. On May 1, 1914 he fell asleep in Jesus, a telegram was sent to Elder Harlow, who as them Mission Director of the South China work, but it took him 2 weeks to arrive at Pakhoi. His request to Susan was that if ever he died he wished to be buried in a Chinese coffin. The German and English Consulates of Pakhoi wanted Edwin to be buried in their official graveyard. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. W. E. Hipwell of the English Episcopal Church and Mr. Pun, the Chinese evangelist.
The death of Edwin was quite a shock to the workers and Chinese who loved Bro. Wilbur so dearly. Elder Sherman Nagel wrote the Review from Waichow in South China a report of Edwin's passing.
"Like thunder out of a clear sky, comes the sad news of Bor. Wilbur's death…Personally, I feel the loss to our work here most keenly…Bro. Wilbur was a man greatly loved by the Chinese. When I told the workers of his death, at prayer meeting last evening, the tears flowed freely down their cheeks."
Bro. Nagel then added the following lines in memory to Edwin…
Earnest, unselfish, consecrated, true, with nothing but the noblest end in view choosing to toil in distant fields unknown, contented to be poor and little known. Faithful to death! O, man of God, well done! Thy fight is ended, and thy crown is won."
Elder Wilbur was a great reporter and we have 31 articles from his pen recording the progress of the SDA Church during those 12 years of service in China. Susan desired to remain in China and after moving back to Canton when she served as treasurer of the Bethel Girl's School. After three more years of service she was advised by the doctors to return to America. Upon recovering her health in the United States, she at once began work for the Chinese people in Portland, Oregon. Later, at the request of the Mission Board she was transferred to San Francisco, California, where with the help of a Chinese worker a Chinese church as built. Only in heaven will we learned the results of Edwin and Susan's life work.
1880 Fairplain, Montcalm Co,MI - Wilbur, head Jacob 44 NY (both parents b NY), wife Elizabeth 39 NY (both parents b NY), son Charles S 22 NY (both parents b NY), son Wm 13 WI (both parents b NY), son Edwin H 11 WI (both parents b NY), son George E 9 NY (both parents b NY), daughter Mary S 7 NY (both parents b NY), son Freddie J 3 NY (both parents b NY) & daughter Ida May 1 NY (both parents b NY)
1870 Hoosick, Rensselaer Co,NY - Wilber, head Jacob 35 NY & Douglass, Henry 39 NY & Wilber, Elisebath 28 NY, Choebes E 12 NY, John 9 NY, William 3 WI, Edward 1 WI & Webster, Dorcas S 45 NY
***********************************************************
Name: Edwin H Wilbur
Gender: Male
Age: 33
Birth Place: Janesville, Wis
Marriage Date: 21 Jul 1902
Marriage Place: Tama, Iowa
Father: Jacob Wilbur
Mother: Elizabeth Webster
Spouse: Susan Haskel
Gender: Female
Age: 30
Birth Place: Carlton Twp, Tama Co, near Garwin
Marriage Date: 21 Jul 1902
Marriage Place: Tama, Iowa
Father: Lafayette Haskel
Mother: Margaret Stevens
***********************************************************
Report of Death of American Citizen Abroad
American Consular Service, 28 May 1914
Name: Edwin Himes Wilbur
Death Date: 1 May 1914
Death Place: Pakhoi, China
Cause of Death: Malaria & heart failure
Disposition: British and Customs Cemetery, Pakhoi
Spouse: Mrs Susan Wilbur
***********************************************************
Edwin Hymes Wilbur (1869–1914)
BY Flornce Nagel
daniel-chen-476672-unsplash.jpg
Edwin Hymes Wilbur was born on April 2, 1869 in Easton, New York. His parents, Jacob Wilbur and wife, had early learned of the Adventist faith and were anxious for young Edwin to be a worker for God. Even in youth he did not seem to be very healthy. This, however, did not dampen his courage.
After leaving the farm at 18 years of age he learned the printing trade and later worked in the Review and Herald Publishing House in Battle Creek.
We next find him at the Des Moines, Iowa, Sanitarium taking the nurses course. It was there that he met a young lade in training by the name of Susan Haskell. Edwin had a burden to go to China and shared this desire with Susan and wrote the Mission Board many letters pleading with them to send him to China. At the end he would always sign, "Yours for China, Edwin Hymes Wilbur." But for some time the answer was in the negative due to his poor health. He kept saying, if he was to die soon he might as well die in a mission field as at home.
Early in the spring of 1902 Elder Spicer and Daniels visited the Iowa Sanitarium giving workers an invitation for overseas duty. Susan accepted the call.
Edwin knew nothing about her decision, and no one had talked to him. Somewhat discouraged, he went for a walk on the hospital grounds. While in deep thought, he did not hear Elder Spicer's footsteps coming from behind him, and tapped him on the shoulder and asked, "Still yours for China, Brother?" As he spun around Elder Spicer told him that now the Board was ready to send him to China. In his excitement, he asked if he had to go alone. Soon Spicer, Daniels and Edwin were looking for Susan. How happy the four were when Mrs. White also gave her approval for the appointment. On July 21, 1902 the young couple were married at Garwin, Iowa and soon after were sailing on the "Empress of India" from Vancouver to China, landing in Hong Kong, a British Colony, on Victoria Island, in late October.
They became the first SDA workers to settle inside China at Canton, Kwangtung Province. In Hong Kong they were met by Elder and Mrs. J. N. Anderson who were the first missionaries to China arriving in February of the same year but had not gone into China as yet. Abram La Rue, a self-supporting missionary, greeted them with much joy, for he had been praying for 14 years for someone to come and help him.
On December 1, 1902, Edwin and Susan moved up to Canton to live. At that time it was a town of over 2 million people. They immediately began learning the Cantonese language and sold copies of religious literature to those who could read English. In April of the next year due to their health, they exchanged places with the Andersons. It was at this time that Susan nursed Abram La Rue during his terminal illness of pneumonia, with malaria and typhoid complications. He died on April 26, 1903 being 80 years, five months and 1 day old. He had been the first to bring the Adventist truth to China.
In September, he and Susan with Miss Ida Thompson went over to the Portuguese Colony of Macao. Here there was a much better climate with the cool ocean breezes blowing throughout the hot months. A Chinese business man in Hong Kong gave them free use of his large well-furnished home there. In one of Edwin's letters he remarked, "How he had found many Chinese who were hungry for the gospel and in one year's time he had sold 66 bound books, 90 copies of the new Testament, 468 Periodicals, and taken nine subscriptions to the "Good Health" and one to the "Pacific Health Journal".
On July 27, 1904, the Wilburs again moved back to Canton, Edwin looked for 10 days for a house to stay in but to no avail. He went over to the Anderson home and picked up a copy of volume 8 of the Testimonies by Mrs. E. G. White and read these encouraging words: "Obstacles to the advancement of the work of God will appear but fear not…The plans of the enemies of His work may seem to be firm and well established, but He can over throw the strongest of these plans, and in His own time and way He will do this, when He sees that our faith has been sufficiently tested, and that we are drawing near to Him, and making Him our counselor."
That very afternoon a Chinese woman and her son, who had been living with the Wilburs, took Robert Wilbur with them and found the very house the Wilburs had wanted. Thus, God answered their prayers. Soon after moving into their new house, the Wilburs adopted a Chinese baby girl and named her Oilene. The girls school reopened on August 14 and at the same time Edwin opened the mission's first boy's school. Also, plans were made for the publication of literature to be done. A chapter in Steps to Christ, entitled "The sinner's Need of Christ," was ready for the press along with other tracts.
"By the end of 1904 a church had been established with a membership of 20, five companies which totaled 24, and 20 isolated Sabbathkeepers making a total of 64. In 1905 Edwin held evening services in a chapel in Canton. It also accompanied his Christian Chinese language teacher on a long trip looking for places to open up new work.
In January 1909 all the missionaries of China were called together for a meeting to lay plans for the furtherance of the work. It was at this council on the 22ndday of January, 1909, Elder Spicer, who had touched Edwin's shoulder seven years earlier ordained Edwin.
On February 4, 1910 the Wilbur family returned to America for their first furlough and while visiting his home town of Garwin, Iowa a third child was born and named Fred Daniel, on June 21. The summer was spent speaking at camp meetings. People were anxious to hear the reports from China and gave many thousands of dollars towards the work.
Upon returning to Canton where they labored for the next two years and were moved to Fatshan where they helped Dr. Law Keem in the hospital there. At Pakhoi a good work was started and on February 3, 1914 Edwin took charge of the work there.
Pakhoi is about 500 miles by water south of Canton on the gulf of Tonkin. Soon upon arrival the family went on a trip to Limchow, 27 miles inland. Here Edwin baptized 4 persons.
Little did Edwin realize that this baptism was his last in China. A few days later, back in Pakhoi, he became ill. Susan sent the Chinese evangelist and son Robert to call a French doctor. Bro. Wilbur was very sick with malaria and heart trouble. On May 1, 1914 he fell asleep in Jesus, a telegram was sent to Elder Harlow, who as them Mission Director of the South China work, but it took him 2 weeks to arrive at Pakhoi. His request to Susan was that if ever he died he wished to be buried in a Chinese coffin. The German and English Consulates of Pakhoi wanted Edwin to be buried in their official graveyard. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. W. E. Hipwell of the English Episcopal Church and Mr. Pun, the Chinese evangelist.
The death of Edwin was quite a shock to the workers and Chinese who loved Bro. Wilbur so dearly. Elder Sherman Nagel wrote the Review from Waichow in South China a report of Edwin's passing.
"Like thunder out of a clear sky, comes the sad news of Bor. Wilbur's death…Personally, I feel the loss to our work here most keenly…Bro. Wilbur was a man greatly loved by the Chinese. When I told the workers of his death, at prayer meeting last evening, the tears flowed freely down their cheeks."
Bro. Nagel then added the following lines in memory to Edwin…
Earnest, unselfish, consecrated, true, with nothing but the noblest end in view choosing to toil in distant fields unknown, contented to be poor and little known. Faithful to death! O, man of God, well done! Thy fight is ended, and thy crown is won."
Elder Wilbur was a great reporter and we have 31 articles from his pen recording the progress of the SDA Church during those 12 years of service in China. Susan desired to remain in China and after moving back to Canton when she served as treasurer of the Bethel Girl's School. After three more years of service she was advised by the doctors to return to America. Upon recovering her health in the United States, she at once began work for the Chinese people in Portland, Oregon. Later, at the request of the Mission Board she was transferred to San Francisco, California, where with the help of a Chinese worker a Chinese church as built. Only in heaven will we learned the results of Edwin and Susan's life work.
1870 Hoosick, Rensselaer Co,NY - Wilber, head Jacob 35 NY & Douglass, Henry 39 NY & Wilber, Elisebath 28 NY, Choebes E 12 NY, John 9 NY, William 3 WI, Edward 1 WI & Webster, Dorcas S 45 NY
***********************************************************
Name: Edwin H Wilbur
Gender: Male
Age: 33
Birth Place: Janesville, Wis
Marriage Date: 21 Jul 1902
Marriage Place: Tama, Iowa
Father: Jacob Wilbur
Mother: Elizabeth Webster
Spouse: Susan Haskel
Gender: Female
Age: 30
Birth Place: Carlton Twp, Tama Co, near Garwin
Marriage Date: 21 Jul 1902
Marriage Place: Tama, Iowa
Father: Lafayette Haskel
Mother: Margaret Stevens
***********************************************************
Report of Death of American Citizen Abroad
American Consular Service, 28 May 1914
Name: Edwin Himes Wilbur
Death Date: 1 May 1914
Death Place: Pakhoi, China
Cause of Death: Malaria & heart failure
Disposition: British and Customs Cemetery, Pakhoi
Spouse: Mrs Susan Wilbur
***********************************************************
Edwin Hymes Wilbur (1869–1914)
BY Flornce Nagel
daniel-chen-476672-unsplash.jpg
Edwin Hymes Wilbur was born on April 2, 1869 in Easton, New York. His parents, Jacob Wilbur and wife, had early learned of the Adventist faith and were anxious for young Edwin to be a worker for God. Even in youth he did not seem to be very healthy. This, however, did not dampen his courage.
After leaving the farm at 18 years of age he learned the printing trade and later worked in the Review and Herald Publishing House in Battle Creek.
We next find him at the Des Moines, Iowa, Sanitarium taking the nurses course. It was there that he met a young lade in training by the name of Susan Haskell. Edwin had a burden to go to China and shared this desire with Susan and wrote the Mission Board many letters pleading with them to send him to China. At the end he would always sign, "Yours for China, Edwin Hymes Wilbur." But for some time the answer was in the negative due to his poor health. He kept saying, if he was to die soon he might as well die in a mission field as at home.
Early in the spring of 1902 Elder Spicer and Daniels visited the Iowa Sanitarium giving workers an invitation for overseas duty. Susan accepted the call.
Edwin knew nothing about her decision, and no one had talked to him. Somewhat discouraged, he went for a walk on the hospital grounds. While in deep thought, he did not hear Elder Spicer's footsteps coming from behind him, and tapped him on the shoulder and asked, "Still yours for China, Brother?" As he spun around Elder Spicer told him that now the Board was ready to send him to China. In his excitement, he asked if he had to go alone. Soon Spicer, Daniels and Edwin were looking for Susan. How happy the four were when Mrs. White also gave her approval for the appointment. On July 21, 1902 the young couple were married at Garwin, Iowa and soon after were sailing on the "Empress of India" from Vancouver to China, landing in Hong Kong, a British Colony, on Victoria Island, in late October.
They became the first SDA workers to settle inside China at Canton, Kwangtung Province. In Hong Kong they were met by Elder and Mrs. J. N. Anderson who were the first missionaries to China arriving in February of the same year but had not gone into China as yet. Abram La Rue, a self-supporting missionary, greeted them with much joy, for he had been praying for 14 years for someone to come and help him.
On December 1, 1902, Edwin and Susan moved up to Canton to live. At that time it was a town of over 2 million people. They immediately began learning the Cantonese language and sold copies of religious literature to those who could read English. In April of the next year due to their health, they exchanged places with the Andersons. It was at this time that Susan nursed Abram La Rue during his terminal illness of pneumonia, with malaria and typhoid complications. He died on April 26, 1903 being 80 years, five months and 1 day old. He had been the first to bring the Adventist truth to China.
In September, he and Susan with Miss Ida Thompson went over to the Portuguese Colony of Macao. Here there was a much better climate with the cool ocean breezes blowing throughout the hot months. A Chinese business man in Hong Kong gave them free use of his large well-furnished home there. In one of Edwin's letters he remarked, "How he had found many Chinese who were hungry for the gospel and in one year's time he had sold 66 bound books, 90 copies of the new Testament, 468 Periodicals, and taken nine subscriptions to the "Good Health" and one to the "Pacific Health Journal".
On July 27, 1904, the Wilburs again moved back to Canton, Edwin looked for 10 days for a house to stay in but to no avail. He went over to the Anderson home and picked up a copy of volume 8 of the Testimonies by Mrs. E. G. White and read these encouraging words: "Obstacles to the advancement of the work of God will appear but fear not…The plans of the enemies of His work may seem to be firm and well established, but He can over throw the strongest of these plans, and in His own time and way He will do this, when He sees that our faith has been sufficiently tested, and that we are drawing near to Him, and making Him our counselor."
That very afternoon a Chinese woman and her son, who had been living with the Wilburs, took Robert Wilbur with them and found the very house the Wilburs had wanted. Thus, God answered their prayers. Soon after moving into their new house, the Wilburs adopted a Chinese baby girl and named her Oilene. The girls school reopened on August 14 and at the same time Edwin opened the mission's first boy's school. Also, plans were made for the publication of literature to be done. A chapter in Steps to Christ, entitled "The sinner's Need of Christ," was ready for the press along with other tracts.
"By the end of 1904 a church had been established with a membership of 20, five companies which totaled 24, and 20 isolated Sabbathkeepers making a total of 64. In 1905 Edwin held evening services in a chapel in Canton. It also accompanied his Christian Chinese language teacher on a long trip looking for places to open up new work.
In January 1909 all the missionaries of China were called together for a meeting to lay plans for the furtherance of the work. It was at this council on the 22ndday of January, 1909, Elder Spicer, who had touched Edwin's shoulder seven years earlier ordained Edwin.
On February 4, 1910 the Wilbur family returned to America for their first furlough and while visiting his home town of Garwin, Iowa a third child was born and named Fred Daniel, on June 21. The summer was spent speaking at camp meetings. People were anxious to hear the reports from China and gave many thousands of dollars towards the work.
Upon returning to Canton where they labored for the next two years and were moved to Fatshan where they helped Dr. Law Keem in the hospital there. At Pakhoi a good work was started and on February 3, 1914 Edwin took charge of the work there.
Pakhoi is about 500 miles by water south of Canton on the gulf of Tonkin. Soon upon arrival the family went on a trip to Limchow, 27 miles inland. Here Edwin baptized 4 persons.
Little did Edwin realize that this baptism was his last in China. A few days later, back in Pakhoi, he became ill. Susan sent the Chinese evangelist and son Robert to call a French doctor. Bro. Wilbur was very sick with malaria and heart trouble. On May 1, 1914 he fell asleep in Jesus, a telegram was sent to Elder Harlow, who as them Mission Director of the South China work, but it took him 2 weeks to arrive at Pakhoi. His request to Susan was that if ever he died he wished to be buried in a Chinese coffin. The German and English Consulates of Pakhoi wanted Edwin to be buried in their official graveyard. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. W. E. Hipwell of the English Episcopal Church and Mr. Pun, the Chinese evangelist.
The death of Edwin was quite a shock to the workers and Chinese who loved Bro. Wilbur so dearly. Elder Sherman Nagel wrote the Review from Waichow in South China a report of Edwin's passing.
"Like thunder out of a clear sky, comes the sad news of Bor. Wilbur's death…Personally, I feel the loss to our work here most keenly…Bro. Wilbur was a man greatly loved by the Chinese. When I told the workers of his death, at prayer meeting last evening, the tears flowed freely down their cheeks."
Bro. Nagel then added the following lines in memory to Edwin…
Earnest, unselfish, consecrated, true, with nothing but the noblest end in view choosing to toil in distant fields unknown, contented to be poor and little known. Faithful to death! O, man of God, well done! Thy fight is ended, and thy crown is won."
Elder Wilbur was a great reporter and we have 31 articles from his pen recording the progress of the SDA Church during those 12 years of service in China. Susan desired to remain in China and after moving back to Canton when she served as treasurer of the Bethel Girl's School. After three more years of service she was advised by the doctors to return to America. Upon recovering her health in the United States, she at once began work for the Chinese people in Portland, Oregon. Later, at the request of the Mission Board she was transferred to San Francisco, California, where with the help of a Chinese worker a Chinese church as built. Only in heaven will we learned the results of Edwin and Susan's life work.
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