1874 Born Julius Andrew Kempf, in Rochester, New York.
1900 Graduates from Geneva College with degrees of B. А. and B. O.
1903 Completes his Seminary Course.
1904 Appointed and ordained to the Presbyterian Church Mission in China. Goes to serve in Tak Hing, China. Begins his language study.
1907 A school for boys is opened in Tak Hing with Rev Kempf as its first director.
1908 July - While in residence in his holiday home on Cheung Chau, a serious typhoon destroys 3 other missionary homes. His home is marked as House 5 in a Mission photo of 1911. (See 1938 when he is given as the owner of House 16. House 5 seems to be nearer where House 15 was).
1910 He marries Mabel Doig of New York City. Back in Tak Hing, Mabel teaches sewing, crocheting and embroidery in the girls' school, instilling high standards of perfection.
1911-12 During the unrest of the Xinhai Revolution on the mainland, the Kempfs take refuge in their holiday villa.
1918 The Kempfs go home on furlough. Rev J K Robb takes charge of the boys' school.
1926 The Kempfs go home on furlough.
1936 He is honoured with the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Geneva College.
1937 He is further honoured by being elected Moderator of the Reformed Presbyterian Church Synod while on furlough, the second highest post in this denomination.
1938 Mabel Kempf dies while they are in America.
In the 1938 list of European owners of houses on Cheung Chau, 'Mr J A Kempf' is given as the owner of House 16. Two colleagues, Rev Ernest Mitchell and Rev Jesse Mitchell, are also on this list.
1939 He marries Frances McGill of Peebles, Scotland. In Tak Hing she accompanies Dr. Kempf on his evangelistic trips, tramping long miles through heat, cold, mud and other discomforts. She makes many trips up and down the West River for money and supplies for the mission.
1941 When the Japanese invade Hong Kong, the Kempfs are in Tak Hing, but they lose their money and possessions in Hong Kong and their villa on Cheung Chau is stripped of all its wood for fuel by the locals.
1948 They retire to Pennsylvania, he having served 44 years on the mission field.
Source: The Reformed Presbyterian Church Missions
Photos that show this Person
Comments
RPCNA Olive Trees magazine snippets
Clearly an important aspect of holiday time for missionaries on Cheung Chau was time to write letters to their missionary societies and supporters back home and around the world.
I've copied these pieces posted in the European Reservation topic by member 9A2W3716 on the Kempfs. Mabel Kempf seems to have been a prolific letter writer.
1908 Olive Trees:
P.249 Orlena Robb writes:
" Some of the South China missionaries have been very enthusiastic about having this island a summer resort for missionaries. Six houses were erected this last spring and summer. A terrible typhoon visited the place the last week of July, and three of the houses were totally demolished. No lives were lost, although several of the missionaries had some very thrilling experiences. God's preserving care was over them all. Mr. Kempf was there at the time of the storm, and does not care to live his experiences over again, although he was in one of the houses that were spared destruction. All the people who were in the house had to put up a brave fight to keep the windows and doors closed. Notwithstanding the storms that may come, it is a fine, restful place to spend a vacation. Delightful breezes and refreshing sea bathing...."
1911 Olive Trees P.274
“In a personal letter, dated Aug. 9, 1911, Mrs. Julius Kempf has something to say that we will share with her friends:
"As you will notice by the heading of this letter, we are now at Cheung Chau. …
…This is a very rugged, hilly island out in the Pacific. Wherever one looks, north, south, east or west, he sees the beautiful deep blue, which we enjoy so much. The bathing is fine, and it is a real good place to rest. It does us good, too, to see other white faces besides our own, there being a number of other missionaries here— Baptist, Presbyterian and Christian Alliance. …”
1912 Olive Trees: P.24
"In a letter to her friends, dated Nov. 28, 1911, Mrs. Julius A. Kempf tells the story of the missionaries leaving Tak Hing Chau:...
...Please address all mail to Cheung Chau, Hong Kong, South China. "
P.113
“China, Cheung Chau.—A personal letter from Mrs. Kempf, written July 13, 1913, contains items of general interest that our readers will be glad to read:
….. The winds during this season come up very quickly, also very heavy showers, which make one hustle around to get the shutters and doors closed. Very often it only lasts a little while, when the sun will be shining brightly. The houses on the island are all filling up. There are quite a number of missionaries here of different boards. It does us good to meet them…”
1916 Olive Trees P.266
Mrs. Julius Kempf sends an interesting account of the island of Cheung Chau, the summer resort of the missionaries. Mrs. Kempf says: …At the present time there are nine different Mission Boards represented on the island. The fellowship that we have on these hills during the summer weeks does us much good. …"
1917 Olive Trees:
“Mrs. Julius Kempf, writing from Cheung Chau on September 10, says:
...The first visit one makes to Cheung Chau cannot but impress one with the barrenness of the hills as there are no trees; but one becomes used to it and it is really a haven of rest. The sea bathing and swimming adds much to the pleasure of the vacation. The Hong Kong Government have planted young trees along the hillsides and it is needless to say these are being watched by the visitors to the Island, for it would mean so much to have trees shading the roads from the hot sun….”
Apr 1921 Olive Trees:
P.100
“Tak Hing, China. Writing from the island of Cheung Chau on August 10th, Mrs. Julius Kempf tells: "There are about seventy-five missionaries here on the Island, not counting the children. They represent nine different mission boards. There are two Bible classes held on the Island. …”