Frances Airth & James Walker

Frances Minverva Wright (Fanny) AIRTH
was born Feb 13 1866 in Renfrew County Ontario
to James AIRTH & Ophelia Angelina WRIGHT.

James Alexander Kerr WALKER
was born Apr 6 1862 in Glasgow Lanark Scotland
to Rev William Stuart WALKER & Elizabeth PATON.

Fanny & James were missionaries to India from 1889 to early 1900s.

Their 3 children were born in India:
1) Henry James born Feb 1st 1892 in Egmore Madras
2) George Stuart born Aug 15 1893 in Peddapuram
3) Ruth Margaret born Sep 14 1894 in Cocanada



His obituary appears in 'The CANADIAN BAPTIST Paper'

Rev James Alexander Kerr WALKER : A Life in Review

1862
James' family emigrates to Canada from Scotland,
settling in SW Ontario, Woodstock or Galt.

1883 to 1885
James at divinity school in Woodstock.
He comes to Renfrew and becomes active in the young Baptist Church there.
Ordained in 1884, then served as pastor until leaving to resume studies .

1885 to 1888
completing studies at Woodstock and at a theological seminary in Chicago.

1888 to 1889
Pastor at Kingston.
Volunteers his services to Canadian Baptist Foreign Mission Board
to harvest souls in India.

1889 to 1898
missionary work is based in Peddapuram, Cocanada, Godavari District.
Fanny learned the local language, TELEGU,
then taught a boys' school, ran the Sunday School, supervised the 'bible women,'
ran a weekly prayer meeting and took charge of the compound
when James was absent on his extended preaching tours.

1898
they return to Canada on furlough, with 3 children:
Harry, George, and Ruth.

1899
James returns to India alone.
Fanny to remain behind with the children for a year or so, until George recovers.

1899 to 1902
Famine is rampant in Cocanada.
James is badly stricken with malaria.
On doctor's orders, he goes to Switzerland to recover.
Fanny meets him there.
Because James is still ill after 2 months, he and Fanny return to Canada.
James takes Pastorate in Burgessville.

1903 to 1907
In Burgessville, James, fully recuperated,
again offers services to Foreign Mission Board.
Accepted.
Fanny and the children move to Renfrew.

1908 to 1914
James is at Cocanada and Yerramichilli stations.
He engages in much street-preaching and travelling around.

1914 to 1915
James in Canada on furlough.
He returns to India late 1915.

1916 to 1919
As 'Missionary Evangelist,' James wears himself out.
He resigns to return to Cocanada

October 30 1919
James dies of malaria at Bangalore, where he had entered a sanitarium.
He is buried in India.

Fanny lived for many more years, able to enjoy all her grandchildren.

She died Jan 21st 1950 in Ottawa Ontario.
She is buried in Thomsonhill Cemetery in Renfrew Ontario,
where most of her siblings and her grandparents are buried.

Many thanks to Fanny's descendant Jim for much of this info :-)