Born: 1858
Died: January 22, 1890, age 32 years
Married: Rev. Arthur H. Locke in 1883
Children: Three daughters: Catherine Louise (Beardsley?), Ruth Norcross and Marguerite Miller Locke
Katherine Louise Miller Locke, known as Kittie, was a daughter of Ensine Miller and Narcissa Miller and a step-daughter of Julia Miller. A native of Saranac Lake, she married the rector of the Church of St. Luke the Beloved Physician in 1883. With her husband, she became a missionary in China. When her health failed, she returned home, where she died and is buried in Pine Ridge Cemetery.
"A History in Progress: The Church of St. Luke, The Beloved Physician" by the Vestry of St. Luke's (Saranac Lake, New York, November 2003)
"From January 1880 when Rev. Arthur Locke came to St. Luke's until the summer of 1889 when Rev. Walter Larom became the mission's priest, little is known of that period except for the work of the Ladies Guild. The Guild was organized by Mrs. A. F. (Calista) O'Brien [wife of Fitch O'Brien] at an afternoon gathering at her home in June, 1880. Those who signed the register that day were Mrs. E. L. Trudeau, President; Mrs. O'Brien, First Vice-President; Mrs. Ensine Miller, Secretary and Treasurer; Mrs. Milo Miller, first director; Mrs. John Strong, third director; Mrs. Reuben Reynolds, Mrs. Ransom Reynolds; Mrs. Henry Annis; The Misses Florence and Kitty Miller and Mamie Evans."
So apparently the Reverend Locke and Miss Kitty Miller met after he arrived at St. Luke's as the mission's priest in January 1880. Kitty and her step-mother attended the organizing meeting of the Ladies Guild in June 1880, and the rest is history!
Obituary.
It seems fitting that the death of Mrs. Arthur H. Locke should receive more than a passing notice. One who knew and loved her from her childhood wishes to render this little tribute to the rare loveliness of her character, in which courage and endurance were blended with sweet feminine graces.
Kittie Miller was in a more than usual degree a blessing and comfort in her home after the death of her father, (the late Ensine Miller). She helped to make life endurable to the widowed mother, sharing her burdens and her care for her brother and sister.
Miss Miller was married in 1883 to Rev. Arthur H. Locke, rector of the Church of St. Luke the Beloved Physician, at Saranac Lake. Mr. Locke had previously received his commission and marching orders for the then fartherest mission station of the Protestant Episcopal church. But although Mrs. Locke grieved to leave her home, she went joyfully with her husband to brave the perils of the ocean voyage and the hardships of life in a foreign land.
After traversing the wide waste of waters that roll between America and the other side of the globe, they landed in Japan, crossing a considerable portion of that country, not by the fast rushing railroad train, but by palanquin — a mode of travel that seemed strange, if not childish, to their unaccustomed eyes.
After reaching Shanghai, they proceeded to Wochang, on the Yangtse Hiang river, six hundred miles into the interior of China. They remained at Wochang one year, then removed to Hankow, on the other side of the river. When they reached Wochang, they found Mrs. Sowerby, the wife of the missionary with whom Mr. Locke was to be associated, the only other foreign lady in the city. From her Mrs. Locke received a cheering welcome and a helping hand. Although a stranger in a strange city, Mrs. Locke had counted the cost, and did not falter in her purpose. Her letters home were filled with descriptions of the country, the people and their customs, and also with the progress they made in the difficult language. After, when they were better qualified for their work, she delighted to write of the good that they were able to do—of the light sown in darkness.
Mrs. Locke's missionary work was mostly confined to her own home, where her class of native women came regularly for instruction, and by whom, as well as by her Chinese household, she was greatly loved. From letters received by her during her last illness, it was easy to see the esteem and affection in which she was held by her fellow missionaries and others who knew her.
Three little girls were born to Mr. and Mrs. Locke in the Celestial Empire, and the young mother sometimes wrote home how devoted the native nurses were to her and her babies.
When at length her failing health compelled them to leave China, she hoped at no distant day to be able to return to the work she loved. Her husband took her first to the south of France, hoping the soft pure air of that favored region would be beneficial to her, but being disappointed in this, he brought her directly to Saranac Lake, N.Y., which was her native place. The best of medical skill, the tenderest care, everything failed to do more than check a little the progress of the disease. For the last few months of her life, Mrs. Locke resided at the Sanitarium with her mother, who is superintendent of the establishment.
Her husband could not believe that she must go, but hoped against hope that she might be spared to him for months or even years, but the end came on the seventh anniversary of her leaving home. she was thirty-one years of age at her death.
Mrs. Locke suffered much, but with patient sweetness, knowing that her days were numbered, yet sustained by the grace of God, and committing her precious ones to His care, she fell asleep in Jesus.
Mr. Locke has taken his children and gone back to his chosen field of labor in China. May the great Physician comfort his heart and prosper his work. M.E.
From the Essex County Republican, March 13, 1890.
