Dr

Miami Union

June 9, 1896

Dr. Marietta Hatfield

A few weeks ago the civilized world was shocked by the news that on May 8th, five missionaries of the U. B. Church stationed at Rotafunk, Sierra Leone, on the western coast of Africa had been murdered by the natives to whose welfare they were devoting their lives. One of these martyrs was Miss Marietta Hatfield, a former resident of Georgetown in this county, a lady who had hosts of friends in Union township and the adjacent territory in Darke and Montgomery counties. The cause of the outbreak was the imposition of a tax of five shillings ($1.25) upon every hut of one room and of double that amount on large ones. This tax was laid by the British authorities and as the ignorant natives had never been called upon to pay anything to the government, they revolted and the missionaries, who had been among them for the past fifty years, were erroneously supposed to be responsible for the levy. The party which Miss Hatfield was accompanying at the time of her death was retreating to Freetown the capital, when set upon by the rioters. The party made no resistance and the members were thrown upon a barbwire fence and their throats cut.

Eight years ago Miss Hatfield, who had previously been a teacher in the Georgetown schools, decided to become a missionary and went to Cincinnati to take a medical course. Of an independent and indomitable disposition she not only crowded the three years course into two but also managed to support herself and pay her necessary expenses during this period. The photograph from which the above cut was made, was taken at this time and is published in the UNION through the courtesy of Mrs. Bettie Ditmer, of Georgetown, one of Miss Hatfield's early schoolmates and warmest friends.

Having completed her medical course and received her degree as a doctor of medicine, Miss Hatfield went to Africa where she stayed four years returning at the expiration of that period for a two year's vacation made necessary by the state of her health. Last October she returned to her work with the highest hopes for her future success which were on the point of realization at the time of her death. Buildings for a new mission station sixty miles from Rotafunk were partially completed. Dr. Hatfield was to have been placed in charge, but the results of the revolt have now made that place an impossibility.

From early childhood, Miss Hatfield showed remarkable traits of character. At fifteen she opened a subscription school and from that time until her death was the principal support of her widowed mother. Conscientious, fearless, tireless, always a regular attendant at both the Sunday school and church services of the United Brethren Congregation at Georgetown and foremost in the work of the Ladies Missionary Society she has left a memory which will be fondly cherished by all her friends and associates.

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