Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo

Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway, 1940

Photograph by user1

7 June 1911 Golden Wedding of James Conway and Agnes McKenzie Fisher

8 June 1921 Diamond Wedding of James Conway and Agnes McKenzie Fisher

Parents:

• Birth*: Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo was born on 18 February 1911 at 28 Albany Terrace, St Mary, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1911 births in the district of St Mary in the burgh of Dundee, ref 163; Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway, born 1911 February Eighteenth 7h 30m am at 28 Albany Terrace Dundee; female, parents Robert McKenzie Fisher Conway dental operator & Elizabeth Miller Conway ms Morrison who married 1906 August 29th Dundee; signed R Mc F Conway father present; registered 1911 February 21st at Dundee signed Thos Meek registrar.¹
• She was the daughter of Robert Fisher McKenzie Conway dentist & baptist minister and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Miller Morrison.
• (Bride) Marriage*: Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo married Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell medical missionary Congo on 21 May 1940 at Belgian Congo, ; By Air to Get Married
  To Do Missionary Work in Congo
  After a four days' trip by air from London to West Central Africa, Dr Ruth Conway, graduate of St Andrews University and daughter of Rev. R. E. and Mrs Conway, Hamilton, has been married to Dr Alfred Russell, Edinburgh.
  Dr Conway belongs to Dundee and began her education at Harris Academy. Her father practised as a dentist in the city for many years before entering the Baptist ministry.
  His brother followed the same change of profession.
  On her mother's side, Dr Conway is a grand-daughter of the late Mr Richard Morrison, a well-known antique dealer in Dundee.
  Dr Russell is in charge of the Tremout Hospital, Ntondo, Belgian Congo, and went there shortly after the outbreak of war.
  It was the delay in travelling by boat prompted Dr Conway to go by air for the wedding. The route lay over the Mountains and the Sahara. She was permitted to take only her trousseau, and had to leave behind the wedding cake specially made by her brother-in-law. Mr. William Dennison, Birmingham.
  Her bridesmaid, Nurse Brown, with whom she took her tropical medicines course at Liverpool, was held up on the sea voyage, and her place at the wedding ceremony
  was taken by the six-year-old daughter of a missionary.
  After a honeymoon at Sona Bata the couple will proceed to their station in the heart of the Congo by canoe. The compound where they will carry on their medical missionary work is two days journey from any other village.
  They met as students in an inter-university conference in London.²
• (Deceased) Death*: Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo died in 1992 at Haymarket, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, , Aged 81, mother's maiden name Morrison.³

• Occupation*: Ruth was Medical Missionary in Belgian Congo.
• (Witness) Event-Misc: She was present when James Conway van driver and Agnes McKenzie Fisher kitchen maid were celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary on 7 June 1911 at Mathers Hotel, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .⁴
  

  

  

  Mathers Hotel Dundee
• (Witness) Event-Misc: Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo was present when James Conway van driver and Agnes McKenzie Fisher kitchen maid were celebrating their Diamond Wedding Anniversary on 8 June 1921 at Masonic Hall, Cupar, Fife, Scotland, .⁴
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
• Married Name: As of circa 1929, her married name was Russel.
• Newspaper Article*: Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo and James Kinnear Adamson MA were mentioned in a newspaper article University of St Andrews
  Results of Preliminary Examinations
  September 1929
  The Following candidates have passed in the subjects appended to their names :-
  Note H-Higher, L-Lower
  Arts, Science, and Medicine
  James Kinnear Adamson-H Mathematics
  ...
  Ruth Fisher Conway - Physical Science on 1 October 1929 at St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, .^5,6
• (Witness) Marriage: Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo witnessed the marriage of Joseph Stanley Andrews Baptist Church minister and Hope Myra Morrison Conway chiropodist on Monday, 21 June 1937 at Baptist Church, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland, ; 1937 marriages in the district of Hamilton in the county of Lanark, ref 162, 1937 on the Twenty-First day of June at Baptist Church Hamilton after banns according to the forms of the Baptist Church, signed Joseph Stanley Andrews Baptist Church Minister bachelor aged 25, 18 Mount Stewart Street Carluke, parents James Smith Andrews Baptist Church minister and Janet Andrews ms Lees; signed Hope Myra Morrison Conway chiropodist spinster aged 22, 13 Bent Road Hamilton, parents Robert Fisher Conway Baptist Church minister and Elizabeth Miller Conway ms Morrison; signed John Conway minister emetrius Free Church of England Bristol, signed Ruth Fisher Conway Chrystal Bank Hamilton, Douglas Cameron Smith 5 Manse Crescent Stirling witnesses; registered 1937 Jane 22nd at Hamilton James Frame registrar
  [and from photograph provided by their grand-daughter].^7,8
  

  Hamilton Baptist Church June 1937
• Newspaper Article*: Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo was mentioned in a newspaper article LADY MEDICAL MISSIONARY
  DR RUTH F. CONWAY, daughter of V Rev. R. F. Conway, Baptist Manse, Hamilton, and granddaughter of the late Mr James Conway, Dundee, leaves shortly for the Belgian Congo as a medical missionary.
  Dr Conway's father was in St Andrews before going to Hamilton in 1930.
  After leaving school in the city he became a dentist, following the profession for many years.
  He later entered the ministry. His brother, Rev. S. M. Conway, also left dentistry for the ministry.
  Dr Conway graduated at St Andrews University, and has recently secured her diploma of tropical medicine at Liverpool. on 1 April 1940 at Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .⁹
• Newspaper Article*: She and Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell medical missionary Congo were mentioned in a newspaper article For The Congo
  Dundee people and members of Rattray Street Baptist Church in particular, will be interested to learn that valedictory services are being held to-morrow for Dr Ruth F. Conway, missionary designate to Tondo, Belgian Congo. The services are taking place in her father's church in Hamilton.
  Dr Conway belongs to a well-known Dundee family. Born in Dundee, she was educated at the Harris Acaderns and later at St George's, Edinburgh. She studied medicine at St Andrews University and took her tropical course at Liverpool.
  Dr Conway's father, Rev. R. F. Conway, practised as a dentist in Dundee for many years before entering the Baptist ministry. His brother followed the same change of profession. On her mother's side Dr Ruth Conway is a grand-daughter of the late Mr Richard Morrison, a well known antique dealer in Dundee.
  While in Dundee the family worshipped at Rattray Street Baptist Church and took a big part in mission work. Dr Conway, in fact, began her religious life in this church and her time is the first registered on the church's cradle roll for young children.
  The valedictory services, which are to be held in the forenoon, afternoon and evening will be conducted by Dr J. Tennent. Dr H. Fraser, and Rev. R, F. and Dr Ruth Conway.
  A farewell social is taking place the following evening when the speakers will be Dr John Macbeath, Rev. James Watson Rev. T. W. Lister and Dr Ruth Conway.
  Dr Conway is leaving early this month. She will join her fiance, Dr Alfred J. B. Russell, also a Baptist missionary, in this work abroad. Their wedding will take place soon after her arrival. on 6 April 1940 at Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .¹⁰
• Married Name: As of 21 May 1940, her married name was Russell.
• Newspaper Article: Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo and Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell medical missionary Congo were mentioned in a newspaper article Doctor's Four Day Flight To Wed
  Dr Ruth Conway, daughter of Rev. R. F. Conway and Mrs Conway, Baptist Church, Hamilton, and formerly of St Andrews, travelled four days by air from London to West Central Africa to be married to Dr Alfred J. B. Russell, who left this country shortly after the outbreak of war to take up an appointment at Tremont Hospital, Ntondo, in the Belgian Congo.
  They met as students at an Inter-Varsity Fellowship house party in London, and both decided to enter the mission field as doctor missionaries.
  Miss Conway was to have travelled by boat, but the war situation caused her to change her plans.
  Her trousseau was all she was able to take with her. Her wedding cake, specially made by her brother-in-law Mr William Dennison, Birmingham, will go by boat along with trunks packed with wedding presents.
  Nurse Brown, who took her tropical medicines course at Liverpool with the bride, and was appointed to another missionary station in Belgian Congo, was to have been bridesmaid, but her arrival by boat was delayed. The six-year-old daughter of Dr Tuttle, Sona Bata, took her place.
  Dr and Mrs Russell will reach their station in a remote part of the Congo after a two days' trip by canoe up the Congo. on 22 May 1940 at Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .^11,12
• Newspaper Article: Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo and Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell medical missionary Congo were mentioned in a newspaper article St Andrews Lady's Wedding Gifts Seized by Germans.
  The fall of Belgium has meant a serious loss of wedding presents and valuable medical supplies to a former St Andrews lady and her husband, Dr A. J. B. Russell, a West of Scotland man. Mrs Russell is a daughter of the Rev. R. F. Conway, a former minister of St Andrews Baptist Church, and is a medical graduate of St Andrews University. She was best known here as Dr Ruth Conway.
  She was married to Dr Russell at Leopoldville, and they are medical missionaries at Ntondo, in the heart of the Belgian Congo. When Dr. Conway travelled by air from this country to the Congo, she left behind her her wedding gifts, numbering several hundreds, her clothes, valuable medical instruments and a large quantity of tinned food difficult to obtain in the jungle where they are stationed.
  Dr Conway was permitted to take only her trousseau with her, and arrangements were made for the cases being sent later by sea, but after the surrender of Belgium, Dr and Mrs Russell were informed by the Shipping Company that all their cases had been confiscated by the Germans at Antwerp, while waiting an opportunity to be sent further on thair journey. The value of the goods runs into several hundred pounds, but despite their loss, Dr and Mrs Russell are to carry on their beneficent work of healing the sick in that remote part of the Congo. on 20 July 1940 at Leopoldville, Belgian Congo, .¹³
• Newspaper Article: Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo and Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell medical missionary Congo were mentioned in a newspaper article Broughty Ferry Baptist Church Women's Own held a welcome social for Drs Alfred and Ruth Russell, missionaries from the Congo, in the church hall, yesterday. They were presented with gifts. Rev. R. F. Conway, father of Ruth Russell, presided on 27 March 1946 at Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .^14,15
• Newspaper Article: Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo and Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell medical missionary Congo were mentioned in a newspaper article Broughty Ferry Baptist Church
  11am - Rev R F Conway - 6.30pm
  Following Week-End - Valedictory Services
  Drs Alfred and Ruth Russell, Congo on 15 March 1947 at Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .¹⁶
• (Spouse) Death: Her spouse Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell medical missionary Congo died on 28 November 1972 at Walsall, Stafordshire, England, ; First name(s)     ALFRED JOSEPH B
  Last name     RUSSELL
  Gender     Male
  Birth day     15
  Birth month     5
  Birth year     1913
  Age     -
  Death quarter     4
  Death year     1972
  District     Walsall
  County     Staffordshire
  Volume     9B
  Page     1878
  Country     England
  Record set     England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007
  Category     Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
  Subcategory     Civil Deaths & Burials
  Collections from     Great Britain, England.^17,18
• Newspaper Article: Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo and Robert Fisher McKenzie Conway dentist & baptist minister were mentioned in a newspaper article CONWAY, REV R F
  Minister of Newburgh Baptist Church 1919-1923.
  Reports of service in the church conducted by his daughter, Dr Ruth Russell. on 31 October 1979.¹⁹

Census & Directory Entries

Member of Household	31 March 1911	They was listed as a member of the household of Robert Fisher McKenzie Conway dentist & baptist minister and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Miller Morrison in the 1911 census at 27 Albany Terrace, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, . Ruth Conway, daur, 1 1/2mo, b Dundee Forfarshire; 6 rooms with windows, 5 people in household; Robert F Conway, head, 27, married, dental anaeshetist, employer, born Dundee, Forfarshire; Elizabeth A Conway, wife, 27, married, 4 years, 2 children born, 2 children living, born Dundee Forfarshire.20
Owner	1920	Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo owned the property at Benlah Cottage, Blebo Craigs, Cupar, Fife, Scotland, , 1920 Valuation Roll, County of Fife, Parish of Kemback, Year 1920-1921 ref 190, house, outhouse and garden, Benlah Cott., Blebo Craigs; proprietrixes Misses Muriel and Ruth Conway; tenant and occupier proprietorixes; annual value of dwelling house of inhabitant occupier, or Feu Duty, or Ground Annual of other subjects £1; yearly rent or value £6 in 1920.21
Owner	1925	She owned the property at Beulah Cottage, Blebo Craigs, Cupar, Fife, Scotland, , 1925 Valuation Roll, County of Fife, Parish of Kemback, Year 1925-1926 ref 192, house, outhouse and garden, Beulah Cott., Blebo Craigs; proprietrixes Misses Muriel and Ruth Conway, 20 East Hermitage Place, Leith; tenant and occupier proprietorixes; annual value of dwelling house of inhabitant occupier, or Feu Duty, or Ground Annual of other subjects £1; yearly rent or value £8 in 1925.22