Guide to the Condit Family Papers

Ira M. Condit was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania in January of 1833. He graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in 1855. In 1856, he enrolled at the Western Theological Seminary in Allegheny, Pa. and graduated in 1859. He received his D.D. from Parke College in Missouri.

On 6 March 1860, Ira married a teacher from Ohio named Laura Carpenter. She was born in Danville, Vt. but spent most of her life in Ohio. Mrs. Condit was educated at the Willoughby Female Seminary and Lake Erie College previous to her marriage.

Rev. and Mrs. Condit were appointed missionaries in 1859 by the Board of Foreign Missions (PCUSA). They sailed to Canton, China in 1860, shortly after their marriage. The couple lived in China for five years. They were compelled to return in 1865 due to Mrs. Condit's illness.

On their return to the U.S. Condit and his wife worked in a mission to the Chinese in California. They returned to Ohio before long on account of Mrs. Condit's lingering illness. Mrs. Condit died in Dec. 1866.

Mr. Condit returned to his missionary work in 1870, working with Chinese immigrants in the San Francsisco area. He married Samantha Knox in 1872. Mr. Condit worked as a Superintendent of the Chinese work in Alameda and Oakland until his death in 1915.