John Catto ABELL [1424]

  General Notes:

John Catto Abell
His obituary informs that he resided at Shanghai for several years before he came to Kobe in 1868, establishing himself as a bill and bullion broker although he is only listed in 1871 for the first time according to the Japan Directory in partnership with Otto Herhausen, operating under <meiji_firms_a.html>Abell & Herhausen <meiji_firms_a.html>, Brokers and Public Accountants, Hy # 35. This business partnership lasted only until 1873, Otto Herhausen moved to Osaka and the connection resolved itself.
In 1873 <meiji_firms_a.html>J. C. Abell <meiji_firms_a.html>is listed as independent Merchant in Kobe # 35, in the following years he acted especially as Bill and Bullion Broker.
About in 1879, after his marriage, he moved to Kobe # 29 and in 1884 to Kobe # 27 establishing there his office and residence.
From 1886 on he enlarged his scope of business by insurances, he became agent for E. B. Watson (Agent for the Chinese Insurance Co.) and from 1888 additionally sole agent for the Union Assurance Society, Fire and Life.
This enlargement of business required a partnership and from 1890 on James Ralston became his partner operating under <meiji_firms_a.html>Abell & Ralston <meiji_firms_a.html>, Bill and Bullion Brokers, Insurance Agency and from 1891 additionally Agents for J. P. Bisset (later Bisset & Ure), Stock and Share Brokers.
The brokerage required much power and especially time and for this reason the insurance agency was abondaned in 1893.
About in 1900, on the death of J. Ralston, J. C. Abell again took over the business, under his own name it has since been conducted until about 1902 when he could not realize it any more for health reasons.
The last period he had been confined to his bed upwards of five months, but for some weeks his medical attendants held out no hope of recovery, and his death in 1903 was therefore not unexpected. He was buried in the Old Kobe Cemetery at Ono.
He was a gentleman of high business integrity, respected by all with whom he was in contact, both foreigners and Japanese alike.
His name is always connected with the Hyogo and Osaka Chamber of Commerce, which was formed on September 11th, 1868. From the outset the Chamber proved a very efficient body, in large part owing to the untiring exertions of H. St. J. Browne, the first secretary and Mr. J. C. Abell, his successor.
From 1871 until 1888 John Catto Abell occupied the position of secretary continuously and he was honoured for his successful and unfailing work.
In its early days the Chamber had to deal with very many difficult questions affecting commerce, and especially with the obstructions thrown in the way of the foreign traders by the Japanese authorities by giving Japanese preferential treatment. By carefully watching over the interests of foreign merchants and defending them from injustice, also the secretary rendered valuable service to the community.
He was one of the oldest members of the K.R. & A.C. (Kobe Regatta & Athletic Club) and for some years he was also a member of the Trustee of the Club, in 1897 - 1899 he was even elected its president but had to resign due to his deteriorating health.

On April 19, 1879 he married Sarah Elizabeth Dare, sister of <meiji_portraits_d.html>Alfred Henry Dare <meiji_portraits_d.html> (see also <meiji_portraits_d.html>DARE-Family <meiji_portraits_d.html>), in the British Legation in Tokyo. Sarah Elizabeth was born on April 17, 1847 in Bombay.
They had two children: son <meiji_portraits_a.html>John Julius Dare Abell <meiji_portraits_a.html> (*04.02.1880 in Japan) who married Vesta Atkinson (* 17.06.1880 in Kobe), daughter of John Laidlaw Atkinson, on April 17, 1909 in Kobe
and daughter Blanche Mary Abell, born about 1885 in Japan who had, however, never been recorded in the Japan Directories.
In 1904 Sarah Elizabeth Dare Abell is listed in her residence at Kobe # 27.
Ref: http://www.meiji-portraits.de/meiji_portraits_a.html#20090527093143250_1_2_1_22_1

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 5 Apr 1891, Bromley Kent by Bow. John Catto is recorded as a lodger married aged 50 and exchange and bullion broker born Aberdeen SCT

John married Sarah Elizabeth DARE [1423] [MRIN: 450], daughter of George Julius DARE R.N. [1392] and Sarah Shrieve PARKE [1412], on 19 Apr 1879 in Tokyo Japan. (Sarah Elizabeth DARE [1423] was born on 17 Apr 1847 in Bombay India..)