Dr John Laidlaw ATKINSON MA DD of Kobe Japan. [15528]

  General Notes:

Atkinson, John Laidlaw, d.d., was born in Yorkshire, England, Aug. 12, 1842. Was educated at Retford, England, and Chicago Theological Seminary, class of 1869. Ordained at Iowa Falls, la., Sept. 1, 1869. Was engaged in home missionary work in Iowa until 1873, when he went to Kobe, Japan, under the A. B. C. F. M., where he remained the rest of his life. Married, July 29, 1869, at Dubuque, la., Carrie Electa Guernsey, daughter of Rev. Jesse Guernsey, who died in 1906. Six children, living. Died Feb. 17, 1908, at Kobe, of heart trouble, aged 65 years, 6 months, 5 days.
Ref: The 1909 Congregational year-book" - Internet Archive

Extracts from a passport application by John Laidlaw Atkinson dated 2 July 1890.
I John Laidlaw Atkinson a naturalised and loyal citizen of the United States do hereby apply to the Legation of the United States at Tokyo Japan for a passport for myself and wife and my 5 minor children as follows: Carrie E Atkinson born at Charleston Massachusetts on the 4th day of September 1848 and Winifred age 15 Isle age 13 Charles age 12 Vesta age 10 and James age 8 all born in Kobe Japan.
In support of the above application I do solemnly swear that I was born at Derby Wiske England on the 12th day of August 1842; that I emigrated to the United States sailing on board the ship New World from Liverpool June 1853 arriving in New York August 1853 that I resided 5 years uninterruptedly in the United States from 1863 to 1873 at Cedar Falls in Iowa and that I was naturalised as a citizen of the United States before the Circuit Court of Iowa at Dubuque on the 23rd day of April 1873 as shown by the accompanying certificate of naturalisation; that I am the bearer of Passport No 34158 issued by H Hamilton Fish on the 22nd day of July 1873 which is returned herewith; that I am the identical person referred to in the said certificate and passport; that I am domiciled in the United States, my permanent residence therein was at Earlville in the State of Iowa where I followed the occupation of Clergyman that I last left the United States June 1823 on board the City of Chester arriving in Kobe the 3rd day of January 1884 that I have resided in Kobe Japan since the 3rd day of January 1884; that I'm now temporarily residing at Kobe; and that I intend to return to the United States eventually with a purpose of residing and performing the duties of citizenship there.
I desire the passport for the purpose of recreation.
Oath of Allegiance.
Further, I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; So Help Me God.
J.L. Atkinson
Fee for Passport $1
Ref: Ancestry.

The Rev John Laidlaw Atkinson D.D. of Kobe Japan was awarded an Honary Degree (Not Alumni) by Ripon College Wisconsin, in 1896.

Abstract of The Protestant Evangelism of Shikoku Island by J.L.Atkinson
Dr.John Laidlaw Atkinson, who one of American missionaries sent by American Board Commissioners for Foreign Mission early in Meiji era and belonged to Kobe Mission, made many impoertant contributions for Japan Mission evangelizing enthusiastically throughout western part of Japan (Chugoku district of Honshu Island, Shikoku Island and Kyushu Island). In this paper, using Missionary Herald (Journal of A.B.C.FM.) I tried to pursue Dr.Atkinson'S foot-step of Shikoku Island and Kyushu Island ). In this paper, Using Missionary Herald (Journal of A.B.C.F.M.) I tried to pursue Dr. Atkinson's foot-steps of Shikoku Island evangelism as a process to write his biography. Dr.J.L Atkinson is a very important missionary for us, because he is closely relatied to the origin of Matsuyama Shinonome Gakuen.
Contents : Introduction; His first evangelism of Shikoku Is; His third evangelism of Shikoku Is; Imabari Church and Dr. Atkinson; Matsuyama Church and Dr.Atkinson; Komatsu Church and Dr.Atkinson; Tosa Church and Dr.Atkinson; Takamatsu Marugame Church and Dr.Atkinson; Dr.Atkinson's career. Appendix : Chronology of Dr.Atkinson evangelism of Shikoku Is.
Ref: The Protestant Evangelism of Shikoku Island by J.L.Atkinson http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110007355258/en

Extract from the "Japan Chronicle" February 18 Pg. 8.
We regret to have to record the death of the Rev John Laidlaw Atkinson, DD, a gentleman who has been associated with the port of Kobe from its earliest days and who by his genteel personality was esteemed and highly respected by all, of whatever shade of thought, who knew him. The late Dr Atkinson was born in Danby, Yorkshire, on August 12, 1842, and, on the death of his father, migrated where he was but 12 years (actually at least 18) old to Iowa, USA., where an uncle of his resided. He subsequently became naturalised American and studied for the ministry, receiving his degree at the Chicago Theological Seminary. During the American Civil War he was enrolled in the Iowa State Guards, but did not see active service. He was married in Dubuque, Iowa, on July, 29th, 1869, and after four years of pastoral work in the State of Iowa proceeded to Japan, arriving in Kobe on Sunday morning, September 28, 1873. The deceased came to Japan under the auspices of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and the steamer which brought Dr and Mrs Atkinson out was the old side-wheeler "Japan", the trip from San Francisco occupying 36 days.
Taking up his work in Kobe he resided in the house which has been his home ever since, extending it from time to time as his family increased. In those days his house was, strictly speaking, not in Kobe; it was a couple of miles or so from the landing place, and at the time of its erection was surrounded by rice fields. Mr Atkinson was a tireless worker for the Mission Society with which he was connected; he was the founder and organiser of the Kobe Congregational Church (Shimoyamate-dori) regarded as the largest Japanese Christian church in Japan, the Tamon-dori, and the Hyogo churches, and was the first to start mission work in Okayama, Matsuyama, Tottori, Imabari, and elsewhere, often in the early days running no little risk in his journeys. On one occasion he was preaching in a country place in the Okayama district when the people refuse to hear his remarks, making all manner of threats, and he had to return to his hotel under a guard of police, who were compelled to give protection to the place for the whole of the night.
Several years afterwards a man called upon him in Kobe and confessed that it had fallen to his lot to take the life of Dr Atkinson, but a certain reference in his remarks had deterred him from doing the deed. The late Dr Atkinson has been home on furlough three times during his thirty five years residence in Japan and was on the point of taking a holiday when he fell ill, his passage, in fact having been booked by the "Bingo Maru" which sailed hence on the 8th instant. He took a great interest in Buddhism and his book, "Prince Siddhartha, the Japanese Buddha," was published in the nineties. His contributions to the Asiatic Society have been read with much interest, and we understand his third paper on "The Ten Buddhist Virtues" is now in the hands of the society for an early reading.
Ref: C. Ihori - 2015.

Missionary and author. Rev. Dr. Atkinson served at several churches on the island of Shikoku before settling in Kobe. His best known work as an author is "Prince Siddartha: The Japanese Buddha" (1898).
Ref: Findagrave.com

  Research Notes:

John Leadley (sic) Atkinson
Gender:Male
Baptism Date:11 Sep 1842
Baptism Place:Parish Church of Danby-Wiske, York, England
Father:William Atkinson a weaver
Mother:Mary
FHL Film Number:468803
Reference ID:yrs 1763-1782 p.

The most logical explanation for John's declaration of dates of entry to the USA are that he came first in 1853 after the death of his father, returned to Yorkshire before the 1861 census returning to the USA in 1863

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 30 Mar 1851, Danby Wiske YKS. John is recorded as a son aged 8 a scholar born Danby Wiske YKS

2. Census: England, 8 Apr 1861, Danby Wiske YKS. John Laider (sic) is recorded as a son unmarried aged 18 a footman born Danby Wiske YKS

John married Caroline Electa "Carrie" GUERNSEY [23256] [MRIN: 5514], daughter of Rev Jessie E GUERNSEY [23257] and Sarah Lincoln WHITTLESEY [23272], on 29 Jul 1869 in Dubuque Iowa USA. (Caroline Electa "Carrie" GUERNSEY [23256] was born on 4 Sep 1848 in Charlestown Mass USA and died on 18 Apr 1906 in Kobe Japan.)