James Dowling Atchison was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, May 31, 1821, and died at his home near Kirwin, Kansas, Sabbath morning May 22, 1898, aged 76 years, 11 months and 22 days.

When but a young man he united with the United Presbyterian Church and lived a consistent Christian life, always holding to the faith and belief of that particular church. Always doing unto others as he wished to be done by, he died as he lived, trusting in God and asking his children to meet him in heaven. He was conscious to the last, was willing and prepared to go, saying God was now his only physician. He was a kind and affectionate husband and father, a good neighbor, well beloved and respected by all.

He was twice married, and leaves a kind and faithful wife and eleven children—four by his first wife—Mary Gray, J. C., J. W. and W. E. Atchison; by his second wife seven—Emma, Albert N., Jennie Thompson, Maggie, Harvey, Ira, and Viola who are left to mourn. All were present at his bedside when he answered the last but all certain call from labor and disappointment to rest and peace, except one son, John Wallace, who lives near Glen Elder. He has been a patient and constant sufferer from dropsy of the heart for about six months.

Funeral services were conducted at the residence on May 23 by Rev. H. W. Conry and the remains laid to rest in the Kirwin cemetery, attended by a large concourse of relatives and friends.

The following named persons from other towns attended the funeral:
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Nipps of Phillipsburg; A. B. Raymond and wife, Editor Young and sister, Mattie, W. E. Atchison and Mrs. H. M. Thompson, all of Stockton; Wallace Atchison of Glen Elder. The last named failed, on account of bad roads, to reach his father in time to see him alive, but he was a great comforter to the grief-stricken family in the hour of their affliction.


James and Harriett Atchison came to Phillips County from Illinois in 1879. They homesteaded land south and west of Kirwin, directly south of where the wildlife office now stands. They had 13 children.