The Hawaiian gazette., 1888-07-31
THE LATE HON. s. G. WILDER.
Close of a Busy and Useful Life-Some
of the Leading Events in MIR. wilder's
Career-The Funeral.

more than month the solieitude OF the
whole community had conferred around
the sick bed OF one OF its most prominent
and useful figures, yet when the end
came it had the force OF sudden blow.
1t was hard to realize that the busy
man of public and private affairs, who
but few weeks ago occupied his seat as
President OF the Legislature, whose pro-
jected enterprises were so great as to be
u national concern, had passed away.
The sad event Immediately cast palpa-
BILE gloom over the whole town, the out
ward manifestations OF which were the
interchange of mournful reflections
among groups OF citizens; Government,
consular, marine and private flags flying
at half-mast, and the closing OF the
places of business for the latter half OF
the day. The Legislative Assembly
took appropriate action with regard to
the loss of its distinguished member
which is reported elsewhere in the
account OF proceedings.
Samuel G. Wilder has had the career
OF man OF more than ordinary ability
and energy, whose private enterprises
and public services have both, in a
large degree, been a benefit to the
country OF his adoption He was born
at Leominster, Massachusetts, June Goth,
1881. The family in 1874 joined the
great stream of emigration trending to-
ward the setting sun, settling in Illinois
then on the frontier OF westwardly
advancing civilization. With freshly
kindled aspirations for Independent ven
lures after fortune, the subject of this
sketch crossed the almost trackless
mountains and plains to California in
1852. There he was employed in the
business OF the Adams Express Com
pany, having as an associate therein his
future Honolulu fellow-citizen, Mr. R.W.
Lame.
Mr.. Wilder arrived in Honolulu in
the clipper ship White Swallow in the
year 1857 The same year he married
here Miss Elizabeth, daughter OF DR.. g.
P. Judd, the bridal couple making their
honeymoon tour in the White Swallow TO
New York, via Bakers Island, whence
the groom had the ship chartered to
carry a cargo OF guano, and return
hither from New York.
On returning to the Islands Mr..
Wilder went into sugar planting at Ma
kawao, Maui, but this enterprise was
unfortunately terminated in the destruc-
ton by fire oil the plantation. After
ward in company with DR.. Judd he
started q plantation at Kuoloa, Oahu,
but, owing to the soil being none OF the
best, this was abandoned after few
years struggle. He is next heard OF in
the auctioneer business with Z. P. Adams
& Co., and later was engaged in Hon.
J. l. Dowsett's lumber business, being
so only about six months until in April,
1872, he bought Mr.. Dowsett out. This
continued one OF his leading branches Of
business till the last.
In nothing was Mr.. Wilder more iden-
tilted with the life OF this country, prob
ably, than in the remarkable devel-
opment OF inter-island steam navigation.
His career in this regard began with the
agency of the Government steamer XII
lauea, which he managed with thor
ough success during 1912. In 1877 he
had the steamer Likelike built on the
Coast for the Government, and buying
her afterHard that vessel was the first OF
his later feet He next had the Mo
kohl and Lehua built, then bought the
iron steamship Kinau, while on the
stocks at Cramps yard, Philadelphia,
laid down to the order OF Col. Spreckels.
The steamers just named, with the XII
lauea Hou (er new Kilauea), form the
inter-island fotilla accrued from the be-
ginning mentioned After the arrival Of
the Kinau in 1888 Mr.. Wilder formed
the Wilder Steamship Company, that
has since conducted the business under
his Presidency. The corporation has
lately acquired the bark ]. A. King, en-
ploying her in the large lumber bust
ness OF Wilder q Co. between here and
Puget Sound.
Mr. Wilder's political record is not less
marked by his vigorous individuality
than his commercial career As pub
lie man ne had clear and strong convic-
tions and great decision OF character
He took great interest in the election by
the people of a King in 1873, throwing
his active services into the scale in favor
of W. c. Lunalilo, the successful candi-
date. Lunalilo requited his assistance
by appointing Mr.. Wilder to the House
of Mobiles In that position the follow
ing year, when the throne became again
vacant by the death of Lunalilo, Mr..
Wilder espoused the cause of the late
Kings rival, David Kalakaua, who was
elected by the Legislative Assembly.
The present King summoned Mr..
Wilder to his Cabinet in 1878, in which
he was Minister Of the Interior until
August, 1880, when he was retired sud
denly at the inception Of the Moreno
fasce. He had been raised in the mean
time to membershipof the Privy Council
OF State, continuing member OF the
House OF Mobiles, also, until by the
revolutionary Constitution OF 1887 that
body was made elective, when Mr..
Wilder was returned at the head Of the |
poll as one Of the nine Mobiles for the
Island OF 0ahu-this distinction being |
the more marked from the fact that, |
from date antecedent to the revolution |
to one subsequent to the election, he was !
absent in England trying to float his |
great project Of the Hilo and Hamakua |
Railroad. Mr. Wilder's administration |
Of the Department Of the Interior was
by well-defined policy !
Of extensive internal improvements. |
Besides vigorously pushing forward the
OF roads and bridges, with
other public conveniences, Minister
init -