The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-05-19

A Well Known Hi1O Resi-
dent Died on May IS.
Came Around the Horn in 1S49
Prominent in Church and Edu-
catiOnal Work.

DR.. Charles H Wetmore, one of the
early missionaries to arrive in the Ha-
waiian Islands, died in Hilo, Hawaii,
on Friday, May 18th, after nearly half
a century Of faithful work. He was
well known throughout the Islands
and was prominent in church and edu-
cational work during his whole life.
The Tribune says of him, in part:
DR.. Charles H. Wetmore was born in
Lebanon, New London County, Conn,
February 8, 1920, and is of long lived
as well as noted ancestry. His own
father reached the age of 81 years, and
several of his ancestors on both sides
are recorded to have lived to ages vary
ing from II to So years.
Dr. Wetmore with his wife, whose
maiden name was Lucy S. Taylor, (of
Pittsfeld Mass.), arrived in Honolulu
the 18th of March, 1849, having made
the voyage around Cape Horn in LAG
days Dr. Wetmore came under the
auspices of the American Board. as
missionary physician and he was Iocat-
ed at HfIo where he arrived on the 18th
of May, 1849 He Iabored here for six
years under the A. B. C. F. NJ. at a
salary so small that it required the
strickest economy in their mode of
living.
In 1855 DR.. Wetmore severed his
connection with the American Board.
In 1863 the board relinquished their
work and turned over the evangelical
ton of the Islands to the Island
churches. DR.. Wetmore was one of
those who opposed this plan.
Upon the withdrawal of the Amer
lean Board, DR.. Wetmore continued in
practice upon his own account, and had
charge of the American Hospital,
where sailors from American ships
and ether Americans in need were
cared for. This hospital was the build
ing where the Rev. Mr.. Hill now lives.
After the hospital was given up, the
building was turned over to the church
and became the parsonage. 1t was Oc-
coupled by Mr.. Thompson, the first
pastor of the Foreign Church. With
this church DR.. WetmOre was closely
identified from the first and gave it
great financial assistance and much
personal work. He was made first
Sunday school superintendent, a posi-
ton which he held until the day of his
death. Dr. Wetmore was, until his
death, trustee Of the Lyman school,
now the Hilo Boarding School for boys.
DR.. Wetmore's family consisted Of
one son and three daughters. The son
died in early youth. The three daugh-
tiers survive him. They are Mrs. Lewis
of Oakland, Cal, Mrs. Henry Deacon of
PepeekeO, and DR.. Frances WetmOre,
who received a thorough education
abroad, and has been for several years
her fathers assistant in medical work.
and has lately taken charge of it. Mrs.
Wetmore died in 1888.
In the early days of sugar DR.. Wet
more was engaged with D. H. Hitch
cock and E. G. Hitchcock in the estab-
lishment and management of PapaikOu
plantation, which was turned over to
the present owners in 1888. DR.. Wet
more was also interested in Kohala
and other sugar plantations.
In 1868, during the absence of Cap
tain Worth, the American Consul at
FIiIo, DR.. Wetmore was appointed act
ing Vice-Consul, and occupied as Con-
sulate the Office now owned by Consul
Furneaux on Front street.
There are now but three white men
in Hilo who were here during the
| early years of DR.. Wetmore's residence
in this town. These are G. E. Rich
ardson, D. H. Hitchcock and W. Rose