The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-02-06
He BORE A NOTABLE NAME
PETER GENET OF MAUI WAS OF
FAMOUS STOCK.
Governor Clinton of New York was His
Grand Father-Genet was Mourned
For Two Generations as Dead.

In the death of Peter Genet at Malu-
lani hospital, Waikiki, Maui, January
goth, a most interesting character pass
ed from the scene of this worlds afi
fairs. Genet was reputed to be 103
years of age at the time of his death
but the fact of his having seen three
centuries is not the most curious part
of his life. He was a scion of a most
distinguished family, an historic family
in fact while his own career is in itself
food for a novel of romance.
Few people of Central Maui where
Genet had made his home fully appre-
ciated the real character of the man.
Still less did they realize what it would
have meant to the student of American
affairs to have learned that Genet was
the grandson of the famous Governor
Clinton of New York. Genets father
was moreover a famous man, for he
had been the first envoy to America
from the first Republic of France and,
but for the influence of the immortal
Washington would in all probability
have plunged the little American Re-
public into a fatal war in behalf of
France.
The father of Peter Genet was the
famous Citizen" Edmund Charles &C.
net who came to America as the repre-
sentative of the French republic at the
close of the eighteenth century. 1t was
Terror. The fearful guillotine when it
descended upon the necks of the most
eminent of Frances people severed
alike the ties of humanity and civili-
cation which bound France to the rest
of Europe. With one accord other ma
tons arose to avenge the deeds of
blood. Deserted by practically every
other ally, France turned to America
for aid. Citizen Genet was sent to
enlist the sympathy of this country. He
nearly succeeded but the wisdom of
Washington prevailed and America
stood aloof.
The failure of his mission and the
fear of death at home led Genet to re-
main in the new country. He married
a daughter of Governor Clinton of New
York. A number of children were born
and Peter Genet was one of the eldest
At the age of years the boy ran away
from his home on the Hudson and went
to sea- His family sought to obtain
trace of him but without success. Sixty
years elapsed before the missing son
communicated with his people who had
long before given him up as dead. The
wanderingS of the boy brought him to
the South Seas. For some years he
dwelt among the Maoris and i'm the
fifties he dTifted to the Hawaiian ISL
ands which were destined to become his
permanent home.
During the seventies when the agl-
tation started against the Tweed ring
in New York Peter Genet could never
be heard to join in the universal con-
demnation of the gang of political
thieves. In fact he seldom lost the OPP
portunity of casting doubt upon the
veracity of the newspaper reports con-
corning the ring" He even defended
the men under Boss" Tweed's rule.
When he told some of his intimate
friends the cause for his espousal of
Tweed's people Genet's conduct was not
regarded as surprising. Henry Genet
one of the ring leaders, and a man
whose offerings from New York had
amounted to $4O0O,O00 was a brother of
Peter Genet.
But the Maui Genet had not followed
the entire career of the brother for it
was only after years of residence here
that he wrote home to his family. Mr..
Charles Wilcox from whom was learn
ed much of the dead mans history re-
members distinctly the stir which the
news of the missing Genet created in
New York at the time that relations
We're restored with the family.
Henry Genet was arrested and SEN
fenced to a long Imprisonment after the
city had recovered 81 900 900 from him.
subsequently he was pardoned. Peter
Genet visited New York state in 1882
but soon returned to his Hawaiian
home where he remained until his
death.