The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-04-04
EASY DAY IN TIE SENATE death Of DR.. MNBB|N
HAD LIVED IN THE ISLANDS
SINCE 1856.
Saw Service on the p. & o. Steamers
in the Days Before the Suez Canal
Was Constructed.

DR.. Robert McKibbin for nearly half
a century resident OF the hawaiian
ISLANDS, died at MakawaO, Maui, yes
Ieruay afternoon in the 'Ist year OF his
age, of a complication of aver trou-
bles.
DIR. McKibbin was born in Belfast
ireland, ana adopting as ms proI ession
that OF his taLner, graduated as a
Member of the Royal College of Phy
slcians. London. he then became an
assistant surgeon on the PenInsular
and Oriental line of steamers which
then, before the Suez canal was con-
structed, ran from British and other
ports through the Mediterranean to
Alexandria, and then transferred pas
sengers by camel overland to Suez and
thence by steamer down the Red Sea
to Calcutta. DR.. McKibbin's services
were on steamers on the India side.
From Calcutta he frequently made
trips up country, and on one occasion
about a month before he left this ser
vice he dined up-country with a party
of officers everyone of whom was kill
ed shortly afterwards in the Indian
Mutiny.
He came to Honolulu in 1856. whittier
his fathers family had preceded him
two years, and with the exception of
one trip abroad had remained here
ever since.
His father, a physician of eminence
Ill lile lSldnuS, anu Il clIlZen OF great
influence was court physician to Ka-
mehameha ", accepting the position
only on condition that when the King
| Travelled, his son, Dr. Robert McKib-
bin and not himself should accompany
| the sovereign. DIR. McKibbin became
an officer on the Kings staff and the
| friend and adviser until she died, of
Queen Emma. For many years he was
physician at the Queens Hospital.
Soon after coming to the Islands, Dr.
| McKibbin went to Lahaina, where he
| practtced his profession and kept a
drug store, the whaling fleet at that
time making Lahaina it's winter rem
| devious. When the whaling fleet be-
| gan to decline, DIR. McKibbin return
/ ed to Honolulu and became interested
in the drug store managed by his broth
er Alexander who survives him. This
drug store was at first located where
Bishops bank now is. Later il occu-
pied a St. near the present place of
business of Grinbaum & Company, and
/ later where the Judd Building now
stands
He was interested in the first plan
tation at Lahaina. Later he invested
| in kaalaea plantation on windward
Oahu, the lands of which are now de-
voted to rice. He lost largely in this
enterprise. He invested largely and
was one of the originators of Ookala
plantation on Hawaii, and at his death
OWneu a large tract OF land in fee SIM
pie which is used by Ookala plantation.
DR.. McKibbin was one of the oldest
members of the Pacific club and a well
known figure in Honolulu. He was a
successful practitioner through a long
professional career and in his practice
did an immense amount OF unostenta-
tious charitable practice among the
poor.
He never married. OF his family
there survive him Mrs w. l.. Green
widow of the late William Lowthiar
Green, founder of the Honolulu Iron
Works, and for time Minister of For.
eign Affairs under the monarchy; Mrs
S. Fl. Dowsett of Maui widow of The
late S. H. Dowsett Mrs. H. w. Mist
widow of the late Captain Mist r. N.
and Alexander McKibbin of Maui
DR.. McKibbin resided i'm Honolulu
until a few months ago when he bull
a comfortable home at Makawao. Maui
and went to reside there
The funeral will probably take plac,
today at Makawao, though of this n,
definite information has been received