The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-10-23
TO BE CELEBRATED BY HOUSE
OF G.. BREWER a. co.
A Long Career Of Successful Mercan-
tile Operations Comprehending Half
the World in Its Scope.

The officers Of C.. Brewer & Company
viii be the scene OF a very unusual
celebration Wednesday afternoon. Oc-
tober 30. This old estal ished concern
Will on thar day celebrate the seventy
nth anniversary OF its founding.
Invitations have been issued for this
event and no doubt these viii be very
generally accepted. 1T is not often in
any part of the world that a mercan-
tile house is able to celebrate the com
pletiOn Of three-quarters of century
Of continuous activity. This is espe-
cially true I'm 50 new a part of the
world as this. The house Of C.. Brewer
a. Company is almost completely con-
tempOTaneous with the history Of civil
lization i'm Hawaii.
The invitations are very modest in
their wording. They read: You are
invited TO attend the seventy-hfth an
niversary of the founding Of c. Brewer
a. Company. at its offices, Queen street,
on Wednesday afternoon, October thir-
tieth. at two o'clock, TO hear a histori-
cal paper prepared by Mr.. =. G. Jones"
This paper, ii Is understood. is the
result Of much painstaklng research
and viii be most interesting and yalu-
able.
The House Of c. Brewer & co. is un-
doubtedly the oldest business enter
y
well an officer OF the brig Bordeaux
Packet on December 8. 1917 agreed with
Alexander Blanchard the master to re
main in Honolulu where they were
after the sale Of the vessel, and dis
pose of the balance of her cargo and
invest and forward the proceeds. After
remaining here for some time and do
ing business I'm connection with a num-
Der Of men. In 1926, ne established a
1. a
premises that were occupied for over
forty years by the firm that grew from
the business he began. In the fall Of
1880 Hunnewell left for his home i'm
Massachusetts. leaving the Honolulu
concern i'm charge Of Henry A. Pierce,
who had been a clerk under him.
Business at first was small and was
done by barter. Sandal wood was the
chief native product and was almost
the currency Of the country. But Ho-
nOlulu's progress began at I'm the Twen-
ties. and the business soon began to en-
large.
After Hunnewells return in Novem-
Der. 1890 he turned the business he had
established over to Pierce The latter
formed a partnership with Thomas
Hinckley. The latter, however, was
compelled by i'll health 10 retire and
leave Hawaii, and he died before he
reached home.
Captain Charles Brewer was the next
member of the hrm. He had made a
number Of visits to Honolulu and had
settled In the town. In 1885 he went
I'm with Pierce. and for eight years the
firm of Pierce and Brewer was among
HonOlulu's business houses. Pierce re-
tired I'm 1843 and the house then for
the first time took the name Of g.
Brewer and Company. captain Brewer
q 4. q ATsaHHs Hla.NN an a
Johnson, a partnership being formed,
which expired in 1917. when the bust
ness was taken over by firm known
as S. IF. williams 4, co. The members
were Stephen II. Williams, James +. B.
Marshall, and William Baker, Jr., and
later i. B. Snow as well. In 1850 Snow
took charge Of the business and in 1857
he left for New York and b. w. Field
was i'm charge.
Charles Brewer. Jr., a nephew of
Captain Charles Brewer. was the real
successor to the business. In Septem-
ber, 1859 Sherman Peck ioined him and
the firm name again became G. Brewer
q Co, a name that has continued up to
today. Brewer retired in the summer
Of 1861. and I'm October Of the same year
Charles II. Lunt joined Mr. Peck. They
were joined by II. a. =. Carter, in the
summer Of 62, Lunt retiring in May
'63
The members Of the firm so far men
toned are all dead now. but the firm
has grown steadily and has retained
the name Of Brewer. James Hume
well, the founder. died in Charlestown'
Mass, May 2. 1869, at the age of IS. He
came from one Of the Oldest Of Ameri-
can families, the Hunnewels having
lived on Massachusetts, ground for over
two centuries.
James HunneWell was well known
and highly respected in the Islands and
was regarded as one OF the best friends
the natives had among the whites.
After his death King Kamehameha
Fifth said Of him to his son: THE
name OF the late James Hunnewell was
early associated with the commercial
interests Of these islands, and his long
and useful life was marked by such
constant goodwill TO my kingdom, that
! shall always cherish his memory with
sincere regard. Although he was only
I removed I'm the fulness Of time, deep
ly sympathize with you In the loss Of
such a parent but ! congratulate you
in the inheritance OF such an honored
name"