The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-08-31
THE LIFE OF MIR. COOKE.

Charles Montague Cooke was born in
Honolulu, May l6, lS49. He was son
of Amos Starr Cooke and Juliette Mon.
tague Cooke, for many years mission.
aries of the American Board in Ha-
wall The family home for more than
a generation was at the Mission in Ka-
waiahao. They occupied the house
which stands today as the oldest wood.
en- building in the islands.
Charles was the second of four sons,
Joseph, the eldest, and Clarence, the
youngest, having died many years ago.
The only surviving brother is
Amos Francis Cooke. The sisters
were Martha f., widow of the
late S. I. Alexander; Juliette NJ,
widow of the late j. b. Atherton, and
Mary A. widow of the late Charles
Turner, now widely know as Annis Mon
tague. Honolulu was quiet corner of
the earth in the ffties and sixties, and,
under the care and direction of such
parents, the development of any other
than a sterling character was hardly
possible. The Cookies were educators,
and in the family the basis of a sound
education was laid, followed by years
of telling work at Punahou, and his
schooling was completed by year or
two at the Massachusetts Agricultural
College.
Returning to the Islands in 1871. Mr..
Cooke entered the employ of the old
firm of Castle q Cooke which was
founded by his father and Mr.. S. N.
Castle. At the time of his entry into
business the firm was made up of S. n.
Castle, j. p. Cooke, j. b. Atherton, and
the Estate of A. S. Cooke. Mr.. Castle
taught bookkeeping to a good many of
the young men of those days, and all of
the business instruction and training
Charles had was derived from this
teaching. In later years he was re-
| cognized as one of the finest account
| ants in the country. At first, assistant,
he soon became head bOokkeeper and
cashier in the growing and important
| business of that concern. But, partly
| because he felt that others of the
| young men of the families had claims
on the firm and in part because he was
| stirred to strike out for himself. he
accepted an offer from Levers 4 Dick.
son, and, with Robert Levers, became
n partner with Joshua G. Dickson. This
was in 1877. Mr.. Dickson died in July
1850. Within few months they
bought the interest of the Dickson es
tate and launched the new firm OF
Levers & Cooke, which continued tC
carry on the lumber business began sC
many years before by @. IL. Levers
This is now the well.known corporat,
concern called Levers & Cooke, Limited
with which Mr.. Cooke was still con
nectcd ns director at the time of hi
death, though long since his activ,
leadership had ceased, Mr., T. j. Lowre.
having become manager.
il WIS during his active connection
with Levers 4 Cooke that he assume
an Interest In the general business al
fairs Of the Islands, His sngacty an
clear Insight were appreciated nt once
and n was not long before his service
were M demand ns director and iu othe
positions Of responsibility In man
b business ventures, lln took hold "a
rslHhllshrd sugar plantations aud di
70 much In reorganization and other Way
T, 90 mako thum paying concerns, "a
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