The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-08-28
HONOREO CITIZEN
Continued from Page One

kCouIlnued Irom rage One.l
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. T. 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 a 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 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 & 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. Anterior, and
the Estate of A. S. Cooke. Mr.. Castle
Taught bookkeeping to 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 G. Dick
son, and, with Robert Levers, became
partner with Joshua G. Dickson. This
was in 1877. Mr.. Dickson died in July,
1880 Within few months they
bought the interest Of the Dickson es-
tate and launched the new firm of
Levers & Cooke, which continued to
carry on the lumber business began so
many years before by C. II. Levers.
This is now the well-known corporate
concern called Levers G. Cooke, Limited,
with which Mr.. Cooke was still con-
neeted as director at the time of his
death, though long. since his active
leadership had ceased, Mr.. F. J. Lowrey
having become manager.
1t was during his active connection
with Levers & Cooke that he assumed
an interest in the general business af-
fairs of the Islands His sagacity and
clear insight were appreciated at once,
and it was not long before his services
were in demand as director and in other
positions of responsibility in many
business ventures. He took hold of
established sugar plantations and did
much in reorganization and other ways
to make them paying concerns. For
many wears he believed that our indus
trial field offered rare opportunities
for the useful investment of capital,
and urged the establishment of another
bank, in which large number of bust
ness men should join. During these
years he became an acknowledged
financial leader.
But his energies were not confined
to the sugar and mercantile industries.
He urged the establishment of other
enterprises and Joined heartily in for
warding the plans to establish the
growth of tea and coffee ON a firm
commercial basis. He was a director
and deeply interested in the Kona COT
fee and Tea Plantation, and, though it
failed, he often said that the expert
ence was not lost; it would result In
good to the Islands eventually.
In 1897 the Bank of Hawaii was
organized and opened its doors, De-
cember 27. He was one of it's charter
members, but as the family was then
residing in California he declined ac-
tive participation in its affairs. But
following the death of Ned Jones and
the temporary retirement of Mr.. P G.
Jones from active business, he finally
accepted, with some reluctance, the
presidency of the bank and assumed
the duties of the position in Septem.
Der, 1898. At that time the bank had
paid-up capital of 100000, blu!
it's business so developed and increas-
ed, despite the establishment of two
other banks and two trust companies
since 1898, that when he laid aside
| active leadership January 1, 1909, ii
had a paid-up capital of 100000 and
undivided profits of nearly 100000.
1t is almost true that he had the
golden touch. Nearly everything he
became interested in and labored foI
| was prosperous. To illustrate the truth
of this, one only has to remember the
| names of some of his enterprises
Eva Waialua, Lihue, Koloa. Hawai-
an Agricultural Kohala, Waikiki. Wa
| hiawa, Brewer & Co., the Bank of Ha.
| waii. At the time of his death he
was president of the Bank of Hawaii
and of Brewer & Co., and had only
recently withdrawn from the same posi-
| ton in Eva, Waialua and the Hawai-
| ian Agricultural Company, and he was
| still an active director in many other
corporations.
Those who have dealt with Mr.
Cooke will testify to his rare business
ability. He was both shrewd and YET
| bold; conservative, yet far sighted
One of his qualities, which has had {
fine influence in Hawaii, was his un
| failing optimism. It was always pres
emit and vigorously exercised wher
most needed, and has done much tt