Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-01-25
c. R. BISHOP is
90 TODAY; many
FELICITATE him
Messages From Hawaii by Tel
egraph and Wireless Go to
,PhiIanthropist in California
BISHOP Z HID TO KUMf

Charles X. Bishop, one Oh IHS HiSH
whose history is part Of the history
OF Hawaii for the last half century, Is
90 years of age today. Wellremem
bered and beloved here though he has
resided in California for a number oI
years past. his birthday annually Is
the signal for scores OF congratulations
20 20 from Hawaii by cable, wireless
and mail to the venerable ''kamaaina.
President Griffiths OF Oahu College
made talk before the students this
morning on the character and philan
thropfes of Mr.. Bishop. -.ss
Mr.. Bishop was The subject recently
OF the following very appreciative bio
graphical sketch in the San Francisco
Chronicle:
California, land Of golden harvests
and venturesome Argonauts, has EN-
bodied in its moving history Of events
perhaps more picturesque careers OF
picturesque men than any state in the
Union Pioneers who did big things
are are still doing big things: who
were obliged TO make their own way
by sheer force OF character and de.
termination and with no precedents to
guide them; who invaded the country
Of their dreams and made the print.
tive wilderness blossom as the rose
stories Of these men we hear and read
constantly and we marvel at the full
ness. the ruggedness, Of their lives.
Fate Changes His Plans.
Wonder succeeds wonder in an ever.
changing panorama in the story OF
Charles r. Bishop, venerable vice-pres,
ident OF the Bank OF California, San
Francisco. He was not one of the
sturdy forty-niners not, strictly
speaking, a seeker OF gold; but the
only reason he was not was that fate
interrupted HIS plans to make OF him
o man Of affairs In the kingdom OF
Hawaii.
Then, after career in which sue.
cess had already become common
place, and at an age when most men
are settled down to await The coming
OF the sunset OF their lives, Charles r.
Bishop completed the last leg of a voy.
age that had its start nearly half a
century beforehand became a Califor-
nian IN the truest sense.
One the 25th OF january, 1915,
Charles r. Bishop will enter upon his
9lth year Of life. Now that time hiss
sOftened the remembrance Of the hard.
ships through which he has passed, he
can look hack with pleasant reminis-
cence on the events thatshaFe crowded
in upon him since his birth, January
rs, 1922. at Glenn Falls, N. ".
Comes Of sturdy stoek. eiAi4
Mr.. Bishop has been sturdy because
he comes OF sturdy stock. His an
cestors were New Englanders for a
number Of generations before his adj
vent upon earth, his maternal grand
father having fought for the colonies
in the Revolutionary war. Orphaned
in his early childhood, Mr.. Bishop went
to live with his grandparents, attend
ing the local grammar school. His
first real employment was at the age
Of Is, when he left home. went to
neigh boring village ana took work in
3 country store. He also was employ
ed for time on farm. and. when
ne was 20 became a salesman and
book keeper IN store at Sandy Hill.
Here he formed friendship with vii.
liam Z. Lee. graduate of the Uni.
Ftrsity OF Norwich and later OF Har.
yard Law School. friendship that
was destined to take the two youths
together half around the world.
Il was in 1S45, four years before
California became the mecca for gold
seekers, that the eyes OF the two
youths were turned westward. Ore.
gon was at that time in the limelight
rs point Of dispute ID the settlement
Of boundary claims between Great
Britain and the United States. The
chuns decided that the West was the
coming country; so on February %,
1886, they sailed away from Newbury-
port on the little brigantine Henry,
which was TO round the Horn, touch at
HSnolulu and thence set her course
Idf Oregon. BY the first of July she
was to be at her destination
BarI<entlne Driven to Hawaii.
Here fate stepped in, with the ele-
ments as its co-conspirators. The voy-
lge was q stormy one. the vessel was
.ossed about at the mercy of the
waves. and upon reaching st. Col
lermies. Brazil, she put into port for
safety. In October, eight months after
she sailed from Newburyport, the
reached Honolulu. The
weather was still bad and young Bish-
ID and Lee decided to remain in Ha.
vail until the spring following.
Before a week had passed, the lure
il. Hawaii was upon them. Lee. with
lis legal training. started practising
md soon became superior judge, and
alter chief Justice of the supreme
curt. The United States consul need
d secretary and Mr.. Bishop GOT the
lace. This he held until the word
vent out in 1S49 that CALIFORNIA;
mountains and valleys weref fairly
eeking with gold. Mr.. Bishop got the
mining fever and was for completing
he voyage, as originally planned.
Jere is where Judge Lee undoubtedly
md his friend great service; for he
,ersuaded him to remain in the isl.
'nds shortly afterward he became
Of customs for the
|in gdorn. going from this into the mer.
'anfile business with w. A. Aidrich as
lis partner.
,-..at-ee Rank.