Kauai-Honolulu County HI Archives Obituaries.....Wilcox, Albert Spencer July 7, 1919
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The Garden Island, Lihue, Kauai, Tues., 7-8-1919
WILCOX, ALBERT SPENCER
A. S. WILCOX PASSES AWAY - LOSS TO WHOLE TERRITORY.  Albert Spencer Wilcox passed 
away yesterday afternoon at his home at Lihue after an immediate illness of only 
three or four hours. Friends who had seen him during the last few days commented 
on how comparatively well he seemed to be. The immediate cause of death was 
hemorrhage of the brain. From the first, there was no chance of recovery; it was 
only a question of a few short hours. The stroke came about 1 o'clock while he was 
sitting at lunch. He became immediately unconscious and remained so up to the end 
which came about 4:30. He passed away very peacefully in the midst of a dozen or 
so of his nearest friends and relations who had hurried to the scene to render 
what assistance they could. Dr. Kuhns and Dr. Waterhouse were both in attendance 
and did what they could to palliate the touch of death that they could not 
restrain. Wireless and cable messages were immediately dispatched to relatives and 
friends in Honolulu and at the coast. A. S. Wilcox was born May 24, 1844 in Hilo 
where, as missionaries of the American Board, his parents were stationed. They 
soon after moved to Hanalei where he was brought up. He was educated at home and 
at Punahou. At an early age he ventured into the sugar business and for some years 
conducted a small plantation at Waipa, Hanalei. From there he moved to Hanamaulu 
where, with the benefit of his Waipa experience, he enlarged his operations and 
scored a signal success, raising all the cane that was required for the Hanamaulu 
mill. His contract with the mill was renewed from time to time, until about 1898 
when he retired, an independently wealthy man. About that time, he married Mrs. 
Wilcox and built his comfortable home at Kilohana. From that time on, he devoted 
himself to the care of his estates, especially Princeville, to the handling of his 
large investments and by no means least to the inauguration and support of notable 
charities on Kauai and in Honolulu. He has been director of the Inter Island, 
Kekaha, Lihue, Waianae, McBryde, the Home Insurance Co. Selama Dingings, etc.  He 
was member of the Legislature from Kauai for two years, 1891 and 1892. Among many 
minor philanthropies there are several that deserve special notice, viz., the 
building of the Lihue and Hanalei churches, the Mahelona Hospital on Kauai, the 
Children's Hospital in Honolulu, and Dole Hall at Punahou. The funeral services 
took place this afternoon at the Lihue Union Church, which was beautifully 
decorated for the occasion, Rev. J. M. Lydgate officiating, assisted by Rev. Sol. 
K. Kaulili of Koloa. The remains were interred in the Lihue cemetery. Mr. Wilcox 
was a man of many very admirable qualities and many sterling virtues. A modest and 
retiring man, he did not let his left hand know what his right hand did, and it 
was only when you tracked down his good qualities that you realized what a fine 
man he was. He was a man of the staunchest integrity and honesty, whom nothing 
could swerve from the path of duty and justice as he saw it, always frankly and 
fearlessly outspoken in defense of the right. He wanted no pussy-footing time-
servers about him, but men of independence who would not sacrifice their 
convictions to gain the favor of anyone. With the growth of his fortunes came an 
even fuller realization of his stewardship, and he gave accordingly, very largely 
and very wisely, giving much patient care and consideration to the dispensing of 
his charities so that they might do the most good. He had a very keen sense of 
humor and a ready wit of a caustic, pungent kind that, however, left behind it as 
a rule no sting of bitterness. He won the confidence and regard of his employees, 
down to the humblest man on the plantation, to a remarkable degree; and especially 
the Hawaiians banked on "Alopeka" as their friend with a childish confidence that 
was very touching. Many a substantial evidence of kindness went to them that no 
one knew anything about. In a quiet and unassuming, yet very emphatic way, he 
stood for practical righteousness and the things that make for honor and 
integrity. He was always ready to stand behind any public-spirited move in any 
direction. He will be very seriously missed by nearly every good cause, as well as 
by a host of friends and beneficiaries. 


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