Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands - Kamehameha lV --- (Part 3) The US GenWeb Archives provide genealogical and historical data to the general public without fee or charge of any kind. It is intended that this material not be used in a commercial manner. All submissions become part of the permanent collection. Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands " Keepers of the Culture " A study in time of the Hawaiian Islands As told by the ancients-- Kamehameha lV --- Part 3. Dr. Edward Hoffmann Dr. Charles F. Guillou Dr. Seth Porter Ford by Darlene E. Kelley December 13, 2000 http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ As told by the ancients-- Kamehameha lV -- part 3 Dr. Edward Hoffmann [1813 -- 1888 ] Edward Hoffmann [ ofter spelled Hoffman ] was born at Oldenburg, Germany, on October 21, 1813. Coming to the Islands as a physician on a German Whaleship in 1847, Dr. Hoffmann decided to settle permanently in Honolulu and became associated with Dr.Wood. On November 1, 1849, Dr. Hoffmann married Miss Louisa Morse of Machias, Maine, in a ceremony performed by the Rev. S.C. Damon at the home of Dr.Wood. In 1850 Dr. Hoffman went into partnership with Dr. George Lathrope and opened the Honolulu Drug store, but the partership was dissolved within a few months. In January, 1851, Dr Hoffmann and Dr. Benjamin F. Hardy became partners and also operated a drug store. This joint venture lasted until January, 1853, when it too was terminated. Dr. Hoffmann opened his own drug store located on the corner of Kaahumanu and Queen streets in July, 1854, which he continued to manage for a good number of years. Apart from his business affairs the Doctor served in many capacities. He was appointed a member of the first Board of Health established on December 13, 1850, by King Kamehameha lll. During the smallpox epidemic of 1853 he helped Dr. Thomas Rooke divide the city into three sections for the care of patients and took charge of one of the divisions. Dr. Hoffmnn was one of the signers of the Charter of incorporation of the Hawaiia Medical Society in 1856 and served as its first treasurer. Together with Dr. Robert Mc Kibbin, Sr. and Dr. Seth P. Ford, Dr Hoffmann was appointed by the Board of Health to form " a committee of examiners to prove the qualifications of applicants for Physician's licenses" in 1859--- the forerunner of the Board of Medical Examiners. Serving as physician of the Lunatic Asylum from about 1867 to 1873, he was also physician for Oahu Prisn for a time. In 1871 King Kamehameha lV appointed Dr. Hoffmann a trustee of the Queen"s Hospital. The Doctor also found time to be active in many community projects. Always fond of young people, he took a deep interest in the Oahu Charity School, which was opened 1833 primarily that children of foreign fathers and native mothers could receive an education in English than in Hawaiian. In 1870, he became Austro-Hungarian Consul for the Islands. The doctor was a fine musician, playing both the piano and the violin, and even, it was reported, gave piano lessons. For 25 years he was the undisputed head of social events in Honolulu, acting as Master of Ceremonies of his Majesty's Birthday Ball on February 9, 1860, and masterminding many simular affairs with verve and distinction. In 1881, Dr. Hoffmann retired from active practice, and on March 25, 1888, he died in Honolulu at the age of 74. He was a Knight Commander of The Royal Order of Kamehmeha l, a charter member of the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society [ serving on the board of managers in 1868 ], a surgeon of the Hawaiian Guard and of the Honolulu Rifles, a member of the German Benevolent Society [ president in 1875 ], and a Mason. ****************************************************** Dr. Charles F. Guillou [ 1813 -- 1899 ] Charles F. Guillou was born in Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, July 20, 1813. His education was received at the University of Pennsylnania. Dr. Guillou began his career in te U.S.Navy and was assigned to the U.S.S. Peacock. While serving as Assistant Surgeon on the Peacock. he made his first trip to Hawaii in October, 1840. Later he served in the Mexican War and became Surgeon of the U.S.S. Columbia, which was followed by duty on the U.S. frigate Constitution. On a cruise in European waters the Constitution touched at Gaeta, Italy, where Dr. Guillou accompanied the American Consul and his captain on a visit to King Ferinand ll and to Pope Pius lX. The following day His Majesty and the Pope visited the Constitution where the Pope was taken ill and attended by Dr. Guillou. In appreciation of his services, His Holiness sent for Dr. Guillou the next day and wished to confer an order on him which the doctor, being an American, could not accept. When he returned to the United States, he was assigned to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. After 17 years in the Navy, he resigned and came to Hawaii. Arriving on the Vaquero, December 1, 1854, his first business card appears in February 17,1855, edition of the " Polynesian " and offers medical advice in English, French, Spanish, and Italian. On the 24th of that month he is listed as one of three physicians who will attend patients at the Honolulu Marine hospital, which was organized by the American Doctor, George A. Lathrop. Mrs. Guilliou and daughter joined the doctor arriving in May 1855. In October, 1857, the Honorable A. Pratt, U.S Consul for Hawaii, appointed Dr Guillou consular physician for the hospital in Honolulu. That this choice was not universally popular is relected in a letter to the " Pacific Commercial Advertiser" which reads in part, " Dr. Guillou undoubtedly possesses great urbanity of manner and erudite conversational powers" but goes on the suggest that there are fellow citizens who could perform the duties as ably and as satisfactorily, and is signed Hail Columbia. Three years later Commander W.E. Hunt, U.S.N. and James W. Bordon, U.S. Commissioner, were appointed to investigate the affairs of the U.S. Consulate and the Hospitals at Honolulu, Lahaina, and Hilo. In the process of this investigation and in the absence of Consul Pratt, Dr. Guillou became involved in a bitter quarel with Mr. Bordon, which was fought mainly in the pages of the newspapers. In May, 1861, Dr. S.P. Ford was appointed consular physician for the Honolulu hospital, and it appears that Dr. Guillou came out the loser in his contest with Mr. Bordon. In January, 1865, that doctor himself was elevated to Consular level when he was appointed by Victor Emmanuel to represent the Kingdom of Italy. Dr. and Mrs Guillou were active in the social life of Honolulu and entertained frequently themselves. At a ball given in Marc,1860, in honor of the officer's of the U.S.S. Powhatan, at their residence. was described as a brilliant and attractive affair. Their Majesties were present, as well as several members of the Japanese Embassy, who witnessed for the first time, foreign ladies and gentlemen dancing together. The Guillous were members of the Musical Society. Dr. Guillou was a charter member of the Hawaiian Medical Society, organized in 1856, and served as its first Secretary. He was also a member of the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society and was elected to the Executive Committee. He was also owner of the Gas Works, which he sold in 1860 for the sum of $2000. Lecturing before the members of the Hawaiian Lyceum in 1858, he took the position the the only way of prolonging the existance of the Hawaian race was to bring them adequate medical care and outlined a plan for a hospital very similar to that was used in the formation of the Queens Hospital about a year later. Dr. Guillou left the Islands with his wife and daughter on the Smyrniote for San Francisco, November 2. 1866, after a residence of nearly 12 years. Nothing further is known about him until his obituary, a reprint from the New York Sun, which had appeared in the Advertiser, January 25, 1899. From this article we learn that for several years after his retirement, he lived at Petersburg, Virginia. Here his second wife, a Miss Dinah Postlewaite of Natchez, died. but no date is given. The Doctor's death occured at his residence in New York on January 1, 1899, and the survivors listed are a daughter, and an adopted daughter. However the American Medical Journal of January 14, 1899 , gives his death as occurring on December 25, 1898, at his home in New York at the age of 85. ****************************************************** Dr. Seth Porter Ford -- [ 1816 --1886 ] Seth Porter Ford was born in Washington, Litchfield County, Connecticut, about 1836. He studied medicine in New York where he was a pupil of Dr. Valentine Mott and an associate of Dr. Williard Parker. Both men called Dr. Ford one of the most skillfull surgeons that they had ever known. On January 1, 1848, Dr. Ford married Miss Maria N. Fowler in Washngton, Connecticut. He is believed to have served as a surgeon in the U.S. Navy before coming to Hawaii with Mrs. Ford in January, 1852, aboard the R.B. Forbes, from Boston. In April 1852, Dr. Ford and Dr. George A Lathrope opened a Hydropathic Establishment and private hospital in Nuuanu Valley, but by the following September the association was dissolved by mutal consent. When Honolulu was divided into districts to fight the smallpx epidemic of 1853, the doctor was placed in charge of one of the disticts. In 1855 he joined with Dr. Henry L. Bullions in launching the City Hospital located on King Street, but this too was short lived. He also had an extenive private practice and was the personal physician of Kamehameha lV. Undoubtedly, his most publicized operatiom was performed on Mrs. Lucy Thurston when, with the assistance of Drs. Judd Hillebrand and Hoffmann, he removed her breast. He also performed a successful cataract removal. the second ever to be attempted in Honolulu. Again he made the newspapers when he operated for an aneurism [ aneurysm ] of the femoral artery and the patient recovered. However, all was not well with Dr. Ford financially, and in September, 1855, he filed for voluntary bankruptcy and for a time abandoned medicine in favor of various business deals. Mrs. Ford had gone back to Connecticut in March 1855, and did not return. In 1864 the doctorsued for divorice on the grounds of desertion, but Mrs. Ford entered a counter suit in which she contended that she had gone home at the time of the doctor's financial troubles with the understanding that he would follow as soon as he cleared up his business affairs. A letter written by Dr. Ford to his wife in 1860 and offered in support of her suit, tells of a promising business deal in which he was then engaged which prevented his return but promises to return another year. Mrs, Ford was granted a divorce in September, 1864. Seemingly, there was only a brief period between going into bankruptcy and his return to practicing to some degree. In 1866 he was advertising his office and drug store located on Queen Street, and in 1857 he was listed as port physician. However, the Advertiser of October 2, 1862, carried the following notice. " The undersigned respectfully announces to his friends and the Honolulu public, that he has this day resumed the practice of his profession, and takes this opportunity of returning his sincere thanks to his friends, and the public for the liberal patronage they were pleased formally to grant him, and hopes that by attetion to business to merit a continuance of the popular favor which he has enjoyed heretofore, in the practice of medicine and surgery." And it was signed S. Porter Ford, M.D., Consular Physician to American Seamen. Dr. Ford became a naturalized Hawaiian citizen in March, 1855. The following year, he was one of the signers of the charter of incorporation of the Hawaiian Medical Society. In 1859 he was appointed by the Board of Health to serve on a committee of three doctors to examine applicats for medical licences. At the time of his death he was physician for the Insane Asylum and had served as surgeon of the Honolulu Rifles. On June 2, 1866, he married Miss Caroyln Jackson in Honolulu. Some five months later, on November 19, 1866, he died at the age of 70. He was survived by his widow, Carolyn, two daughters, Lois C. and Minehaha, and a son, Seth Porter. Interested in agriculture as well as medicine, Dr. Ford introduced rice growing as an Hawaiian industry, even going to the extent of destroying large patches of taro in Moanalua to make way for this new crop. he was also one of the men responsible for building the first rice mills.