Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Atherton, Joseph Ballard November 9, 1837 - April 7, 1903
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J. Orr orr@hawaii.com August 26, 2009, 2:23 pm

Source: The Story of Hawaii and Its Builders. Published by Honolulu Star Bulletin, Ltd., Territory of Hawaii, 1925.
Author: Edited by George F. Nellist

JOSEPH BALLARD ATHERTON, Industrial and Civic Leader. Among that small group 
of men who from 1860 on were the leaders in the industrial, commercial and 
civic life of Hawaii, the late Joseph Ballard Atherton was prominent. Arriving 
in Honolulu in 1858, he soon made a place for himself and by his industry, 
integrity, indomitable spirit and faith in the future of the Islands, he 
filled an important position in the life of the community.
  The growth of Honolulu as a business center was due in no small measure to 
his ability in financial matters, and in the field of social service and 
philanthropy he was an indefatigable and generous worker for progress. 
Although he shunned public office for himself, Mr. Atherton wielded a great 
influence and aided the government with his sound advice and counsel for many 
years.
  Joseph B. Atherton was one of the first men to join the late S. N. Castle 
and A. S. Cooke in their business enterprise. Coming to Honolulu around Cape 
Horn in the “Syren,” a well-known Boston packet, he was taken into the Castle 
family and there made his home. He first went to work for D. C. Waterman, but 
after a few months was offered a position in Castle & Cooke’s small general 
merchandise store on Kawaiahao Lane, known in those days as the “Old 
Depository.” He at once became active in building up their trade, and within a 
year was made managing clerk and so won the confidence of the proprietors that 
his advice was sought on many important matters.
  In 1865 he was admitted to the firm as junior partner. Mr. A. S. Cooke 
retired from active business in the late 60’s, leaving his son, the late Mr. 
Joseph P. Cooke, and Mr. Atherton in charge of the firm’s affairs under the 
direction of Mr. S. N. Castle. When Mr. Castle died in 1894, Mr. Atherton was 
the senior member of the old firm, and in that year it was incorporated as 
Castle & Cooke, Ltd., and he was elected its president, an office he held 
until his death.
  Early in the 60’s the firm became active in the development of the sugar 
industry, which had been begun in a very small way about 1835. About this time 
the Kohala Sugar Co. on Hawaii was formed, Mr. Atherton being one of those 
instrumental in its establishment, also taking an active part in the 
development of the Paia Plantation and Haiku Sugar Co. on the Island of Maui, 
the firm of Castle & Cooke representing these companies as agents for many 
years thereafter. He was one of the incorporators of the Ewa Plantation Co. in 
1890, becoming its first treasurer and a director, which company has had a 
remarkable history in the sugar industry of Hawaii. In 1898, associated with 
the late Mr. B. F. Dillingham and others, he organized the Waialua 
Agricultural Co., Ltd., becoming its first president. The firm of Castle & 
Cooke, Ltd., has been the managing agent of these two latter plantations since 
their incorporation. He was a trustee and an active member for over twenty 
years of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association, serving on its different 
committees and also as a vice-president and president of the Association. 
While the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce dates from about 1859, it was not 
incorporated until June 30, 1883, Mr. Atherton being one of those who took an 
active part in its incorporation, becoming its first secretary and treasurer, 
and acting in this capacity until 1896, when he was elected as president and 
occupied that office for the following three years.
  Aside from his connection with Castle & Cooke, Ltd., Mr. Atherton was one of 
the founders of the Bank of Hawaii, Ltd., and the Mutual Telephone Co., of 
which he was president for many years, and he was identified with many of the 
important business enterprises inaugurated in Hawaii during his life time. He 
was an active director in the Oahu Railway & Land Co. and the Honolulu Rapid 
Transit & Land Co., being a firm believer in the development of the most 
modern transportation facilities. He was among the first in the Territory to 
purchase an automobile, a small electric car, and was one of the incorporators 
and an officer of the first automobile transportation company in the city.
  Throughout his long career Mr. Atherton was a leader in many Christian 
activities. He was one of the founders of the Young Men’s Christian 
Association in Hawaii, acted as its president and a director for a long while, 
and for several years was president of the Board of the Hawaiian Evangelical 
Association. He was an active member of the old Fort Street church, afterwards 
the Central Union Church, and of many organizations in Honolulu having to do 
with social and religious progress. Just a few months before his death he 
resigned official positions with thirty-nine organizations of a business, 
social and religious nature. He was also at the forefront in educational 
affairs, serving for years as a member of the boards of trustees of the Oahu 
College and Kawaiahao Seminary. He gave freely of his time and money to all 
worthy philanthropic works.
  While a friendly supporter of the Monarchy and one of the advisors of the 
royal house, being a member of the Privy Council during the reign of King 
Kalakaua, Mr. Atherton was quick to recognize the inevitability of annexation, 
and when the Hawaiian Star was established in 1893 for the purpose of 
assisting the provisional government and promoting the cause of annexation, he 
became one of the officers and principal stockholders.
  Born in Boston, Mass., on Nov. 9, 1837, Mr. Atherton was educated in the 
public schools of Boston, going from the Brimmer School to the high school. 
Among his schoolmates, who afterwards became a life-long friend, was the later 
Peter Cushman Jones, also one of the leading business men of the Territory in 
the last generation. When he left high school, he entered the wholesale 
commission house of A. H. Amiden in Boston, and remained there until illness 
compelled him to leave the Atlantic Coast for Hawaii in 1858.
  In 1865 Mr. Atherton married Miss Juliette Montague Cooke, a daughter of 
Rev. A. S. Cooke, and one of the best loved of the first generation of white 
children born in the islands. Mrs. Atherton was as keenly interested in 
religious and philanthropic work as her husband, and throughout their long 
life together took an active part with him in the upbuilding of social service 
institutions. After her husband’s death she bestowed large sums on educational 
and charitable organizations, the last important gift before her death being 
the Y.W.C.A. Homestead, located on the old property on King Street. Atherton 
Hall, forming the girls’ department of the Mid-Pacific Institute, was given by 
Mrs. Atherton in memory of her husband, for many years its treasurer. She also 
gave liberally to the Salvation Army Girls’ Home in Manoa Valley and to 
Punahou Academy, from which she was graduated in the class of 1860.
  Mr. and Mrs. Atherton had six children, three of whom are now living: 
Charles H. Atherton, treasurer of Castle & Cooke, Ltd.; Mrs. Mary Atherton 
Richards, wife of Theodore Richards, treasurer of the Board of the Hawaiian 
Evangelical Association, and Frank C. Atherton, vice-president and manager of 
Castle & Cooke, Ltd. Mr. Atherton died in Honolulu, April 7, 1903, and Mrs. 
Atherton died Aug. 25, 1921.
  Among the many glowing tributes paid to Mr. Atherton after his death was one 
voiced by the late Mr. B. F. Dillingham, for years a close business associate:
  “I was impressed with these qualities in the character of Mr. Atherton—his 
rectitude of thought, honesty of purpose and purity of life. His great 
accomplishments show something of his fidelity and strength of purpose. He was 
a man who did great things, and his life is an example, not to the young men 
alone, but to us who have attained more years, an example to do good, as he 
did, wherever the opportunity comes. He was a man who carried his religious 
principles with him into his daily life. It was, with him, no mere garment to 
put on and off with occasion. He lived the faith that was in him day by day.”


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