Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Child, John Francis February 8, 1879 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/hi/hifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: J. Orr jessicanorr@gmail.com February 23, 2011, 6:23 pm Source: The Story of Hawaii and Its Builders, published by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin Ltd., Territory of Hawaii, 1925 Author: Edited by George F. Nellist JOHN FRANCIS CHILD, Hotel Proprietor. Human nature’s greatest university is said to be the hotel business, and John F. Child, owner of the Child’s Blaisdell hotel and restaurant, the Pierpont hotel and Marigold apartments, is one of the enthusiastic students in this interesting old school. Perhaps this enthusiasm is hereditary, for Mr. Child’s ancestors first became interested in hotels in the year of 1677, when Sir John Francis Child, head of Child & Co., London’s oldest bankers, and at one time lord mayor of London, purchased the three most famous old taverns in London, which were, “Ye Marigold,” the “Sugar Loaf,” and “Old Devil.” The “Old Devil” was a favorite resort of Ben Johnson and William Shakespeare. It was in the “Old Devil” tavern that Johnson wrote, “Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes.” Child & Co. London bankers, and the oldest banking company in England, were bitter rivals of the Bank of England. Many shrewd financial battles were carried on by the Bank of England to wreck Child & Co., but they resulted only in strengthening the foundation of the latter. Perhaps this business ability is also hereditary, as John F. Child of this generation came to Honolulu in 1903 with $104.85, and today he is owner of three of the finest hotel service accommodations in the Territory. He was formerly connected with the grocery department of Theo. H. Davies & Co. In addition to being one of the founders of the Honolulu Ad Club, he is a Mason, Shriner, and member of the Chamber of Commerce. Austin Wilder Child and Mary (Thompson) Child, Mr. Child’s father and mother, were early pioneers of Ogden, Utah, where he was born in 1879. It was there he received his grammar and high school education. At Mondia, Montana, a Yellowstone Park tourist center, Mr. Child was formerly connected with the hotel and merchandise business. In 1907 Mr. Child married Eva Noble of Los Angeles. They have one son, John F. Child, a student at Punahou. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/hi/statewide/bios/child239bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/hifiles/ File size: 2.7 Kb