Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Desha, Sr., Stephen L. July 11, 1859 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
J. Orr jessicanorr@gmail.com June 2, 2011, 9:17 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

STEPHEN L. DESHA, SR., Clergyman and Legislator. An unusual combination of 
ministry of the gospel, service in legislative bodies, and publisher of a 
newspaper has marked the career of the Rev. Stephen L. Desha, Sr., in Hawaii, 
his native land. He is considered one of the most eloquent orators in the 
Hawaiian language.
  Descendants of the noted Desha family of Kentucky, he was born at Lahaina, 
Maui, July 11, 1859, the son of John Rollin Langhern and Eliza (Brewer) Desha. 
He was educated in the Hawaiian public schools, Royal School, and North 
Pacific Institute.
  Mr. Desha began his career as pastor of the Napoopoo church, Kona, Hawaii, 
in 1884 and served there five years, when he was called to his present 
pastorate of the Haili Church of Hilo, in 1889. He was a supervisor of the 
County of Hawaii when county government was inaugurated in 1905 and was 
elected to the third board of supervisors in 1909. He was elected to the 
senate of the Territorial legislature for the 1913-1917 term and was re-
elected for the 1919-923 and 1923-27 terms. He has been editor and business 
manager of the Hawaiian newspaper, “Ka Hoku o Hawaii,” since 1907, and is a 
recognized authority on Hawaiian legends.
  Mr. Desha was delegate from Hawaii to the second International 
Congregational Church Council, Boston, Mass., Sept. 20-19, 1899, and is a 
member of the Kamehameha, Kauikeaouli and Hawaii Ponoi lodges, the Chiefs of 
Hawaii and is prelate of Hilo Lodge, Native Sons of Hawaii. He is a 
Republican. He married Mary K. Kekumano (deceased) at Napoopoo, Hawaii, Dec. 
31, 1884, and they had three children, Judge John R., Stephen L., Jr., and 
Elizabeth Desha (Brown). Mr. Desha married Julia Keonaona in 1915. He has 
eight grandchildren.


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