Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Jones, Peter Cushman December 10, 1837 - April 23, 1922
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J. Orr orr@hawaii.com September 9, 2009, 4:42 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

PETER CUSHMAN JONES, Constructive Capitalist. Landing in Honolulu, as the 
traditional poor lad, with just sixteen cents in his pockets, the late Peter 
Cushman Jones, executive and capitalist, worked his way to the presidency of 
one of the largest commercial corporations in Honolulu, with widespread 
interests in Hawaii.
  Like the career of a hero of fiction is the life story of Peter Cushman 
Jones, former president of C. Brewer & Co., and of the Bank of Hawaii.
  Business interests alone did not absorb all the attention of Mr. Jones. He 
made many contributions to the ethical life of his beloved city, Honolulu. Of 
a strongly religious trend of mind, he served for years as a member of various 
church boards, a deacon of Central Union Church, president of the Board of the 
Hawaiian Evangelical Association, director of the Y.M.C.A., and, together with 
his wife, gave money for the establishment of the Portuguese Mission, and 
built the Palama Chapel, out of which grew Palama Settlement, where social 
welfare work of every nature is carried on.
  For 20 years Mr. Jones contributed his financial genius to the upbuilding of 
Oahu College, serving the institution as treasurer. He was also a trustee of 
the college and established many scholarships to enable poor boys and girls to 
obtain an education.
  A call into political activities came early in his career. His advice upon 
matters of state was sought by government officials, and in 1892 he was given 
the portfolio of Minister of Finance by Queen Liliuokalani. With other leading 
business men of the kingdom, Mr. Jones’ experience in the Queen’s cabinet 
convinced him that the best interests of Hawaii demanded the overthrow of the 
monarchy.
  Mr. Jones was an influential figure in the revolution and served on the 
executive and advisory council of the provisional government until order was 
restored. Previous to this, he had been sent to Washington, D.C., as the 
bearer of dispatches from the kingdom having to do with the final signing of 
the Reciprocity Treaty, which gave Hawaii free trade with the United States.
  Peter Cushman Jones was born in Boston of old Puritan and Revolutionary 
patriot stock, on Dec. 10, 1837. His father was Peter Cushman Jones, a Boston 
merchant, and his mother, Jane (Baldwin) Jones.
  Young Peter Cushman Jones was sent to the Boston Latin School and 
to “Bakers” School, in preparation for Harvard, but the lure of business was 
too strong, and when a lad he went to work as an office boy at the remarkable 
salary $50 a year.
  Led by an adventurous instinct, he set sail for Hawaii, landing here on Oct. 
2, 1857. As he passed up Fort street idly jingling his 16 cents in his pocket, 
Henry A. P. Carter, a clerk in C. Brewer & Co., remarked, “Another Boston 
young man come to town to seek his fortune. We had better give him $10,000 and 
send him home again.” Strangely enough, Mr. Carter and Mr. Jones were destined 
to become fast friends and close business associates for 20 years in the firm 
of C. Brewer & Co.
  Mr. Jones worked in several companies, and in 1866 formed a partnership with 
Mr. C. L. Richards in the ship chandlers business, in which he remained until 
1871 when he became a partner in C. Brewer & Co. In 1883 he became president 
and manager of the corporation, which position he held until his retirement in 
1891. He returned to the company a year later and was again elected president, 
serving until 1899, when he resigned and was succeeded by Charles M. Cooke. In 
1892, with his son, Edwin A. Jones, he formed a partnership under the name of 
The Hawaiian Safe Deposit and Investment Co., which has since become the 
Hawaiian Trust Co.
  In 1862 he married Cornelia Hall, daughter of Edwin O. Hall of Honolulu, and 
their children were Edwin Austin Jones, who died in 1898, Mrs. Alonzo Gartley 
and Mrs. Abraham Lewis, Jr. Peter Cushman Jones died on April 23, 1922.
  His son, Edwin Austin Jones, was born May 11, 1863. He was educated at 
Punahou and a Boston academy, and began his business life here as a bookkeeper 
for Lewers & Cooke. With his father, he aided in the establishment of the Bank 
of Hawaii, of which he was cahier until his death on July 10, 1898.
  He married Belle Fuller of Honolulu in 1888, and his four children are Edwin 
Austin, Jr., Helen, Margaret and Catherine Hay Jones.


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