Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Knudsen, Valdemar August 5, 1820 - January 6, 1898
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J. Orr orr@hawaii.com October 5, 2009, 6:57 pm

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

VALDEMAR KNUDSEN, Agricultural Builder. Son of a prominent figure in Danish 
and Norwegian history, a “Forty-niner” in the first days of California’s 
golden glory and for almost half a century a factor in the development of 
Kauai’s agricultural resources as a sugar planter and stock rancher, the 
career of the late Valdemar Knudsen was colorful, but one of substantial 
achievement.
  Born in Christansand on Aug. 5, 1820, Mr. Knudsen was the tenth child of 
Knud Knudsen, a Danish army officer, native of South Jutland, who was 
appointed President of Norway by the King of Denmark, an office he held until 
Norway seceded from Denmark in 1818. In other capacities, however, Knud 
Knudsen gave distinguished political service to Norway until he was retired 
for old age.
  Valdemar Knudsen received his education at the University of Norway, but 
left for New York on attaining his majority. He was a talented linguist and 
made translations of the Bible for the Bible Society, was connected with the 
book publishing business and spent much time at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., at the 
Academy, now Vassar University. In 1847 and 1848 he was in Chicago, 
endeavoring to establish a book business in the West. This venture failed, 
however, and he returned to New York, only to close up his affairs and start 
for California in the historic gold rush of 1849.
  In California he mined in the Feather river and Yuba dam fields, and with 
his earnings established a large trading and provision business with 
headquarters at Sacramento and “Rough-and-Ready,” a famous old-time mining 
camp. He took part in the Constitutional Convention which resulted in 
California becoming a State without intermediate territorial status, and was 
active in the vigilante movement which cleared California of its lawless 
elements in 1850-51.
  While returning from Norway in 1853 after visiting his parents, Mr. Knudsen 
contracted “Panama fever,” which made it impossible for him to remain in 
California. Doctors ordered him to a warm, dry climate and, largely by chance, 
he came to Kauai by sailing vessel, landing at Koloa. Through the duplicity of 
business associates in California, he suddenly found himself deprived of his 
considerable fortune and for the third time in his career started in at the 
bottom of the ladder, this time to win a position of prominence, influence and 
affluence in Hawaii.
  For some time following his arrival in the Islands, he was manager of Grove 
Farm at Lihue, but it was too wet there for his health and he went over and 
bought out Archibald Archer in Pokii, later acquiring properties at Kekaha and 
Mana. As a sugar planter and stock rancher, he became owner of other valuable 
holdings on Kauai, now controlled and managed by his sons, Eric A. and 
Augustus F. Knudsen.
  Always deeply interested in public affairs, in Hawaii as well as in 
California, Mr. Knudsen was a leader in political movements under the Hawaiian 
monarchy, was a member of the Legislature for many sessions and assisted in 
accomplishing the constitutional changes made during the reigns of Kings 
Kamehameha IV and Kalakaua. He was one of the first to take the oath of 
allegiance to the Provisional Government in 1893, following the revolution and 
overthrow of the monarchy. He was a firm believer in democracy and its 
principles all his life.
  A man of varied interests and high public spirit, Mr. Knudsen for twelve 
years privately carried on a continuation (High) school for selected scholars 
of the Waimea district of Kauai. In scientific work he contributed many 
collections of birds, mammals, fish, seaweeds and plants, a dozen or more new 
species being named for him by authorities at Washington and aboard.
  Mr. Knudsen was married on Feb. 12, 1867, to Anne McHutcheson Sinclair at 
the home of her mother on the Island of Niihau. Mrs. Knudsen’s parents were 
Captain Francis Sinclair, R. N., and Eliza McHutcheson, who both left 
Edinborough, Scotland in 1839 and lived in New Zealand till 1862, when they 
sold their large holdings and after a year of voyaging in their own vessel, 
came to Hawaii and purchased the Island of Niihau.
  Mr. and Mrs. Knudsen had five children, Ida Elizabeth, now Mrs. Harry 
Martens von Holt of Honolulu; Maud Sinclair, now Mrs. Herbert H. Garstin of 
Redlands, Calif.; Augustus F. and Eric A. Knudsen of Kauai and Dr. Arthur S. 
Knudsen of New York.
  Valdemar Knudsen died in Honolulu on Jan. 6, 1898.


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