Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Lewers, Robert March 14, 1836 - November 3, 1924
************************************************
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 orr@hawaii.com October 5, 2009, 7:02 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

ROBERT LEWERS, Pioneer Merchant. With the passing on Nov. 3, 1924, of “Uncle 
Robert” Lewers, as he was affectionately known to thousands of men and women 
in the Territory, Hawaii lost a pioneer lumber merchant, shipping man and 
philanthropist.
  One of the last survivors of those merchants who came to Honolulu in the 
days of her commercial infancy and aided in the upbuilding of the Islands, 
industrially and socially, Robert Lewers was a link for years between that 
glamorous early Hawaii with its monarchial pomp and court ceremony, and the 
thriving business community Hawaii became under American jurisdiction.
  It was on Feb. 21, 1856, that Robert Lewers arrived off port here on the 
ship “Raduga,” by way of Cape Horn, coming ashore the next day. There were not 
many occupations then open for a young man in Honolulu and Mr. Lewers got 
employment as a carpenter. He helped to build many of the old frame houses in 
Honolulu, and one or two on Kauai. It was his practical knowledge of building 
and of frame construction that made his services valuable, when, in 1860, he 
was offered a position by his cousin, Christopher H. Lewers, who had 
established a lumber business here as early as 1852. The firm was later known 
as Lewers & Dickson, J. G. Dickson being the other partner.
  In 1877, following the death of Christopher H. Lewers, Robert Lewers and C. 
M. Cooke became partners of Mr. Dickson and on the death of the latter in 
1880, Mr. Lewers and Mr. Cooke acquired his interest in the firm and changed 
the name to Lewers & Cooke. Frederick J. Lowrey, now its president, was 
employed by the firm in 1879, became a partner in 1886, and in 1901, when it 
was incorporated as Lewers & Cooke, Ltd., was elected president.
  A noteworthy fact in the establishment of the firm of Lewers & Cooke, Ltd., 
was the inclusion of a clause in the articles of incorporation empowering the 
directors to contribute a portion of the earnings for social, benevolent and 
religious purposes. It was the first time this had been done in Hawaii.
  Mr. Lewers was never interested in political affairs. Although he witnessed 
the overthrow of the monarchy, the establishment of the provisional government 
and the annexation of Hawaii by the United States, he took no active part in 
these changes, but devoted his life to business and to his family. He financed 
a great deal of philanthropic work, many of his benefactions never becoming 
known to the public.
  He was a Mason, Shriner, Odd Fellow, and a member of the Oahu Country and 
Commercial Clubs. Born in New York City, March 14, 1836, the son of William 
and Mary (Lowe) Lewers, he was educated in the public schools of New York. He 
married Catherine R. Carter, daughter of Capt. and Mrs. Joseph O. Carter, on 
July 16, 1867. Their two children are Mrs. Arthur F. Wall and W. H. Lewers.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/hi/statewide/bios/lewers44bs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/hifiles/

File size: 3.5 Kb