Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Lewis, Jr., Abraham  July 14, 1873 - 
************************************************
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 September 28, 2011, 10:13 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

ABRAHAM LEWIS, JR., Financier. The organization of new business ventures, the 
rehabilitation of old ones, and the stabilization of territorial banking and 
trust companies through his administration of the treasurer’s office, are 
among the contributions to Hawaii of Abraham Lewis, Jr., attorney and 
financial agent.
  In 1921 and 1922 the banking and trust situation in the islands was very 
unstable in some instances. Mr. Lewis, long prominent in business circles, had 
been named treasurer for the Territory of Hawaii. He directed the sale of 
territorial bonds at their highest premium, and so handled the financial and 
tax affairs of the government that stability followed.
  Another recent accomplishment was his organization in 1923 of the Pacific 
Trust Co., Ltd. The new concern absorbed the old and established firm of James 
F. Morgan Co., Ltd., and since its organization has made rapid progress. Mr. 
Lewis is the president and manager.
  Through Mr. Lewis’ latest successful endeavor, the Baldwin banking interests 
on Maui have been united with the Pacific Trust Co., Ltd. In this arrangement, 
H. P. Baldwin, Ltd., and its associates, holding control of the Baldwin Bank, 
Ltd., with a capital stock of $100,000 and deposits exceeding $2,000,000, 
exchanged their stock in the bank for stock of the Pacific Trust Co. This 
plan, while unique in the financial annals of Hawaii, is quite prevalent on 
the mainland.
  Mr. Lewis began his career as a lawyer with Chickering, Thomas & Gregory of 
San Francisco, shortly after he received his LL.B. degree from Hastings 
College of Law in 1897. Two years previously he had been graduated from 
Stanford University in the pioneer class of 1895, the first to complete the 
full four-year course at that institution.
  Coming to Honolulu, he became a member of the law firm of Smith & Lewis, and 
later a vice-president, manager and director of the Bank of Hawaii, Ltd., 
severing his connection with the last-named institution in 1919. He is now a 
director of the Inter-Island Steam Navigation Co., the Wailuku Sugar Co., the 
Honomu Sugar Co., and Halawa Plantation.
  Mr. Lewis has always been prominently identified with public activities. He 
has served terms as president of the Board of Trustees, Library of Hawaii, 
chairman of the Advisory Land Commission, chairman of the building committee 
of the Central Union Church, president of the Associated Charities, president 
of the Chamber of Commerce in 1920, trustee of the Honolulu School for Boys, 
and chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee of the Planters’ Association. 
During the 1919 session of the Territorial Legislature he served as chairman 
of the finance committee of the House of Representatives. Other organizations 
to which he belongs are Phi Delta Phi, Zeta Psi, Knights Templar, Masons, 
Social Science Club, Pacific, University and Oahu Country Clubs.
  He was born in California, July 14, 1873, the son of Abraham and Arzelia 
(Martin) Lewis. In 1906 he married Alice Hall Jones, daughter of P. C. Jones, 
and their children are Marion, Dudley and Elizabeth.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/hi/statewide/bios/lewisjr88gbs.txt

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

File size: 3.8 Kb