Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Renton, Sr., George F. May 16, 1863 - April 18, 1923
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
J. Orr orr@hawaii.com October 7, 2009, 2:22 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

GEORGE F. RENTON, SR. Sugar Plantation Manager. The successful producers in 
the world, is ascribed in large measure by his former business associates to 
the agricultural knowledge and untiring zeal of the late George F. Renton, 
Sr., for more than 20 years manager of Ewa.
  His life was devoted to the upbuilding of the sugar industry, and it was he 
who was responsible for the adoption on a large scale of H-109 cane, which now 
leads the world in the amount of cane produced per acre and is generally 
planted in Hawaii.
  At Mr. Renton’s death on April 18, 1923, tributes to his successful career 
and his contribution to sugar history were voiced by the leading men of 
Hawaii. It was felt at that time that the outstanding figure in the 
agricultural side of plantation development had passed.
  There is a romantic background to the establishment of the Renton family in 
Hawaii. James Renton, father of George F. Renton, left his home in Nova Scotia 
in the middle of the last century to join the gold rush to Australia, where he 
married Mary Brenen and where his two sons, James and Henry, were born, and on 
their return to the American mainland, the state of Washington their 
destination, the family passed through Honolulu.
  George F. Renton, the subject of this sketch, was born at Utsalady, Wash., 
on May 16, 1863, and the following year the family returned to Honolulu to 
locate, James Renton finding employment as a patternmaker at the Honolulu Iron 
Works.
  James Renton, removing to the island of Hawaii from Honolulu, became manager 
of the Union Mill Co., in which he acquired an interest. It was there that 
George F. Renton began his life work in 1878, as bookkeeper for the Union Mill 
Co.
  At the early age of 19, George F. Renton was chosen to build a sugar mill at 
Kukaiau for Theo H. Davies & co., in 1882, and managed it for twelve years.
  From 1894 to 1898 he was manager of the Kohala Sugar Co., and in the latter 
year was called upon to assume the larger undertaking of the managership of 
Ewa plantation, a position he held until his retirement in 1921, when he was 
succeeded by his eldest son, George F. Renton, Jr. He was a stockholder in the 
company owning Ewa, and at his death left a considerable fortune.
  Mr. Renton’s education was obtained at St. Alban’s School and Oahu College, 
Honolulu. While manager of Kukaiau Mill he married Miss Kate Lewis, daughter 
of James E. Lewis of Madison, Ind., and the couple’s children are George F. 
Jr., James Lewis and Allan Renton.
  Memberships in the Oahu Country Club, Pacific Club and Chamber of Commerce 
were held by Mr. Renton. He was also a Knight Templar and a Shriner. He always 
took an active interest in the civic and public affairs of the territory. 
During the World War he did able work in connection with local draft boards, 
and served at one time as chairman of the National Security League.


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