Notes for Charles J. McCarthy

Descendants of
Captain Robert Brown
1809 – 1894

Notes for Charles J. McCarthy

Wikipedia biography

Notes for CHARLES J. MCCARTHY from Louise McCarthy Rothwell genealogy:

Born in Boston, his family moved to San Francisco when he was a boy. There he received his grammer school education. Moved to Hawaii in 1881, a representative of a San Francisco wholesale fruit house. Member of House of Nobles in 1890. Secretary of Hawaiian legislature in 1892. Captain of Honolulu Rifles under King David Kalakaua. Supporter of Queen Liliuokalani. During period of reconstruction, served as Lieutenant Colonel in National Guard. Resigned in 1902.

Elected member of Senate 1907 to 1912. Elected City Treasurer 1912 to 1914. Served on Board of Harbor Commissioners at same time. Territorial Treasurer 1914 to June 22, 1918. Appointed Governor of Territory of Hawaii by President Woodrow Wilson on June 22, 1918. Served as governor until 1921. Representative of Honolulu Chamber of Comimerce in Washington D.C. 1921 to 1923. Returned to Hawaii 1923 and joined Hawaiian Dredging Co. Worked on Waikiki reclamation project which was completed in 1924. Became general manager of Honolulu water and sewer systems in 1925. Died November 26, 1929.

From Honolulu Advertiser Tuesday, June 23, 1959 --- Statehood Edition.
C. J. McCarthy
Governor of the Territory of Hawaii from 1918 to 1921 , Charles J. McCarthy came to the Islands as a youth of 20 in 1881, representing a San Francisco wholesale fruit company.

He immediately became active in social and political life, and was a member of the House of Nobles in 1890 , secretary of the Hawaiian Legislature in 1892, and a supporter of Queen Liliuokalani during the revolution which ended the monarchy.

After Hawaii became a Territory, he was elected to the Senate in 1907. He was elected city treasurer in 1912 and in 1914 became Territorial treasurer, serving until his appointment as governor by President Wilson.

From 1921 to 1923 he represented the Honolulu Chamber Commerce in Washington, DC, but returned to Hawaii in 1923 to take charge of special work in connection with the Waikiki reclamation project. In 1925 he became general manager of the Honolulu water and sewer systems. He died in 1929.

This information is summarized from his obituaries in the Honolulu newspapers.

1881-Arrived Honolulu as a representative of a San Francisco Wholesale fruit house.

1890-Served as member of house of nobles under Hawaiian monarch (King Kalakaua).

1892-Secretary of Hawaiian Legislature (Hawaiian monarchy - Queen Liliuokalani).

Supported King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani.

Was in Honolulu Rifles in defense of the kingdom.

1907-Elected to the Hawaiian Territory senate, served until 1912

1912-1914-Elected Treasurer of City and County of Honolulu, was member of Board of Harbor (Control?)

1918-1921-Governor of the Territory of Hawaii under Wilson.

1921-Went to Washington as a representative of the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce.

1923- He was in charge of the huge Waikiki reclamation project (Ala Wai canal which was completed in 1924). On this project he worked for the Land Development dept. of Hawaiian Dredging Co.

The following is from family stories.

He was opposed to the establishment of Japanese language schools because he felt that if the Japanese culture got too entrenched the Japanese government would eventually take over the islands. Oswald Lightfoot's (his son-in-law) father led the law suit to make them legal. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court where Lightfoot won. It is the precedent case for allowing foreign language schools throughout the United States.

None of the obituaries say anything about the liquor business but that is what we were always told was his primary business other than politics. Blakie Lightfoot said that he owned a bar and grill on River St. in what was then downtown Honolulu (McCarthy Bar & Grill). His daughters just said that he was in the liquor business.

The obituaries say he died of cancer. The details are that he had a large swelling on one cheek. They called it elephantiasis which I guess is a form of cancer. He and his wife made a trip to Lourdes in hopes of a miracle cure (per Louise Rothwell).

This is a typical obituary that was written about him. It was in the Honolulu Star Bulletin on Tuesday November 26, 1929.

C. J. MCCARTHY, 5TH GOVERNOR OF HAWAII, DIES
Succumbs to Long Illness at Beretania St. Home Early This Morning
Widow and Five Daughters Survive; Funeral Services Tomorrow at 4 P. M.

Charles J. McCarthy, fifth governor of Hawaii, died this morning at 4:30 o'clock in his residence at 1234 Beretania St. Death was caused by cancer.

The former governor's family was at the bedside when death came. McCarthy died quietly and without suffering. He was unconscious several hours before he expired.

Funeral services have been planned for 4 p. M. Tomorrow at the Sacred Heart chapel in Wilder Ave., opposite the grounds ments. These services will be public followed by a private service for members of the family at the Diamond head cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mayor John H. Wilson, Col. C. P. Iaudea, Chief Justice Anotonio Perry, Judge A. G. M. Robertson, John Lucas and Henry Davis.

Active pallbearers will be Lyman H. Bigalow, E. E. Bodge, E. W. Quinn, Dr. F.E. Trotter, St. Clair Sayres and Elwood Wilder.

All territorial offices will be closed a moon tomorrow.

Territorial courts of the city were adjourned this morning out of respect to the memory of the former governor. Flags were flown at half mast.

The deceased is survived by the widow, Mrs. Margaret Teresa Morgan McCarthy , and five daughters, Miss Eileen McCarthy, Mrs. Guy N. Rothwell, Mrs. Frank Burns, Mrs. Oswald B. Lightfoot and Mrs. O. E. (B) Steven.

Ex-Governor McCarthy's death brought to a close a residence of 48 years in the islands, during 30 years of which he held important political posts under the kingdom of Hawaii and later under the territory of Hawaii.

His political career reached its height when on June 22, 1918, he was appointed governor of the territory by the late President Woodrow Wilson.

He served in that capacity until June, 1921, when former Governor Wallace R. Farrington became the territory's chief executive.

Arrived in 1881
McCarthy came to Hawaii in 1881 as the local representative of a San Francisco wholesale fruit house. After being here but a short time, he became identified with the social and political life of Hawaiian monarchical days.

During the monarchy he served as a member of the house of nobles in 1890 and later in 1892 was secretary of the Hawaiian legislature. In the early revolutionary days that marked the end of the reign of King Kalakaua, he supported the monarchy and served with the Honolulu Rifles in defense of the kingdom.

Several years later, when the Hawaiian monarchy fell, McCarthy was a staunch supporter of Queen Liliuokalani, and vigorously fought against her removal from the throne.

McCarthy's political career under the territory of Hawaii began in 1907 when he was elected to the senate, in which body he served until 1912. In that year he was elected treasurer of the city and county of Honolulu, holding that post two years. During this same period McCarthy was a member of the board of harbor commissioners.

In 1914 McCarthy was appointed to the post of territorial treasurer, a position he held until June of 1918, when he became governor of the islands.

Beginning in 1921, when he retired from the governorship, McCarthy went to Washington as a representative of the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce.

Returning to Hawaii in 1923, he became connected with the land development department of Hawaiian Dredging Co., and took charge of the huge Waikiki reclamation project-a work which was completed in September of 1924.

McCarthy was born in Boston, Mass, August 4, 1861, and was 68 years old on his last birthday anniversary. While still a boy McCarthy's family moved to San Francisco, where he received his education in the grammar and high schools of that city.

He was a member of the Pan-Pacific Union, Knights of Pythias, the Elks, the Eagles and the Oahu Country, Ad and Myrtle Boat clubs.

McCarthy's business career in the islands was marked by his connection with several industrial and commercial enterprises.

McCarthy's love of flowers was remembered today by friends and acquaintances. For many years it had been his invariable habit to wear, in his lapel, a graceful sprig of coral hibiscus. Its delicate pinkness went well with the snow-white clothes which he usually wore.

Several years ago the Outdoor Circle formally named the coral pink hibiscus the 'Charles McCarthy hibiscus' in his honor.

At the meeting of the Pan-Pacific club at the Y.W.C.A. this noon a resolution of sympathy and condolence over the death of the former governor was adopted.

Copies will be sent to surviving members of the family and to President Hoover, honorary president of the Pan-Pacific Union.

This is one I thought was really neat. It was in the Honolulu Advertiser on November 28, 1929.

Colonel McCarthy Served as One-Man Army when Queen was Overthrown

Colonel Charles J. McCarthy, who died on Tuesday, had the unique distinction of being a one-man army on January 16, 1893, the day the monarchy of Hawaii was overthrown and Queen Liliuokalani dethroned, and also the distinction of being the only Royalist who made the last, final attempt to resist the breaking up of the monarchy.

From January 14, 1893, the day the legislature was prorogued by the queen, and after which the queen attempted to promulgate a new constitution, to replace that of 1887, under which she would be restored to personal prerogatives as ruler, until January 17, the day on which the monarchy fell, McCarthy sided with the queen and the royalist party.

When it was known on January 17, that the Committee of Safety of the organized foreigners, opposing the queen, had ordered its followers to gather at the old armory, corner of Beretania and Punchbowl streets, under arms, Royalists knew that the break was near. Early in the afternoon, Captan Good, of the Committee's forces, was sent to E. O. Hall & Son's store for ammunition. Edwin Benner drove the wagon.

POLICEMAN IS SHOT

Coming away from Hall's store the outfit was held up by a policeman. After some argument, Good fired a revolver at the policeman wounding him. Other police who were watching W. O. Smith's office, where the Committee was meeting hurried up Fort street to the scene of the shooting.

The Committee finding it was released from surveillance, left the office and headed by Sanford B. Dole, walked along Merchant streets, across palace Square to the Government House (now the Judiciary Building), and demanded of an official within that he surrender the structure, which he did. The Committee went to the front entrance and there the proclamation was read which abrogated the monarchy, dethroned the queen and established the Provisional Government with Judge Dole as president.

Meanwhile, McCarthy, royalist, had gone to the place where he expected royalists to gather-in front of the Government Building, waikiki of the statue of Kamehameha I. He waited and waited. No royalists arrived. Then he saw the Committee of Safety walking toward the building . He turned to look here and there, expecting reinforcements. Where were the royalist police? Where were the royalist friends of the queen?

The Committee walked steadily along, across the front of the building and then inside.
McCarthy found himself a one-man army-for the Royalists.

ARMED WITH WHISTLE

When the Committee was passing the old opera house, where the waikiki end of the Federal building now stands, Oscar E. White, Provisional sympathizer, jumped from a hack, a rifle in his hands, and joined the Dole party. He had heard the shot down town and had hurried toward the armory, but seeing the Dole party, left his hack. Mr. Dole suggested that he might come along, and when in the building suggested that he take up a position on the makai lanai of the building.

White was the one-man army of the Provisional Government, for the armed forces did not arrive at the Government building for several minutes.
White later found that his rifle and his belt of cartridges did not synchronize.

Col. McCarthy was asked a few years ago by A. P. Taylor, librarian of the Archives, what he was armed with when he went to the rendezvous.

He replied: 'Well, when I learned of what had happened down town, I didn't have time to go and get a gun, so I just hurried over to the Government Building. I expected the police would join whatever royalists were there, and I could borrow a gun from one of them.''

'Then, what did you have for arms?' was asked.

'Oh, I just had my police whistle.'

This is an obituary sent to me by Jody Morgan (Edward Morgan 3rd's wife). I don't know which paper it was from, maybe 'The Garden Island'

Charles J. McCarthy

In sorrow, we record the passing of another friend, Charles J. McCarthy, to whom death has come as a happy release from a long siege of bodily pain and suffering through which his limitless courage and supreme faith in immortality carried him to the end.

We knew and respected him as a god man good citizen, sincere, honest, straightforward, courteous Ł possessing all the lovable attributes of one whose high character make precious the memory of friendship Ł in his personal, family and official life always the same.

The fifth Governor of Hawaii, appointed by President Woodrow Wilson to fill out the unexpired tem of his predecessor, Hon. Lucius E. Pinkham, Colonel McCarthy earned national renown for the manner in which he directed public affairs in Hawaii during the trying final period of the Great War and through the equally difficult reconstruction period, after the Armistice.

Endowed with keen appreciation of the privilege of American citizenship, Charles J. McCarthy held foremost a citizen's duties and responsibilities during all of the forty-eight years that he lived in this community, giving the best that was in him in whatever position or situation fell to his lot.

Politically, his inclinations were in the direction of minority leadership, the best vantage-ground for aggressive and constructive civic reform. His sincerity of purpose and high ideals gained for him the respect of his opponents, for there was nothing of the demagogue in his make-up. Men listened well when he advanced his independent lines of reasoning, recognizing his innate patriotism and sterling abilities.

So thoroughly had he entrenched himself in the esteem of his fellow citizens, at the close of his difficult term as Hawaii's War Governor, that he was chosen by popular acclaim to speak for Hawaiian interests at Washington. He remained at the national capitol as the citizen representative of the chamber of commerce of Honolulu and the Territory until he felt tat his mission had been fully accomplished-what he did having been so well done that it has been unnecessary to send others to replace him.

His was the proud heritage of a clean, manly and well-spent life, for Charles J. McCarthy was a man's man among us, upright in all his dealings. We grieve the passing of o friend.

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