“The Ross Families of Hakalau”: Sources for this story
Orientation to Data Sources
Brothers George & John Ross, the Managers
John M Ross(1868-1946)
From the Bank of Hawaii John Ross Foundation write up (see online) we learn that John arrived in Hawaii from Scotland in Jan 1895 although his own account in a 1920 passport application (see below) says he left Scotland for Hawaii in Dec 1893.
We first see John in a Hawaii Isle "city directory" in 1896 where he is overseer at Hakalau. A reliable source noted below puts John’s start as manager at August, 1905.
From the 1905 Hawaii County City Directory. This is the year John M Ross took over as manager. These were all the folks who got their mail at the Hakalau Post Office. It indicates the kinds of residents lived in the Hakalau area at this time.
Japanese Association (branch), Y Yokoyama secretary
Emily Aitken private teacher
E S Capellas school teacher
Kauila, H Rev, pastor native church
Alex Smith, head luna, lived in Honohina (Scotland, emigrated 1898)
Geo Chalmers Team Luna (from Scotland, emigrated 1900)
William Elliot Luna
J. Inglis, luna
J M Jamie luna
S Jaques, luna Hakalau (lived in Honohina)
Liliko, George, Luna (White, he had emigrated in 1904. In 1910 he was at Onomea)
Lopes, Mariano, Luna (Portuguese)
Steve Rocha, luna (Portuguese)
Joseph Santiago, luna, lives in Honohina (age 41 from Portugal)
T Scott , Luna
Lambert Thompson, timekeeper (age 27 from Maine)
R C Sadler, engineer
Andrew Kapfenberg, engineer
Archibald Ainslee blacksmith
Jacintho Gonsalves harnessmaker
Wm Ross, store manager, Hakalau
J S B Mackenzie, asst storekeeper
Honohina Store J Paterson mgr
H V Patten bookkeeper
T H Roberts bookkeeper
Fred Irwin physician and surgeon (no hospital in the area; he served 3 plantations)
Hookano, land owner Honohina
Kaiahua, land owner
Kehakiko Mahiki, land owner
Joseph Mahunu, land owner
Maukoli, farmer, Wailea
Kakaulelio taro planter, Umauma
Kamahehiai, taro planter, Umauma
Kimo, taro planter, Umauma
S Kawachika, drugs, Wailea
B B Macy, landowner and “agent to take acknowledgments”
B Masumoto, blacksmith Waikamalo
J H Moragne surveyor public works dept
Okabe M, tinsmith, Wailea
Y Shimamura, gen merchandise
Simomura, gen merchandise, Waikamalu
Tashiro Masataro, restaurant
Manuel Cardinha Stage Driver lived in Waikamalu
From June 4, 1942 Honolulu Star Bulletin see retirement article. His life and accomplishments are noted. His retirement scheduled for “August 1942”.
From 1900 U.S. Census, John is living with brother George and family (2 kids) in Hakalau. He is "Overseer" at this time and not yet married. (Note: This census misspells last name as Rofs.)
In 1910, C. Brewer & Co took over as owner and “agent” of Hakalau Plantation. John was manager during this period. Until this time, Hakalau Sugar had been owned by Claus Spreckels, a partner in the firm of William G. Irwin and Company.
“…the amalgamation of William G. Irwin and Company, Limited, sugar factors, with C. Brewer & Company. This transaction was consummated and became effective January 1, 1910.” Source: A History of C. Brewer & Company. Ltd: One Hundred Years in the Hawaiian Islands 1826-1926.
In “The Story of C. Brewer and Company” by Scott Stone (1991):
By 1910 when C. Brewer took over Hakalau –“No longer did a plantation agent merely arrange shipping and the sale of sugar. Now the agent handled the plantation finances, records, taxes, purchases and general supervision. An agent might be involved in engineering and legal problems –any problem in fact that could impact on field or factory.”
From a 1920 passport application filled out by the man himself:
Born in Kincardine in the county of Ross and Cromarty in northern Scotland
Father's name: Hugh Ross
Date of birth: 12 Aug, 1868
Sailed from Glasgow in Dec of 1893 and had been residing in Hakalau since 1894(?).
Naturalized: 29 Aug 1900
Description: Age 52, height 5' 11 3/4", hair turning grey, ruddy complexion, blue eyes, "thumb on left hand disfigured". There's a picture but it's so blackened out it's useless.
From his wife's passport application of 1920:
Name: Georgiana Munro Ross
Birthdate: 4 June 1878
Birthplace: Blairatholl, Scotland
Immigrated to U.S. in 1901
Description: 5' 7", fair complexion, blue eyes. The picture is unusable
See Georgiana's photo from 1924 passport. Age 46.
From "Men of Hawaii, vol 4, 1930" (available online), the write up for John M. says: "married Georgiana Stewart, Franklin, Pa, Dec 18, 1902" and that they had known each other as children back in Scotland.
Write up of John M Ross in “Men of Hawaii 1930”
Men of Hawaii, vol 4, 1930
Ross, John Munro: Manager. Hakalau Plantation Co. Born Aug. 12, 1868, Kincardine. Ross-Shire, Scotland, son of Hugh and Mary (Forbes) Ross; married Georginna Stewart, Franklin, Pa., Dec. 18, 1902; 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, past Master Kilauea Lodge No. 330; Shriner, Aloha Temple; member Masonic Club, San Francisco; Hilo Yacht Club; Hilo Rotary Club; honorary member, John M. Ross Chapter Future Farmers of America, and Hakalau Athletic & Social Club; member, Kilauea Council, Boy Scouts and troop committeeman, Troop 5, Hakalau; California Automobile Association; first vice-president, First Trust Co. of Hilo; first vice-president, Hawaiian Insurance & Guaranty Co.; member advisory board, Hilo branch, Bank of Hawaii, Ltd.; trustee. First Foreign Church, Hilo; member United States Chamber of Commerce; director Hilo Chamber of Commerce; president Hawaii Welfare Bureau; commissioner of Public Instruction; territorial district fire warden for North and South Hilo; executive committeeman, East Hawaii, territorial central committee of Republican party; trustee, Hawaii Bureau of Governmental Research.
Coming to Hawaii in January 1895, Mr. Ross for the past thirty-five years has been continuously in the employ of one corporation, the Hakalau Plantation Co., of which he has been manager for twenty-five years. Earlier positions were overseer and head overseer. Before coming to the Islands he had been engaged in farming and railroad work in his native Scotland. Mrs. Ross was also born in Scotland, a childhood friend of her husband. Known as one of the foremost agriculturists of the Hawaiian sugar industry, through his many years of service as manager of Hakalau, Mr. Ross believes deeply that the prosperity of coming generations in the Islands lies in the land, and he has been an active leader in the movement to encourage boys and young men to take up agriculture as their life work. Hakalau has become a model plantation in the promotion of this important work.
For this generation of Scots living in Hawaii, trips back to Scotland were common, though somewhat difficult and quite time consuming. John had a number of them. The 1920 passport was for a Scotland trip intended to last 8 months. Other trips to Scotland found in passenger lists occurred in 1924,1928 and 1935, all with his wife. There are a few other trips, mostly to San Francisco. It's likely I haven't accounted for everything.
John's attachment to the homeland was strong. One small indication: I find on the internet that he was a "subscriber" to "Reminiscences and Reflections of an Octogenarian Highlander" by Duncan Campbell (1910).
From the Annual Report for Hakalau Plantation 1942, we see that W. Jennings took over as Manager in that year. (These Annual Reports are not available to the public. Property of Olsen Trust.)
About the labor strikes:
https://sites.google.com/a/hawaii.edu/ndnp-hawaii/Home/subject-and-topic-guides/labor-strikes
His years in residence at the Manager's residence: 1898-194?. He moved in after the house was completed. Still single and still with the job of “timekeeper”, he lived with his brother George (the Manager then) and his family (1900 Census). In Aug 1905, he took over as Manager, continuing to live in that residence until at least 1942 when Willis Jennings took over as Manager.
From Aug 27, 1946 Hilo Tribune Herald obituary (front page): At the time of his death he was living in Ninole, near Hakalau.
From June 6, 2017 excerpt from Hilo Trib June 6, 1942: “Hakalau – After graduation exercises of the 1942 class for Hakalau Intermediate School, John M. Ross, manager of Hakalau Plantation, was honored by the Hakalau PTA and the School. August S. Costa, president of the local PTA, expressed the sentiments of the organization towards Ross who is retiring at the end of June after 47 years of service at the Hakalau Plantation…. A gift was presented to Ross by the PTA. E.S. Capellas, principal of the school, spoke on behalf of the faculty and the children who are, and have been obligated to Ross for many, many favors… To honor Ross, Hakalau Intermediate, the teachers and children contributed to the acquisition of an enlarged picture of Ross to be hung in Capellas Hall.
He's buried at Homelani Cemetery in Hilo (source: findagrave). Died Aug 27,1946 at age 78. His wife was buried with him. She died 29 Apr 1967 at age 88 (source: findagrave). Also included on the gravestone: Mary Stewart Ross (1904-1905), -their only child.
Older brother George (1857-1922)
The infamous lynching of Tatsu Goto in Honokaa in October 1889 provoked in strong response in Hakalau. During the trial, 400 Japanese workers from Hakalau Plantation marched to Hilo to protest their working conditions. See:
https://books.google.com/books?id=TVB_AgAAQBAJ&pg=PT197&lpg=PT197&dq=hakalau+plantation+history&source=bl&ots=U5vYlE0opD&sig=m02vrCRjulHLH1EP90x_Tjg52AE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj0_OOE96vYAhVG22MKHaDQDZs4KBDoAQgrMAE#v=onepage&q=hakalau%20plantation%20history&f=false
From “The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer” Vol. xxi, No. 11 pp 168 (Aug 1908) is a write up on him which, along with other information, clarify the periods 1882-1890 and 1905-1910:
When he first came to Hawaii in 1882, he worked for the Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company on Maui. Like Hakalau, it was owned at the time by Claus Spreckels. He remained there until 1890, working in “various positions finally reaching that of head overseer…” During his time there, this sugar plantation became the largest producer in the islands. From there he went on to become manager at Hakalau.
[Note: The fact that George was head overseer at the Spreckels-owned plantation and that was the biggest and most productive in the islands had to have been important in his getting the manager’s job at another Spreckels plantation -Hakalau. Honolulu Plantation, where he was manager from 1908-1910, was also owned by Spreckels.]
“In August 1905, Mr Ross tendered his resignation as manager of Hakalau, and from that time until January, 1907 he was absent from Hawaii. At the last mentioned date, Mr Ross returned to the Territory to accept the position of manager at Honolulu Plantation Company…”
[Note: The fact that he returned to Hawaii from Tokyo (source: passenger list) makes it likely that he was traveling throughout this year and a half.]
During his time at Honolulu Plantation, “a complete refining plant has been added to the factory, this being the first of its kind to be installed in the Hawaii.”
How ethnic-based wage differentiation was discontinued in1909 comes from “Pau Nana: Plantation Life and Labor in Hawaii by Ronald Takaki” pp. 163.
City directory confirms he was manager at Honolulu until at least 1909.
According to city directories, James Chalmers was manager of Hakalau in at least part of1890. John Chalmers, my great-grandfather’s brother, was “overseer” there at that time. In the “Planter’s Monthly” of Oct 1891 pp 463 (available online), George Ross was manager and both James and John Chalmers remained as “overseers”, although the city directory for 1892 indicates they both were gone from Hakalau. (So far as I know, James is not related to John, though it’s possible.) At the time, Hakalau Plantation had 4,000 acres, produced 50 tons of sugar a day and employed 650 men (source: 1892 city directory for Hawaii County).
Pacific Coast Commercial Record – a 1892 issue that includes “George Ross”
https://books.google.com/books?id=jAuzOipG26YC&pg=PA454&lpg=PA454&dq=william+g+irwin+george+ross&source=bl&ots=g8i9qpLm1c&sig=LI9VeLT10lksJQ7Mm_dQ3in-pmo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiD7tH6ifHWAhVJz1QKHUn4AGMQ6AEIOjAH#v=onepage&q=william%20g%20irwin%20george%20ross&f=false
From the book “Colonizing Hawai'i: The Cultural Power of Law, by Sally Engle Merry see pp 137 for quote from Carlsmith about power of managers in 1890.
Written reaction of manager’s to the idea of arbitration in labor disputes in 1895. George Ross is included as one of 6 Hamakua managers replying with one response:
https://books.google.com/books?id=7VM1AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=arbitration+of+labor+1895+hawaii&source=bl&ots=C6InkdWMS2&sig=y3wpYrL4v-2MpiAK6fxPaNOrDMo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwis5vnjsLzZAhUB42MKHWmoDsUQ6AEIOTAB#v=onepage&q=arbitration%20of%20labor%201895%20hawaii&f=false
From a passport application issued 21 Mar 1919, George states:
Birthdate: 25 Nov 1857
Birthplace: Inveshin, Scotland
Father: Hugh Ross
Immigration to U.S.: 1882 [age 24] -resided in U.S. since then in "Hawaii, & San Francisco"
At the time, he lived in Piedmont, Calif (near Oakland)
Occupation: "Sugar Planter"
The purpose of the passport app was to go to Sinaloa, Mexico on "Sugar business"
He was naturalized in Calif on 6 Oct 1913
Description: 61 at the time. Height 5' 9", "grey thin" hair. See his passport picture attached to this Email
Another passport application issued the year before (Sept 1918) includes photo of him and wife. Much younger than the 1919 picture so it must have been taken years before.
From George’s 1913 Naturalization application:
He married Katherine Lishman in Sydney, Australia in 1891, soon after he took over as manager of Hakalau.
2 kids, both born in Hakalau -Donald Lishman 20 Apr, 1892; Madeline Forbes 10 Feb 1896. (John M. was living at the family’s house when Donald was born until he was about age 13. Later correspondence indicates the relationship was close.)
He states he immigrated to Hawaii in Aug 1882 and resided there "until about June 2, 1910."
From the 1920 Census (family living in Piedmont, near Oakland): wife Katherine G. was born about 1871 in Australia. Her immigration year is unreadable. She was naturalized: "1910". They had a Chinese servant living with them (cook).
From an obituary for George written by John M. Ross:
Born in “little Hamlet of Balchraggan, Invershin”
“the second son of the late Huge Ross, [Huge was] for many years Boatbuilder..”
From a Jan 1927 passenger list (Honolulu to San F), Katherine’s birthdate of 10 Dec 1871 is noted; birthplace: Sydney; still living in Piedmont, Calif., "Married American citizen 1891"
George made a number of trips (source: passenger lists). I found these below. They're all Honolulu arrivals so travel on to the Big Isle is unknown though likely for at least some:
Oct 13, 1906 only George arriving from Tokyo [this was right after John took over as Manager]
Nov 23, 1911 both George and Katherine arriving from Hong Kong
Oct 18 1918 both from Manila
Jan 3 1919 both from San F
Dec 15 1920 both from San F
Apr 22, 1922 only George from San F
The fact that his son, Donald, was working as an "agent" for Standard Oil in Hilo between 1918-1922 (source: City Directories) must have increased his interest in making these visits.
George died young at age 63 -June 20, 1922- in Piedmont right after returning from a trip to Hawaii. Source: California Death Index.
??[not sure on this one] His wife Katherine died Jun 18, 1965 in San Mateo. Their son Donald died there on Jan 29, 1973 (sources: Calif Death Index and findagrave)
The 1871 Scotland Census shows George and John were brothers.
It shows father Hugh Ross (age 56) with his 3 sons and daughter Jessie:
George 13
Jessie 11
William 9
John 2
Father Hugh's occupation is "shepherd". No wife noted. It is likely that, since John was only 2, he was recently widowed.
Hugh as father was also indicated in the passport applications for both George and John.
Kim Kohl's family tree notes John's mother was Mary Forbes Ross.
Second pair of Hakalau Ross brothers: William and George
Distant cousins of the Managers.
The parents of William the storekeeper and postmaster (1879-1955), and George the Head Overseer (1884-1963)
Kim Kohl, now living in Highland Park, Illinois, is William's granddaughter. Her family tree shows "George" and "Annie" as the parents of William and George. To corroborate this, the 1891 Scotland census also shows a family record with this combination of facts: a) parent's names George and Ann; b) with sons George and William; c) these 2 sons are at the ages we'd expect them to be. Also from this census: Both brothers were born in the parish Creich within the county of Sutherland. Creich is a large Highland parish in northern Scotland.
William, the Hakalau Store manager (1879-1955).
The 1910 Census shows immigration year of 1902 and the city directory of 1903 is where we first see him in Hakalau as "clk" [clerk] at Hakalau Store. By 1905 he is store manager, a position he held until at least 1935 (source: city directories). In 1910, still single, he was living by himself in a residence in Kaiwiki (near Hakalau). The 1910 census says wife Mary McClean Ross immigrated from Scotland to the U.S. in 1911, though the 1930 census says 1908. In 1930, we see 4 kids: William (15), Moira (14), McLean (12), Ramona (9). Lived in Up Camp. Don't yet know when or where they met, or when married. It was somewhere around 1913-14.
Wife Mary McClean was born 18 Aug 1883 in Scotland. Died 2 June 1970 at age 86 in Highland Park, Lake County, Illinois where daughter, Moira, and her family were living.
From Postmaster registers (available online), I see that William was postmaster at Hakalau from at least 1905, ending Dec 1934. This gives some indication that he retired in 1935.
From William’s daughter, Ramona, is this quote about the transition from “old” to the “new” store:
“The old store occupied the same spot as the “new” one. They simply moved the old one back. I think it occupied space across the railroad spur, on the road. They carried on business as usual. Dad actually worked at his desk during the move. That was in 1927.”
The discussion of plantation-run stores came from this url:
https://www.facebook.com/maui247/posts/821685324578143
I don't find naturalization or passport documents for William or Mary. Don’t find them in the 1940 Census. It expected that they were in Honolulu at that time.
From 1919 passenger list: William was naturalized Mar 17, 1914
It appears that he and the family moved to Honolulu after he retired. Waiting for Kim Kohl to confirm that.
William died Dec 1955. He’s buried at Diamond Head Cemetery in Honolulu with his wife Mary McClean Ross who died June 1970 (source: Diamond Head Memorial Park plot locator).
"George the younger"- the Overseer (1884-1963).
A reference to "George Ross" can get confusing when it comes to Hakalau history. This George came from Scotland in 1909 at about age 25 (sources: a. 1910 U.S. census; b. Passenger list -arrived in New York from Glasgow on May 23, 1909, stated destination is Hawaii).
He held the position of “timekeeper” from 1910 to 1917 (source: city directories). In 1918 he is “head overseer” and in 1919 “assistant manager” (city directory), remaining in that position until at least 1941, living in Up Camp Hakalau (source: 1940 census). He worked the entire time with John Ross as manager. Since wife Esther is in the 1941 Hakalau School yearbook (available via Hakalauhome.com), I assume George was still working at that time. So George retired about the time John M. did.
George’s timekeeper job is described by Herman Lujan, PhD in his book “And the Ohana Continues” (available online). He was born in the area of the Hakalau Plantation. - “To get to this job you had to be up at 4 in the morning, be in the fields at 5:00 a.m., get full work teams for the luna (“overseer”), handle the time cards, and deal with having teams large enough to work the fields set for that day.”
Passenger list: In Aug 1919, wife-to-be Esther Bentley arrives in Hawaii.
1920 census has Esther Bentley living with 3 other teachers in teacher's quarters in Hakalau.
At the time Esther arrived in 1919, Hakalau School had 11 teachers, 350 students and 2 teacher’s cottages (source: 1941 Hakalau School Yearbook in Hakalauhome website).
From passenger lists: Son John born Nov 7, 1924, son George born Feb 5, 1926, daughter Ellen Ann born Dec 1922. Wife Esther was born 3 May 1893 in Negaunee, Michigan.
An aside: In the 1930 census a 25 yr old lodger named Ian Ross from Scotland was living with George and family in Hakalau. Occupation: "Bookkeeper, General Merchandise." Immigration yr: 1925. Likely related to William and George, but I don't find him in any other Hawaii-related data source.
Travel for George the younger included:
Vancouver, BC July 1919 by himself
San Fran Sept 1923 with wife
San Fran Sept 1929 with wife
I can't find any travel to Scotland but can't rule it out.
Given the trips to Scotland and the U.S. that John M took in the ‘20s and ‘30s (see above), we can assume that George had some extended periods as “acting manager.”
His son, George Jr (1926-2012) had lunch with a Hakalau friend of mine (Cal Motoda) in Hilo shortly before he died.
From his 1942 WWII Draft Registration Card, we see that he was living in Portland, Oregon, age 58, and notes his occupation as "(out of employment)".
George's death: 26 Sep 1963 at age 79, Portland, Oregon. Sources: 1) Kim Kohl's family tree says 1963; 2) The Oregon Death Index. Wife Esther died there 8 May 1987 at age 94 (source Oregon Death Index). It appears George spent his retirement years there -approximately 21 yrs.
The two pairs of brothers are related
It's a somewhat odd relationship. Head Overseer George Ross's great-grandfather (John 1811-1852) was Manager John M. Ross' uncle (Hugh 1813-1885). You can assume the same relationship for the 2 brothers I leave out of this statement. A couple factors help explain the difference in generations: 1) father Hugh had son John when he was about 54 yrs old; 2) Overseer George was 16 yrs younger than John M. So George the Overseer or William the storekeeper could have said: "The Manager's uncle was my great-grandfather." Or he might have said: "The Manager is a distant cousin of mine". Technically, he would have said: "The Manager is my first cousin, twice removed."
The evidence for this relationship:
1. Kim Kohl offered the family tree done by her mother (Moira), a daughter of William the storekeeper. It shows the relationship of John M. Ross to George and William. Ross. You may take my word for it or follow these instructions as you look at this family tree:
Locate John Ross (1811-1852) near the top. See just to the right of John that he has a younger brother Hugh (1815-85).
Directly below "Hugh" you'll see, written lightly, the words "son- John Munro Ross". I can corroborate this note from two other sources. 1. The passport app attached notes "Hugh" as his father. 2. The 1871 Scotland census shows Hugh as his father.
Trace Kim Kohl's tree and you'll see that Head Overseer George Ross's great-grandfather (John: 1811-1852) was Manager John M. Ross' uncle.
2. Other data sources corroborate what Kim's family tree shows:
In the Scotland 1891 census, I see that the parents of Overseer George and storekeeper William were George and Ann. That tracks with Kim's tree. The 5 kids in this census enumeration sheet -Sarah, Donald, Jessie, George, William- also track with Kim's tree.
In the Scotland 1871 census, I find father Hugh with his sons John M and his older brother George at the ages you'd expect.
The 1920 Passport document filled out by Manager John Ross himself indicates his father's name was Hugh.
George the younger and William the storekeeper are a 2nd set of brothers.
Orientation to Data Sources
- Directly related to the Rosses or to Hakalau
- U.S. Census and Scotland Census enumeration sheets up to 1940
- U.S. City Directories including Hawaii County from 1890.
- U.S. passport applications
- Passenger lists
- Grave locator databases
- U.S. Naturalization applications
- Various birth and death indexes
- U.S. draft registration cards
- Bank of Hawaii John Ross Foundation (available online)
- June 4 1942 Honolulu Star Bulletin article about John M. Ross at his retirement
- Men of Hawaii, vol 4, 1930" (available online) about John M. Ross
- Aug 27, 1946 Hilo Tribune Herald obituary of John M. Ross
- The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer” Vol. xxi, No. 11 pp 168 (Aug 1908 about George Ross, brother of John M.
- “And the Ohana Continues” by Herman Lujan
- In some cases, links to articles and book excerpts available online are provided below
- Public documents more generally about the Sugar industry and the era
- A History of C. Brewer & Company. Ltd: One Hundred Years in the Hawaiian Islands 1826-1926
- The Story of C. Brewer and Company by Scott Stone (1991)
- In some cases, links to articles and book excerpts available online are provided below
- Documents which are not public at present
- Annual Reports from John M. Ross to C. Brewer Board of Directors.
- One letter from Georgianna Ross and one from John M. Ross
- An obituary written by John M. Ross about his brother George Ross. A type written copy. It’s not known whether or where it was published.
- Kim Kohl, granddaughter of William Ross, the Hakalau Store manager, provided information from his mother and aunt who grew up in Hakalau in the 1920s and 30s. This includes emails, a family tree, quotes from her mother and aunt about life in Hakalau, a map of Hakalau village from memory.
Brothers George & John Ross, the Managers
John M Ross(1868-1946)
From the Bank of Hawaii John Ross Foundation write up (see online) we learn that John arrived in Hawaii from Scotland in Jan 1895 although his own account in a 1920 passport application (see below) says he left Scotland for Hawaii in Dec 1893.
We first see John in a Hawaii Isle "city directory" in 1896 where he is overseer at Hakalau. A reliable source noted below puts John’s start as manager at August, 1905.
From the 1905 Hawaii County City Directory. This is the year John M Ross took over as manager. These were all the folks who got their mail at the Hakalau Post Office. It indicates the kinds of residents lived in the Hakalau area at this time.
Japanese Association (branch), Y Yokoyama secretary
Emily Aitken private teacher
E S Capellas school teacher
Kauila, H Rev, pastor native church
Alex Smith, head luna, lived in Honohina (Scotland, emigrated 1898)
Geo Chalmers Team Luna (from Scotland, emigrated 1900)
William Elliot Luna
J. Inglis, luna
J M Jamie luna
S Jaques, luna Hakalau (lived in Honohina)
Liliko, George, Luna (White, he had emigrated in 1904. In 1910 he was at Onomea)
Lopes, Mariano, Luna (Portuguese)
Steve Rocha, luna (Portuguese)
Joseph Santiago, luna, lives in Honohina (age 41 from Portugal)
T Scott , Luna
Lambert Thompson, timekeeper (age 27 from Maine)
R C Sadler, engineer
Andrew Kapfenberg, engineer
Archibald Ainslee blacksmith
Jacintho Gonsalves harnessmaker
Wm Ross, store manager, Hakalau
J S B Mackenzie, asst storekeeper
Honohina Store J Paterson mgr
H V Patten bookkeeper
T H Roberts bookkeeper
Fred Irwin physician and surgeon (no hospital in the area; he served 3 plantations)
Hookano, land owner Honohina
Kaiahua, land owner
Kehakiko Mahiki, land owner
Joseph Mahunu, land owner
Maukoli, farmer, Wailea
Kakaulelio taro planter, Umauma
Kamahehiai, taro planter, Umauma
Kimo, taro planter, Umauma
S Kawachika, drugs, Wailea
B B Macy, landowner and “agent to take acknowledgments”
B Masumoto, blacksmith Waikamalo
J H Moragne surveyor public works dept
Okabe M, tinsmith, Wailea
Y Shimamura, gen merchandise
Simomura, gen merchandise, Waikamalu
Tashiro Masataro, restaurant
Manuel Cardinha Stage Driver lived in Waikamalu
From June 4, 1942 Honolulu Star Bulletin see retirement article. His life and accomplishments are noted. His retirement scheduled for “August 1942”.
From 1900 U.S. Census, John is living with brother George and family (2 kids) in Hakalau. He is "Overseer" at this time and not yet married. (Note: This census misspells last name as Rofs.)
In 1910, C. Brewer & Co took over as owner and “agent” of Hakalau Plantation. John was manager during this period. Until this time, Hakalau Sugar had been owned by Claus Spreckels, a partner in the firm of William G. Irwin and Company.
“…the amalgamation of William G. Irwin and Company, Limited, sugar factors, with C. Brewer & Company. This transaction was consummated and became effective January 1, 1910.” Source: A History of C. Brewer & Company. Ltd: One Hundred Years in the Hawaiian Islands 1826-1926.
In “The Story of C. Brewer and Company” by Scott Stone (1991):
By 1910 when C. Brewer took over Hakalau –“No longer did a plantation agent merely arrange shipping and the sale of sugar. Now the agent handled the plantation finances, records, taxes, purchases and general supervision. An agent might be involved in engineering and legal problems –any problem in fact that could impact on field or factory.”
From a 1920 passport application filled out by the man himself:
Born in Kincardine in the county of Ross and Cromarty in northern Scotland
Father's name: Hugh Ross
Date of birth: 12 Aug, 1868
Sailed from Glasgow in Dec of 1893 and had been residing in Hakalau since 1894(?).
Naturalized: 29 Aug 1900
Description: Age 52, height 5' 11 3/4", hair turning grey, ruddy complexion, blue eyes, "thumb on left hand disfigured". There's a picture but it's so blackened out it's useless.
From his wife's passport application of 1920:
Name: Georgiana Munro Ross
Birthdate: 4 June 1878
Birthplace: Blairatholl, Scotland
Immigrated to U.S. in 1901
Description: 5' 7", fair complexion, blue eyes. The picture is unusable
See Georgiana's photo from 1924 passport. Age 46.
From "Men of Hawaii, vol 4, 1930" (available online), the write up for John M. says: "married Georgiana Stewart, Franklin, Pa, Dec 18, 1902" and that they had known each other as children back in Scotland.
Write up of John M Ross in “Men of Hawaii 1930”
Men of Hawaii, vol 4, 1930
Ross, John Munro: Manager. Hakalau Plantation Co. Born Aug. 12, 1868, Kincardine. Ross-Shire, Scotland, son of Hugh and Mary (Forbes) Ross; married Georginna Stewart, Franklin, Pa., Dec. 18, 1902; 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, past Master Kilauea Lodge No. 330; Shriner, Aloha Temple; member Masonic Club, San Francisco; Hilo Yacht Club; Hilo Rotary Club; honorary member, John M. Ross Chapter Future Farmers of America, and Hakalau Athletic & Social Club; member, Kilauea Council, Boy Scouts and troop committeeman, Troop 5, Hakalau; California Automobile Association; first vice-president, First Trust Co. of Hilo; first vice-president, Hawaiian Insurance & Guaranty Co.; member advisory board, Hilo branch, Bank of Hawaii, Ltd.; trustee. First Foreign Church, Hilo; member United States Chamber of Commerce; director Hilo Chamber of Commerce; president Hawaii Welfare Bureau; commissioner of Public Instruction; territorial district fire warden for North and South Hilo; executive committeeman, East Hawaii, territorial central committee of Republican party; trustee, Hawaii Bureau of Governmental Research.
Coming to Hawaii in January 1895, Mr. Ross for the past thirty-five years has been continuously in the employ of one corporation, the Hakalau Plantation Co., of which he has been manager for twenty-five years. Earlier positions were overseer and head overseer. Before coming to the Islands he had been engaged in farming and railroad work in his native Scotland. Mrs. Ross was also born in Scotland, a childhood friend of her husband. Known as one of the foremost agriculturists of the Hawaiian sugar industry, through his many years of service as manager of Hakalau, Mr. Ross believes deeply that the prosperity of coming generations in the Islands lies in the land, and he has been an active leader in the movement to encourage boys and young men to take up agriculture as their life work. Hakalau has become a model plantation in the promotion of this important work.
For this generation of Scots living in Hawaii, trips back to Scotland were common, though somewhat difficult and quite time consuming. John had a number of them. The 1920 passport was for a Scotland trip intended to last 8 months. Other trips to Scotland found in passenger lists occurred in 1924,1928 and 1935, all with his wife. There are a few other trips, mostly to San Francisco. It's likely I haven't accounted for everything.
John's attachment to the homeland was strong. One small indication: I find on the internet that he was a "subscriber" to "Reminiscences and Reflections of an Octogenarian Highlander" by Duncan Campbell (1910).
From the Annual Report for Hakalau Plantation 1942, we see that W. Jennings took over as Manager in that year. (These Annual Reports are not available to the public. Property of Olsen Trust.)
About the labor strikes:
https://sites.google.com/a/hawaii.edu/ndnp-hawaii/Home/subject-and-topic-guides/labor-strikes
His years in residence at the Manager's residence: 1898-194?. He moved in after the house was completed. Still single and still with the job of “timekeeper”, he lived with his brother George (the Manager then) and his family (1900 Census). In Aug 1905, he took over as Manager, continuing to live in that residence until at least 1942 when Willis Jennings took over as Manager.
From Aug 27, 1946 Hilo Tribune Herald obituary (front page): At the time of his death he was living in Ninole, near Hakalau.
From June 6, 2017 excerpt from Hilo Trib June 6, 1942: “Hakalau – After graduation exercises of the 1942 class for Hakalau Intermediate School, John M. Ross, manager of Hakalau Plantation, was honored by the Hakalau PTA and the School. August S. Costa, president of the local PTA, expressed the sentiments of the organization towards Ross who is retiring at the end of June after 47 years of service at the Hakalau Plantation…. A gift was presented to Ross by the PTA. E.S. Capellas, principal of the school, spoke on behalf of the faculty and the children who are, and have been obligated to Ross for many, many favors… To honor Ross, Hakalau Intermediate, the teachers and children contributed to the acquisition of an enlarged picture of Ross to be hung in Capellas Hall.
He's buried at Homelani Cemetery in Hilo (source: findagrave). Died Aug 27,1946 at age 78. His wife was buried with him. She died 29 Apr 1967 at age 88 (source: findagrave). Also included on the gravestone: Mary Stewart Ross (1904-1905), -their only child.
Older brother George (1857-1922)
The infamous lynching of Tatsu Goto in Honokaa in October 1889 provoked in strong response in Hakalau. During the trial, 400 Japanese workers from Hakalau Plantation marched to Hilo to protest their working conditions. See:
https://books.google.com/books?id=TVB_AgAAQBAJ&pg=PT197&lpg=PT197&dq=hakalau+plantation+history&source=bl&ots=U5vYlE0opD&sig=m02vrCRjulHLH1EP90x_Tjg52AE&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj0_OOE96vYAhVG22MKHaDQDZs4KBDoAQgrMAE#v=onepage&q=hakalau%20plantation%20history&f=false
From “The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer” Vol. xxi, No. 11 pp 168 (Aug 1908) is a write up on him which, along with other information, clarify the periods 1882-1890 and 1905-1910:
When he first came to Hawaii in 1882, he worked for the Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company on Maui. Like Hakalau, it was owned at the time by Claus Spreckels. He remained there until 1890, working in “various positions finally reaching that of head overseer…” During his time there, this sugar plantation became the largest producer in the islands. From there he went on to become manager at Hakalau.
[Note: The fact that George was head overseer at the Spreckels-owned plantation and that was the biggest and most productive in the islands had to have been important in his getting the manager’s job at another Spreckels plantation -Hakalau. Honolulu Plantation, where he was manager from 1908-1910, was also owned by Spreckels.]
“In August 1905, Mr Ross tendered his resignation as manager of Hakalau, and from that time until January, 1907 he was absent from Hawaii. At the last mentioned date, Mr Ross returned to the Territory to accept the position of manager at Honolulu Plantation Company…”
[Note: The fact that he returned to Hawaii from Tokyo (source: passenger list) makes it likely that he was traveling throughout this year and a half.]
During his time at Honolulu Plantation, “a complete refining plant has been added to the factory, this being the first of its kind to be installed in the Hawaii.”
How ethnic-based wage differentiation was discontinued in1909 comes from “Pau Nana: Plantation Life and Labor in Hawaii by Ronald Takaki” pp. 163.
City directory confirms he was manager at Honolulu until at least 1909.
According to city directories, James Chalmers was manager of Hakalau in at least part of1890. John Chalmers, my great-grandfather’s brother, was “overseer” there at that time. In the “Planter’s Monthly” of Oct 1891 pp 463 (available online), George Ross was manager and both James and John Chalmers remained as “overseers”, although the city directory for 1892 indicates they both were gone from Hakalau. (So far as I know, James is not related to John, though it’s possible.) At the time, Hakalau Plantation had 4,000 acres, produced 50 tons of sugar a day and employed 650 men (source: 1892 city directory for Hawaii County).
Pacific Coast Commercial Record – a 1892 issue that includes “George Ross”
https://books.google.com/books?id=jAuzOipG26YC&pg=PA454&lpg=PA454&dq=william+g+irwin+george+ross&source=bl&ots=g8i9qpLm1c&sig=LI9VeLT10lksJQ7Mm_dQ3in-pmo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiD7tH6ifHWAhVJz1QKHUn4AGMQ6AEIOjAH#v=onepage&q=william%20g%20irwin%20george%20ross&f=false
From the book “Colonizing Hawai'i: The Cultural Power of Law, by Sally Engle Merry see pp 137 for quote from Carlsmith about power of managers in 1890.
Written reaction of manager’s to the idea of arbitration in labor disputes in 1895. George Ross is included as one of 6 Hamakua managers replying with one response:
https://books.google.com/books?id=7VM1AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=arbitration+of+labor+1895+hawaii&source=bl&ots=C6InkdWMS2&sig=y3wpYrL4v-2MpiAK6fxPaNOrDMo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwis5vnjsLzZAhUB42MKHWmoDsUQ6AEIOTAB#v=onepage&q=arbitration%20of%20labor%201895%20hawaii&f=false
From a passport application issued 21 Mar 1919, George states:
Birthdate: 25 Nov 1857
Birthplace: Inveshin, Scotland
Father: Hugh Ross
Immigration to U.S.: 1882 [age 24] -resided in U.S. since then in "Hawaii, & San Francisco"
At the time, he lived in Piedmont, Calif (near Oakland)
Occupation: "Sugar Planter"
The purpose of the passport app was to go to Sinaloa, Mexico on "Sugar business"
He was naturalized in Calif on 6 Oct 1913
Description: 61 at the time. Height 5' 9", "grey thin" hair. See his passport picture attached to this Email
Another passport application issued the year before (Sept 1918) includes photo of him and wife. Much younger than the 1919 picture so it must have been taken years before.
From George’s 1913 Naturalization application:
He married Katherine Lishman in Sydney, Australia in 1891, soon after he took over as manager of Hakalau.
2 kids, both born in Hakalau -Donald Lishman 20 Apr, 1892; Madeline Forbes 10 Feb 1896. (John M. was living at the family’s house when Donald was born until he was about age 13. Later correspondence indicates the relationship was close.)
He states he immigrated to Hawaii in Aug 1882 and resided there "until about June 2, 1910."
From the 1920 Census (family living in Piedmont, near Oakland): wife Katherine G. was born about 1871 in Australia. Her immigration year is unreadable. She was naturalized: "1910". They had a Chinese servant living with them (cook).
From an obituary for George written by John M. Ross:
Born in “little Hamlet of Balchraggan, Invershin”
“the second son of the late Huge Ross, [Huge was] for many years Boatbuilder..”
From a Jan 1927 passenger list (Honolulu to San F), Katherine’s birthdate of 10 Dec 1871 is noted; birthplace: Sydney; still living in Piedmont, Calif., "Married American citizen 1891"
George made a number of trips (source: passenger lists). I found these below. They're all Honolulu arrivals so travel on to the Big Isle is unknown though likely for at least some:
Oct 13, 1906 only George arriving from Tokyo [this was right after John took over as Manager]
Nov 23, 1911 both George and Katherine arriving from Hong Kong
Oct 18 1918 both from Manila
Jan 3 1919 both from San F
Dec 15 1920 both from San F
Apr 22, 1922 only George from San F
The fact that his son, Donald, was working as an "agent" for Standard Oil in Hilo between 1918-1922 (source: City Directories) must have increased his interest in making these visits.
George died young at age 63 -June 20, 1922- in Piedmont right after returning from a trip to Hawaii. Source: California Death Index.
??[not sure on this one] His wife Katherine died Jun 18, 1965 in San Mateo. Their son Donald died there on Jan 29, 1973 (sources: Calif Death Index and findagrave)
The 1871 Scotland Census shows George and John were brothers.
It shows father Hugh Ross (age 56) with his 3 sons and daughter Jessie:
George 13
Jessie 11
William 9
John 2
Father Hugh's occupation is "shepherd". No wife noted. It is likely that, since John was only 2, he was recently widowed.
Hugh as father was also indicated in the passport applications for both George and John.
Kim Kohl's family tree notes John's mother was Mary Forbes Ross.
Second pair of Hakalau Ross brothers: William and George
Distant cousins of the Managers.
The parents of William the storekeeper and postmaster (1879-1955), and George the Head Overseer (1884-1963)
Kim Kohl, now living in Highland Park, Illinois, is William's granddaughter. Her family tree shows "George" and "Annie" as the parents of William and George. To corroborate this, the 1891 Scotland census also shows a family record with this combination of facts: a) parent's names George and Ann; b) with sons George and William; c) these 2 sons are at the ages we'd expect them to be. Also from this census: Both brothers were born in the parish Creich within the county of Sutherland. Creich is a large Highland parish in northern Scotland.
William, the Hakalau Store manager (1879-1955).
The 1910 Census shows immigration year of 1902 and the city directory of 1903 is where we first see him in Hakalau as "clk" [clerk] at Hakalau Store. By 1905 he is store manager, a position he held until at least 1935 (source: city directories). In 1910, still single, he was living by himself in a residence in Kaiwiki (near Hakalau). The 1910 census says wife Mary McClean Ross immigrated from Scotland to the U.S. in 1911, though the 1930 census says 1908. In 1930, we see 4 kids: William (15), Moira (14), McLean (12), Ramona (9). Lived in Up Camp. Don't yet know when or where they met, or when married. It was somewhere around 1913-14.
Wife Mary McClean was born 18 Aug 1883 in Scotland. Died 2 June 1970 at age 86 in Highland Park, Lake County, Illinois where daughter, Moira, and her family were living.
From Postmaster registers (available online), I see that William was postmaster at Hakalau from at least 1905, ending Dec 1934. This gives some indication that he retired in 1935.
From William’s daughter, Ramona, is this quote about the transition from “old” to the “new” store:
“The old store occupied the same spot as the “new” one. They simply moved the old one back. I think it occupied space across the railroad spur, on the road. They carried on business as usual. Dad actually worked at his desk during the move. That was in 1927.”
The discussion of plantation-run stores came from this url:
https://www.facebook.com/maui247/posts/821685324578143
I don't find naturalization or passport documents for William or Mary. Don’t find them in the 1940 Census. It expected that they were in Honolulu at that time.
From 1919 passenger list: William was naturalized Mar 17, 1914
It appears that he and the family moved to Honolulu after he retired. Waiting for Kim Kohl to confirm that.
William died Dec 1955. He’s buried at Diamond Head Cemetery in Honolulu with his wife Mary McClean Ross who died June 1970 (source: Diamond Head Memorial Park plot locator).
"George the younger"- the Overseer (1884-1963).
A reference to "George Ross" can get confusing when it comes to Hakalau history. This George came from Scotland in 1909 at about age 25 (sources: a. 1910 U.S. census; b. Passenger list -arrived in New York from Glasgow on May 23, 1909, stated destination is Hawaii).
He held the position of “timekeeper” from 1910 to 1917 (source: city directories). In 1918 he is “head overseer” and in 1919 “assistant manager” (city directory), remaining in that position until at least 1941, living in Up Camp Hakalau (source: 1940 census). He worked the entire time with John Ross as manager. Since wife Esther is in the 1941 Hakalau School yearbook (available via Hakalauhome.com), I assume George was still working at that time. So George retired about the time John M. did.
George’s timekeeper job is described by Herman Lujan, PhD in his book “And the Ohana Continues” (available online). He was born in the area of the Hakalau Plantation. - “To get to this job you had to be up at 4 in the morning, be in the fields at 5:00 a.m., get full work teams for the luna (“overseer”), handle the time cards, and deal with having teams large enough to work the fields set for that day.”
Passenger list: In Aug 1919, wife-to-be Esther Bentley arrives in Hawaii.
1920 census has Esther Bentley living with 3 other teachers in teacher's quarters in Hakalau.
At the time Esther arrived in 1919, Hakalau School had 11 teachers, 350 students and 2 teacher’s cottages (source: 1941 Hakalau School Yearbook in Hakalauhome website).
From passenger lists: Son John born Nov 7, 1924, son George born Feb 5, 1926, daughter Ellen Ann born Dec 1922. Wife Esther was born 3 May 1893 in Negaunee, Michigan.
An aside: In the 1930 census a 25 yr old lodger named Ian Ross from Scotland was living with George and family in Hakalau. Occupation: "Bookkeeper, General Merchandise." Immigration yr: 1925. Likely related to William and George, but I don't find him in any other Hawaii-related data source.
Travel for George the younger included:
Vancouver, BC July 1919 by himself
San Fran Sept 1923 with wife
San Fran Sept 1929 with wife
I can't find any travel to Scotland but can't rule it out.
Given the trips to Scotland and the U.S. that John M took in the ‘20s and ‘30s (see above), we can assume that George had some extended periods as “acting manager.”
His son, George Jr (1926-2012) had lunch with a Hakalau friend of mine (Cal Motoda) in Hilo shortly before he died.
From his 1942 WWII Draft Registration Card, we see that he was living in Portland, Oregon, age 58, and notes his occupation as "(out of employment)".
George's death: 26 Sep 1963 at age 79, Portland, Oregon. Sources: 1) Kim Kohl's family tree says 1963; 2) The Oregon Death Index. Wife Esther died there 8 May 1987 at age 94 (source Oregon Death Index). It appears George spent his retirement years there -approximately 21 yrs.
The two pairs of brothers are related
It's a somewhat odd relationship. Head Overseer George Ross's great-grandfather (John 1811-1852) was Manager John M. Ross' uncle (Hugh 1813-1885). You can assume the same relationship for the 2 brothers I leave out of this statement. A couple factors help explain the difference in generations: 1) father Hugh had son John when he was about 54 yrs old; 2) Overseer George was 16 yrs younger than John M. So George the Overseer or William the storekeeper could have said: "The Manager's uncle was my great-grandfather." Or he might have said: "The Manager is a distant cousin of mine". Technically, he would have said: "The Manager is my first cousin, twice removed."
The evidence for this relationship:
1. Kim Kohl offered the family tree done by her mother (Moira), a daughter of William the storekeeper. It shows the relationship of John M. Ross to George and William. Ross. You may take my word for it or follow these instructions as you look at this family tree:
Locate John Ross (1811-1852) near the top. See just to the right of John that he has a younger brother Hugh (1815-85).
Directly below "Hugh" you'll see, written lightly, the words "son- John Munro Ross". I can corroborate this note from two other sources. 1. The passport app attached notes "Hugh" as his father. 2. The 1871 Scotland census shows Hugh as his father.
Trace Kim Kohl's tree and you'll see that Head Overseer George Ross's great-grandfather (John: 1811-1852) was Manager John M. Ross' uncle.
2. Other data sources corroborate what Kim's family tree shows:
In the Scotland 1891 census, I see that the parents of Overseer George and storekeeper William were George and Ann. That tracks with Kim's tree. The 5 kids in this census enumeration sheet -Sarah, Donald, Jessie, George, William- also track with Kim's tree.
In the Scotland 1871 census, I find father Hugh with his sons John M and his older brother George at the ages you'd expect.
The 1920 Passport document filled out by Manager John Ross himself indicates his father's name was Hugh.
George the younger and William the storekeeper are a 2nd set of brothers.