Alfred Wellington Carter
Encyclopedia
Alfred Wellington Carter (1867–1949) was a lawyer and judge in the Republic of Hawaii
and the Territory of Hawaii
who managed the Parker Ranch
.
Another uncle Henry A. P. Carter
(1837–1891) had been a cabinet minister and diplomat for the Kingdom of Hawaii
.
Since many of his relatives were also named Alfred, he went by his initials "A. W."
Carter attended Punahou School
and became an officer in the Honolulu Rifles
militia in July 1887. By November 1889 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
.
In 1893 he graduated cum laude with an LLB degree from Yale Law School
.
He returned to live in Waikiki
and practice law with his older cousin Charles Lunt Carter. On January 6, 1895 he heard gunfire as the 1895 Counter-Revolution in Hawaii
had been discovered nearby. The Carters and neighbor James Bicknell Castle
took rifles to the scene of the shooting. Charles was hit by gunfire and died early the next morning.
On October 12, 1895 Carter married Edith Millicent Hartwell, daughter of American Civil War
General and later Hawaii judge Alfred S. Hartwell
(1836–1912). They had four children. Alfred Hartwell Carter was born December 1, 1896. Edith Millicent Carter was born February 17, 1898. Dorothy Layman Carter was born September 29, 1899. Barbara Juliette Carter was born June 25, 1901.
In 1899 Carter was appointed guardian of Annie Thelma Kahiluonapuaapiilani Parker, heir of half of the vast Parker Ranch
founded by her great-grandfather John Palmer Parker
(1790–1868). He moved to the island of Hawaii
and became manager of the ranch, although his wife stayed in Honolulu where the children attended school. Carter was often at odds with the other half-owner, Samuel Parker
, who wanted to use income from the ranch to fund his lifestyle instead of expansion. Parker sued, claiming he owned the entire ranch, and tried to remove Carter as manager. The court case dragged on for years. Carter mortgaged the ranch and bought Parker out in 1906.
In 1909 he formed the Hawaii Meat Company as a cooperative with other ranchers (although Parker Ranch was majority owner).
After Thelma died in 1914, Carter continued to advise her son Richard Smart
(1913–1992) who was the new heir. In 1937 Carter's son Alfred Hartwell Carter became manager of the ranch.
Carter died on April 27, 1949.
From 1900 to 1917 Carter was a trustee of Kamehameha Schools
, the estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop
set up by Charles Reed Bishop
, which was an even larger landowner than the Parker Ranch.
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
was originally named A. W. Carter Park for him, since he helped the territory acquire the land from the ranch. As a member of the territorial board of forestry from 1903 to 1907 and 1909 to 1912, he helped establish the Hawaii forest reserves
while his cousin George R. Carter
was governor.
He was inducted into the Paniolo hall of fame in 2003.
Republic of Hawaii
The Republic of Hawaii was the formal name of the government that controlled Hawaii from 1894 to 1898 when it was run as a republic. The republic period occurred between the administration of the Provisional Government of Hawaii which ended on July 4, 1894 and the adoption of the Newlands...
and the Territory of Hawaii
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
who managed the Parker Ranch
Parker Ranch
Parker Ranch is a working cattle ranch on the Island of Hawaii in the state of Hawaii, now run by a charitable trust.-History:The ranch was founded in 1847 and is one of the oldest ranches in the United States, pre-dating many mainland ranches in Texas and other southwestern states by more than 30...
.
Life
His grandfather Joseph Oliver Carter (1802–1850) was a merchant ship captain. His father was Samuel Morrill Carter (1838–1893) and mother was Harriet Layman Hempstead (1836–1898). Alfred Wellington Carter was born April 22, 1862 and named for an uncle Alfred Wellington Carter (1841–1890).Another uncle Henry A. P. Carter
Henry A. P. Carter
Henry Alpheus Peirce Carter also known as Henry Augustus Peirce Carter was an American businessman, politician, and diplomat in the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Family life:...
(1837–1891) had been a cabinet minister and diplomat for the Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
.
Since many of his relatives were also named Alfred, he went by his initials "A. W."
Carter attended Punahou School
Punahou School
Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...
and became an officer in the Honolulu Rifles
Honolulu Rifles
The Honolulu Rifle Company was a paramilitary force loyal to the Missionary Party and the later Reform Party. It was created in 1854 as a militia to deal with internal conflict, 24 Rifles were deployed during the [[ʻIolani Barracks#1873 Barracks Revolt|1873 Barracks Revolt]]...
militia in July 1887. By November 1889 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
.
In 1893 he graduated cum laude with an LLB degree from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
.
He returned to live in Waikiki
Waikiki
Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu, in the City and County of Honolulu, on the south shore of the island of Oahu, in Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is the shoreline fronting Waikīkī....
and practice law with his older cousin Charles Lunt Carter. On January 6, 1895 he heard gunfire as the 1895 Counter-Revolution in Hawaii
1895 Counter-Revolution in Hawaii
The 1895 Counter-revolution in Hawaii was a brief war from January 6 to January 9, 1895, that consisted of three battles on the island of Oahu, Hawaii...
had been discovered nearby. The Carters and neighbor James Bicknell Castle
James Bicknell Castle
James Bicknell Castle was a Honolulu businessman in times of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Republic of Hawaii and Territory of Hawaii.-Life:...
took rifles to the scene of the shooting. Charles was hit by gunfire and died early the next morning.
On October 12, 1895 Carter married Edith Millicent Hartwell, daughter of American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
General and later Hawaii judge Alfred S. Hartwell
Alfred S. Hartwell
Alfred Stedman Hartwell was a lawyer and American Civil War soldier, who then had another career as cabinet minister and judge in the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:Alfred Stedman Hartwell was born June 11, 1836 in South Natick, Massachusetts...
(1836–1912). They had four children. Alfred Hartwell Carter was born December 1, 1896. Edith Millicent Carter was born February 17, 1898. Dorothy Layman Carter was born September 29, 1899. Barbara Juliette Carter was born June 25, 1901.
In 1899 Carter was appointed guardian of Annie Thelma Kahiluonapuaapiilani Parker, heir of half of the vast Parker Ranch
Parker Ranch
Parker Ranch is a working cattle ranch on the Island of Hawaii in the state of Hawaii, now run by a charitable trust.-History:The ranch was founded in 1847 and is one of the oldest ranches in the United States, pre-dating many mainland ranches in Texas and other southwestern states by more than 30...
founded by her great-grandfather John Palmer Parker
John Palmer Parker
John Palmer Parker was the founder of the Parker Ranch on the island of Hawaii in Hawaii.-Life:John Palmer Parker was born May 1, 1790 in Newton, Massachusetts. His father was Samuel Parker and mother was Ann Palmer Parker ....
(1790–1868). He moved to the island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
and became manager of the ranch, although his wife stayed in Honolulu where the children attended school. Carter was often at odds with the other half-owner, Samuel Parker
Samuel Parker (Hawaii)
Samuel Parker, known as Kamuela Parker was a major landowner and businessman on the island of Hawaii, heir to the Parker Ranch estate...
, who wanted to use income from the ranch to fund his lifestyle instead of expansion. Parker sued, claiming he owned the entire ranch, and tried to remove Carter as manager. The court case dragged on for years. Carter mortgaged the ranch and bought Parker out in 1906.
In 1909 he formed the Hawaii Meat Company as a cooperative with other ranchers (although Parker Ranch was majority owner).
After Thelma died in 1914, Carter continued to advise her son Richard Smart
Richard Smart (actor)
Richard Palmer Kaleioku Smart was a musical theatre actor and singer who became owner of the largest private ranch in Hawaii.-Early life:...
(1913–1992) who was the new heir. In 1937 Carter's son Alfred Hartwell Carter became manager of the ranch.
Carter died on April 27, 1949.
From 1900 to 1917 Carter was a trustee of Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools , formerly called Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate , is a private co-educational college-preparatory institution that specializes in Native Hawaiian language and cultural education. It is located in Hawaii and operates three campuses: Kapālama , Pukalani , and Keaau...
, the estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Bernice Pauahi Bishop , born Bernice Pauahi Pākī, was a Hawaiian princess, philanthropist, alii, and direct descendant of the royal House of Kamehameha. She was the great-granddaughter of King Kamehameha I and last surviving heir...
set up by Charles Reed Bishop
Charles Reed Bishop
Charles Reed Bishop was a businessman and philanthropist in Hawaii.Born in Glens Falls, New York, he sailed to Hawaii in 1846 at the age of 24, and made his home there. Bishop was one of the first trustees of and a major donor to the Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii...
, which was an even larger landowner than the Parker Ranch.
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area is a large park and sandy beach on the Big Island of Hawaii. The Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel is also located adjacent to the beach. Hāpuna is popular with residents and visitors....
was originally named A. W. Carter Park for him, since he helped the territory acquire the land from the ranch. As a member of the territorial board of forestry from 1903 to 1907 and 1909 to 1912, he helped establish the Hawaii forest reserves
Natural Area Reserves System Hawaii
The Natural Area Reserves System of Hawaii is a statewide attempt to preserve in perpetuity specific land and water areas which support communities, as relatively unmodified as possible, of the natural flora and fauna, as well as geological sites, of Hawaii.-History:Established in 1970 by Hawaii...
while his cousin George R. Carter
George R. Carter
George Robert Carter was the second Territorial Governor of Hawaii, serving from 1903 to 1907.He was born December 28, 1866 in Honolulu. His mother was Sybil Augusta Judd , daughter of Gerrit P...
was governor.
He was inducted into the Paniolo hall of fame in 2003.