Joseph Poindexter
Encyclopedia
Joseph Boyd Poindexter was the eighth Territorial Governor of Hawai'i
and served from 1934 to 1942.
to Thomas W. and Margaret Pipkin Poindexter. He attended Wesleyan University
and earned his LL.B. degree from Washington University in St. Louis
. He was admitted to the Montana Bar in 1892, and served as County Attorney of Beaverhead County, Montana
from 1897 to 1903. He later served as a district judge in Montana from 1909 to 1915, and as Attorney General of Montana from 1915 to 1917.
appointed Poindexter as Judge on the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii
. Poindexter served in that capacity from May 14, 1917 to February 16, 1924. He then practiced law in Hawaii until 1934. President Franklin D. Roosevelt
appointed Poindexter the eighth governor of Hawaii on January 30, 1934.
A joint Congressional Committee visited Hawaii in 1937 and submitted a report in February 1938 recommending a plebiscite for Hawaii statehood. The plebiscite, held on November 5, 1940, resulted in the voters recommending statehood for Hawaii.
Poindexter was reappointed to the governorship by Roosevelt in March 1938; he became only the second governor to that point to serve more than one term of office.
In the immediate aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
on December 7, 1941, Poindexter placed the territory under martial law
and allowed the U.S. military to form a military government. The military government would continue until 1943. After his term expired, Poindexter remained in office until August 24, 1942, when his successor, Ingram Stainback
, was confirmed.
) were begun.
He advocated for larger airports and other major public works projects, including roads, parks, schools and the Ala Wai Golf Course.
(now Kamehameha Schools), in which capacity he served until his death in Honolulu, Hawaii
on December 3, 1951.
on April 22, 1897. The couple had two children, Everton and Helen.
Governor of Hawaii
The Governor of Hawaii is the chief executive of the state of Hawaii and its various agencies and departments, as provided in the Hawaii State Constitution Article V, Sections 1 through 6. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state...
and served from 1934 to 1942.
Early life
Joseph Boyd Poindexter was born in Canyon City, OregonCanyon City, Oregon
Canyon City is a city in Grant County, Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Grant County, and is about a mile south of John Day on U.S. Highway 395. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 703.-History:...
to Thomas W. and Margaret Pipkin Poindexter. He attended Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
and earned his LL.B. degree from Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
. He was admitted to the Montana Bar in 1892, and served as County Attorney of Beaverhead County, Montana
Beaverhead County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Beaverhead National Forest * Big Hole National Battlefield* Nez Perce National Historical Park * Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge-History:...
from 1897 to 1903. He later served as a district judge in Montana from 1909 to 1915, and as Attorney General of Montana from 1915 to 1917.
Career
In 1917, President Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
appointed Poindexter as Judge on the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii
United States District Court for the District of Hawaii
The United States District Court for the District of Hawaii is the principal trial court of the United States Federal Court System in the state of Hawaii. It is located at the Prince Kuhio Federal Building in downtown Honolulu, fronting the Aloha Tower and Honolulu Harbor. The court hears both...
. Poindexter served in that capacity from May 14, 1917 to February 16, 1924. He then practiced law in Hawaii until 1934. President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
appointed Poindexter the eighth governor of Hawaii on January 30, 1934.
A joint Congressional Committee visited Hawaii in 1937 and submitted a report in February 1938 recommending a plebiscite for Hawaii statehood. The plebiscite, held on November 5, 1940, resulted in the voters recommending statehood for Hawaii.
Poindexter was reappointed to the governorship by Roosevelt in March 1938; he became only the second governor to that point to serve more than one term of office.
In the immediate aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
on December 7, 1941, Poindexter placed the territory under martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
and allowed the U.S. military to form a military government. The military government would continue until 1943. After his term expired, Poindexter remained in office until August 24, 1942, when his successor, Ingram Stainback
Ingram Stainback
Ingram Macklin Stainback was the ninth Territorial Governor of Hawaii and served from 1942 to 1951.Born in 1883 in Somerville, Tennessee, he received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago.Stainback, a well-connected Democrat, came to...
, was confirmed.
Gubernatorial accomplishments
An editorial at his death credited Poindexter with a balanced budget, improved civil service and wage laws that regulated child labor and improved public health and welfare. During his administration the Hawaii Housing Authority was established, and projects such as the "Mayor Wright homes" (named for George F. WrightGeorge F. Wright
George Fred Wright was Mayor of Honolulu from 1931 to 1938. Wright, a native of Honolulu, worked as a surveyor. He died in office in 1938 while traveling aboard the SS Mariposa. Memorials to him were installed at a downtown housing project and at Washington Middle School in the Pawaa section of...
) were begun.
He advocated for larger airports and other major public works projects, including roads, parks, schools and the Ala Wai Golf Course.
Later life
Poindexter resumed his law practice after leaving the governorship. In July 1943, the Hawaii Supreme Court appointed him a trustee of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop EstateKamehameha 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...
(now Kamehameha Schools), in which capacity he served until his death in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
on December 3, 1951.
Personal life
Poindexter married Margaret Conger in Dillon, MontanaDillon, Montana
- Notable residents :* Ed Barker - NFL wide receiver - Washington Redskins* Cree Paul - [Where is she now?]* Charles Xavier Larrabee - owner of the nearby stock ranch Brooknook.* Lloyd Meeds - Politician, lobbyist, and navy officer....
on April 22, 1897. The couple had two children, Everton and Helen.
Fraternal memberships
- Benevolent and Protective Order of ElksBenevolent and Protective Order of ElksThe Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
- FreemasonFreemasonryFreemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
- Shriner
Further reading
- Dyer, C.Y. (editor), Biographical Sketches of Hawaii's Rulers, 8th ed. (Honolulu: Bishop National Bank of Hawaii, 1957), p. 34-35.