Hawaii County HIGenWeb -

Morris Louisson

Moritz/Morris Louisson born March 1825 in Schwerzenz, Posen, Poland, he arrived in Honolulu in the late 1850s. He married Therese Guenther in 1862. She was born July 1847, in Germany and she died 1937. He died 29 Mar 1902 and is buried in Honolulu. They are both buried at the O'ahu Cemetery in Honolulu. He was naturalized 1 Nov 1856 in San Francisco County. His obituary says he came to America in the early 1840s,though it may be closer to 1850s. They are listed in the 1900 census as having been married for 38 years. Therese shows she had a total of 7 child, 6 were living. Son Henry Louisson (born Jan 1866, California, a rancher) was head of household at Hamakua, Hawaii. Brother Abe L (born Jan 1864 in California, a rancher, was also in the household) as well as Morris andTherese. 1900 census shows Morris and Therese came to Hawaii in 1866 and that he was naturalized. A servant, Sataro Inada, who was born Mar 1866 in Japan was also in the household.

Louisson Brothers Coffee Mill ca 1925.

Abe and Henry formed the Louisson Brothers Coffee Mill on Hamakua about 1897, which had about 200 acres of coffee and a mill as of 1903. 300 acres by 1905. It was visited by writer Jack London and his wife Charmian before 1918.

The Pacific Commercial Advertiser, 8 Aug 1905, page 5,

courtesy of Chronicling America

Children:

Abraham "Abe" Lincoln was born 18 Jan 1864, San Francisco, California; married Elizabeth M Pierson, 14 June 1912, Los Angeles, CA; he died 3 July1943, buried Forest Lawn, Glendale CA.
Henry Clay was born 4 Jan 1866, California; married Rita ----; he died 27 Nov 1945, San Francisco, CA buried Forest Lawn, Glendale CA
Lahela was born 1 Jan 1868 and died 16 March 1859. (Lahela was Hawaiian for Rachel - she was the first Jewish girl to be born in Hawaii). She married #1 Jacob Mouritz and #2 ----- Lippman.Belle/Isabelle Louisson, was born 5 Oct 1870, in Hawaii who married Gustave Simon; died 22 Sept 1963, San Francisco, California.
Samuel Louisson, was born 16 Nov 1871, Honolulu; died 14 October1895 in Honolulu, Hawaii, buried O'ahu Cemetery.
William was born 12 Jan 1874 and died 25 Jan 1944, buried Forest Lawn, Glendale CA., married Emma M ---.
Julius Lester was born 28 May1876, Honolulu and died ca 30 Oct 1876, San Mateo, CA.

Samuel Louisson

Pacific Commercial Advertiser Oct 17, 1895, page 5

Courtesy of Chronicling America

Moritz/Morris was a nephew of A S Grinbaum. A S Grinbaum opened a mercantile firm of M S Grinbaum and Co., among the first export and import firms of Hawaii which opened about 1866.

Morris served as President of the German Club and was also a member of the Excelsior Lodge.His will mentions that he is a resident of Honolulu, Hawaii but at the time he wrote the will was temporarily residing in San Francisco County. His executors were his wife, son Abe Louisson and friends A Gartenberg and Samuel Damon both of Honolulu. The estate was to go to his wife and children and mentions Henry, Abe and Belle. Mentioned Coffee plantation known as the Pohakea, Hawaii. And Mentions mercantile books of the corporation of M S Grinbaum & Co, Ltd. The will was written 11 July 1901. Order of probate for the estate of Morris Louisson was issued 26 May 1902.

Sources:

http://www.jmaw.org/louisson-jewish-hawaii/

http://konabethshalom.org/jews-in-hawaii/

Morris Louisson: A Jewish Pioneer of Hawaii, 1824-1902, by Norton B. Stern, Western States Jewish History, Vol. 41, Issue #4.

Hawaiian Investigation: Report of subcommittee on Pacific Islands and Porto Rico, 1903 (page 145-146)

Men of Hawaii, a biographical reference library.