“A hard fight had been made against him. He was opposed, on nothing but the fact that he was a negro. His opponents, many of them sincere, urged that his color would prevent success in office here, that he would be ostracized, that his assistants would not work with him.”
“Obstacles were thrown in his way from the start, until Cottrill himself arrived on the scene and went about his duties.” (Star Bulletin, January 22, 1913)
In his support the Toledo Chamber of Commerce noted, “Mr Cottrill is a man of excellent educational qualifications well fitted by experience and training to perform the duties of this new office, faithful to the work he has in hand, of unquestioned integrity and having the strength of character that will make him a forceful number of your community.”
“I feel very positive that he will within a short time be held in the same high esteem by the business men of Honolulu in which he is now held by the business men of Toledo.”
“The Toledo Chamber of Commerce does not frequently write letters of this character but in this particular instance our officers feel that this tribute to Mr Cottrill is so thoroughly well deserved as to warrant our putting aside old precedents.” (Louis Paine, Secretary Toledo Chamber of Commerce; Hawaiian Gazette, December 9, 1910)
“Charles A Cottrill was born in Findlay, Ohio, December 3, 1863, and moved with his parents to Toledo in 1867. He entered the public schools of this city and was graduated therefrom in June 1881, having been president of his class during his entire senior year in the high school.”
“He entered the United States Internal Revenue Service at Toledo August 1, 1881 as clerk to the collector and by a series of promotions rose to the position of general bookkeeper for the tenth collection district of Ohio. During this time he read law relating to that branch of the public service.”
“He was employed from June 1, 1887 to January 1, 1888 by the treasurer of Lucas County, Ohio and on the latter date entered the office of the secretary of state at Columbus as chief of the Division of Incorporation, and continued in that office until January 1, 1893. During that time he specialized in corporation law.”
“In January 1893 he was appointed deputy recorder of Lucas County, Ohio and filled the duties of that office so satisfactorily that on November 1, 1897 he was promoted to chief deputy which position he held to the entire satisfaction of the tax-payers and of his chief until September 1, 1910.
“During these years Mr. Cottrill gave a great deal of time and attention to laws relating to real estate. Mr. Cottrill has always been prominently and efficiently identified with the Republican party not only In this city, county and state, but also nationally. (Hawaiian Star, December 9, 1910)
Prior to arriving, he noted, “‘I regard the Negro Officeholder as a man loaded down with responsibilities of the most serious kind,’ said the Hon Charles A Cottrill, the new collector of internal revenue for the district of Hawaii, as a reception tendered him by Hon WH Clifford in Washington recently.”
“In the course of his speech Mr Cottrill called upon those present to be true to race interests. ‘Manhood and race interests,’ he said, ‘demand that we acquit ourselves with credit in the positions we are called to fill. This we must do in order that the other members of the race who come after us may have an easier time.’” (Afro-American Ledger, February 18, 1911)
A distinguished African American was supported by President William Taft to be tax collector for the Hawai’ian Territory in 1911.
“‘The first and the principal thing for an office holder to do, is to render best service to the public. The question of who should be appointed in office, is a secondary matter.’”
“He emphasized the fact, however, that any office holder should render his best service to the public, which he considers, as the principal thing to do, and says he has no present intention of making changes.”
“He will be officially installed in office next Saturday morning, succeeding W. F. Drake, who has been Collector since Roy H. Chamberlain resigned in 1907.”
“Cottrill, who is a lawyer by profession, comes from Toledo, Ohio. He is a negro. He arrived this morning accompanied by Mrs. Cottrill and JC Cottrill the son.” (Evening Bulletin, March 16, 1911)
Later, on a visit by Legislators and others to Waialeʻe Industrial School, “the boys were assembled in the schoolroom to be addressed by Charles A Cottrill, collector of internal revenue.”
“Tears sprang into the eyes of the youngsters, who had been found guilty of some offense and sent to the institution, and ashamed faces were concealed, as Mr. Cottrill pointed out the better ways before them.”
“He did not tell them they had done wrong. Perhaps if he had his words would not have affected them. When his address was ended, Speaker Holstein and Representative Watkins were heard to say that nothing could have been a greater benefit to the youths, and Superintendent Tucker agreed with them.” (Star Bulletin, April 21, 1913)
“Collector Cottrill is a strong race man. Yet, with all his loyalty to his race, he has steadily grown in favor among all classes in Hawaii. His services as an orator are always in demand, and indeed, he has given many people here a new idea of the negro and the negro’s ability.”
“These are some of the reasons why Collector Cottrill deserves to be kept in office. Such a course on the part of the Democrats who command national patronage will set an example far more valuable than any of partisan politics.” (Star Bulletin, January 22, 1913)
Cottrill was a socialite who enjoyed the privileges provided by prestigious country clubs and socialized with top business executives associated with Hawai’i’s top five corporations. His son attended Punahou School.
“Mr. Cottrill is a gentleman of pleasing personality and affable manners, making friends easily and retaining them by reason of his innumerable likeable qualities of heart and mind.” (Hawaiian Star, December 9, 1910)
He left the Hawaiian Islands in 1915, when President Wilson sent him to Ohio, where he continued his political career. (Kelley)
Follow Peter T Young on Facebook
Follow Peter T Young on Google+
Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn
Follow Peter T Young on Blogger
