Maximilian Eckart (Da VII 12)/en
Maximilian Eckart (Da VII 12), (*February 7, 1842, in Emskirchen, Germany; †April 18, 1918, in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii, USA), married Maria Louisa Campbell on January 25, 1878, in Waimea, Hawaii, USA
Childhood and youth in Emskirchen
Maximilian Eckart was born on February 7, 1842, the twelfth and last child of David and Jeanette Eckart. He spent his childhood with his siblings in his parents’ inn, the "Schwarzer Adler" (Black Eagle) in Emskirchen. His father, the "jolly Eckart", and his inn were particularly popular among students, and boozy festivities were regularly held in the ballroom on the second floor; the same floor where the children also had their rooms. The children had to help in the inn and the household already from an early age. David also frequently took them hunting or to his fish breeding in the community pond. However, the family’s financial situation deteriorated. Gradually, they had to sell all their landed property and, in 1850, the inn. Maximilian was only eleven years old when his father died in 1853. From that point onwards, Jeanette had to fend for herself and her children. Ultimately, Emskirchen no longer had much to offer the adolescent Eckarts, which is why all David and Jeanette Eckart’s children gradually left their hometown between 1850 and 1870.
Jeweler and butcher
Maximilian completed an apprenticeship as a silversmith in Emskirchen but had worked as a butcher most of the time. His brother Christian, eleven years his senior, had already emigrated to Brazil in 1855 and then via San Francisco to Hawaii, where he had married and opened a jewelry store. At that time, Hawaii was not yet part of the United States, but rather an independent kingdom, reigned by King Kamehameha V. Maximilian benefitted from the connection with his brother and followed him to Honolulu in order to work there as a jeweler. Maximilian Eckart left Emskirchen at the age of 26 and reached Honolulu from San Francisco on the steamship "Idaho" in August 1868. Christian had given him money for the journey.
Hawaii – Germany and back
Maximilian quickly adapted to this new environment. He was a diligent and committed worker in his brother’s business. Whenever Christian and his wife Mathilde went on holiday, Maximilian managed the store on his own. He remained in contact with his mother by letter until her death in Emskirchen in 1874. The following year, Christian and Mathilde Eckart died. They had remained childless, which meant Maximilian was the last Eckart in Hawaii for a number of years. After having sworn allegiance to the Hawaiian kingdom on November 22, 1875, thus officially becoming a Hawaiian citizen, he took over his late brother’s business in late November. Shortly afterwards, he fell seriously ill with appendicitis. Despite his doctor having warned him that he would not survive the journey home to Germany, Maximilian boarded the steamship "Mikado" in February 1876 and embarked upon the long voyage to Germany. Amazingly, he survived the crossing and the subsequent surgery. He stayed in his home country for a while, and then returned to Hawaii in 1877. The jewelry store, which he had closed before leaving, remained closed even after his return. Maximilian visited the Hawaiian Islands instead. During this journey, he met Maria Louisa Campbell. He had worked as a butcher on her father’s ranch. In January 1878, Maximilian Eckart, who was 35 years old at the time, married the 15-year-old Maria Louisa Campbell.
Royal customers
Together, they moved back to Honolulu where Maximilian returned to the jewelry business. He produced clocks as well as classic gold and silver jewelry, but also traditional Hawaiian jewelry made from kukui nuts (candlenuts) along with boar and sperm whale teeth. Young couples asked him to melt down 5-dollar gold coins and turn them into wedding rings. One of his regular customers was Hawaiian King David Kalakaua. After Maximilian’s store had been robbed at least once, he took home every object that he manufactured for the royal family for safekeeping. The royal family placed so much trust in Maximilian Eckart that, with his clocks, he became the King’s personal "timekeeper" at horse races. Maximilian also escorted the King to his poker games on a regular basis. Maximilian even covered the gambling debts of the King, who frequently owed him several hundred dollars as a result. Maximilian never accepted the plots of land and estates that the King offered as compensation, however. With such prominent clientele, the business grew steadily, and Maximilian was able to move to new and bigger premises in 1882.
Die Hawaii-Linie der Eckarts
Maria führte in der Zeit den Haushalt und kümmerte sich um die Kinder. Nach ihrer Hochzeit war 1879 Lilia als erstes Kind geboren worden. 1880 folgte Kauwila, und dann, in zwei Jahres Abständen, Hans (1882-1942), Meta (1884-1957), Minette (1886-1908), Christina (1888-1975), Max (1890-1921), Marie (1892-1988), Fritz (1894-1945), May (1896-1992), William (1898-1965) und zu guter Letzt Yette (1902-1999). Seine Kinder beschreiben Maximilian als liebenswerten, aber sehr strengen Vater. Müßiggang und Freizeit gab es eigentlich nur während seiner Abwesenheit.
Von Honolulu nach Maui
Der Einfluss der Vereinigten Staaten auf Hawaii wurde gegen Ende der 1880er Jahre immer stärker, der Einfluss des hawaiianischen Königs immer geringer. Die in Hawaii ansässige amerikanische Zuckerindustrie gewann an Einfluss und verfolgte Annexionsbestrebungen, die zu bürgerkriegsähnlichen Auseinandersetzungen, einem Putsch und schließlich 1898 zur Annexion Hawaiis durch die USA führen sollten. Schon früh kam es zu Unruhen zwischen Königstreuen und Anhängern des Anschlusses. Der königstreue Maximilian Eckart musste vermutlich auch deshalb 1889 Honolulu plötzlich verlassen. Die Familie siedelte auf die Insel Maui um. Max arbeitete für eine kurze Zeit wieder als Metzger, bis er in der Stadt Wailuku erneut ein Juweliergeschäft öffnen konnte. Er führte das Geschäft für einige Zeit zusammen mit einem französischen Juwelier namens Dorian, der aber bald seinen Anteil am Geschäft und auch sein Wohnhaus an Max verkaufte.
Die Familie blieb auf Maui und baute sich in den folgenden Jahren ihre Existenz neu auf. Als die ersten Töchter von Max mit der Schule fertig waren, war es ihnen nicht vergönnt eine Ausbildung zu machen, sie mussten Vollzeit ihrer Mutter im Haushalt helfen. Bis 1908 waren die ältesten vier Kinder verheiratet und außer Haus, aber weiterhin im engen Kontakt mit ihren Eltern Maximilian und Maria. Am 8. März 1908 starb ihre Tochter Minette mit nur 22 Jahren an einer Lungenentzündung. Noch im gleichen Jahr, am 14. Dezember 1908, starb auch Maria Louisa Eckart geb. Campbell im Alter von 46 Jahren. Maximilian, zu diesem Zeitpunkt bereits 66 Jahre alt, schloss sein Juweliergeschäft und richtete in seinem Haus einen kleinen Laden ein. Zusammen mit seinen ältesten Töchtern kümmerte er sich nun hauptsächlich um den Haushalt und seine fünf noch unmündigen Kinder. Die Jüngste, Yette, war 1908 sechs Jahre alt geworden. Über die Jahre leerte sich Maximilians Haus. 1917 schickte er Yette nach Honolulu in ein Mädcheninternat. Damit war Maximilian allein und konnte seinen Ruhestand, wenn auch nur kurz, auf seiner Terasse genießen. Maximilian Eckart starb am 18. April 1918 im Alter von 76 Jahren. Er wurde neben seiner Frau Maria und seiner Tochter Minette auf dem Iao Friedhof in Wailuku begraben.[1][2]
Familie
Aus der Ehe mit Maria Louisa Campbell gingen 12 Kinder hervor.
- Lilia Henrietta Kapualiliaokahaku Eckart (DaM VIII 1), (*23.01.1879 Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, †15.09.1973 Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii).
- Kauwila Louise Eckart (DaM VIII 2), (*12.12.1880 Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, †20.06.1954 Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii).
- Hans Rudolf Eckart (DaM VIII 3), (*11.05.1882 Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, †12.04.1942).
- Meta Jeanette Keakealani Eckart (DaM VIII 4), (*19.01.1884 Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, †08.03.1957 Hawaii).
- Minette Eckart (DaM VIII 5), (*14.08.1886 Kahului, Maui, †08.03.1908 Maui, Hawaii).
- Christina Babette Eckart (DaM VIII 6), (*19.07.1888 Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii, †29.11.1975 Wailuku, Maui. Hawaii).
- Max Otto Eckart (DaM VIII 7), (*29.03.1890 Maui, Hawaii, †25.06.1921 Oahu, Hawaii).
- Marie Susanna (Rhea) Eckart (DaM VIII 8), (*14.02.1892 Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii, †23.11.1988 Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii).
- Fritz Ernest Kaukapono Eckart (DaM VIII 9), (*04.02.1894 Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii, †03.08.1945 Hawaii).
- May Lilinoe Eckart (DaM VIII 10), (*08.05.1896 Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii, †06.11.1992 Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii).
- M. William Puaaloha (DaM VIII 11), (*27.07.1898 Maui, Hawaii, †11.08.1965 Maui, Hawaii).
- Henriette (Yette) Hedwig Eckart (DaM VIII 12),(*13.05.1902 Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii, †02.03.1999 Honolulu).