The New York herald., 1874-12-28
OBITUARY..

The Hon. Alvah CrOcker, member OF Congress
for the Tenth district OF Massachusetts, died at
eleven O'Clock on Saturday evening, 26tn INST, at
his residence IN Fitchburg, Mass. He was the son
OF Mr.. Samuel Crocker an extensive paper manu-
facturer who had raised himself by self.exertion
and perseverance from the ordinary everyday
labors OF hard working man to the position
OF an eminent employer. The deceased Alvah
CrocKer was born on October IA, 1901. He was
consequently sevcnty-three years OF age HIS
mother was OF the John Adams stock, and took
special care to instil into the minds OF her
children the necessity OF practising industrial
habits while young. So at the age Of eight young
Alvah was put permanently to work IN the paper
mills OF Nicholas Kendall at a salary which would
be considered now only very trining He managed
at the same time to study hard at night and to
keep his place among the best OF his GLASS; At the
age OF sixteen years he spent all his surplus earn
ings at Groton Academy, and during the two fol.
lowing years, having mad more time, he made a
cursory study OF the classics at the common
school and OF law at J. G. Kendan's law
ONCE in Leominster. He also attended
during TWO quarters qrs,,Ia the Ipswich Acad.
high honors. Failing in an attempt to enter Cam
bridge College, ne returned to the business or the
On July /, 1928, he came to FltchDurg on the
Nashua klver TO start a. new paper
G gsneral 'nen afa' s1 Sneq which
Mr.. Crocker purchased IN 1885; Fitcnourg
per per, weeK to Boston. Eary IL 1926 Mr. CrocKer,
with $500 capital ana SO, 900 borrowed money, com.
men menced & to build anil mill lSr or making paper at d "old
paper. In the November following he ex.
pended $4,000. In 1929 lresaet DESTROYED
his mill. HIS embaTrassments were further
aggravated by the tact tnat the process OF making
paper by nand was rapidly changing TO machine
were opposed to an increased manufacturing pop
uation. He had not by TINS time made any pront,
vna Worked on anaae openna barter
accounts with yearly settlements only, and
adding to the stock MS cotton waste.
tinual labor Mr. Crocker was enabled In 1884 to
purchase the whole Nashua Valley TO Westminster.
He gave the land Tor the county road and lad the
foundation of ms fortune where all the paper
mills OF his firm now stand. In 1885 he purchased
cover ed with shops and iounelries, ana which mas
now grown to be the great manufacturing city OF
In 1875 and 1887 MIR. Crocker was returned to the
! Legislature OF Massachusetts,. lie alterward OBJ
tanned steam communication Ior Northern Massa.
years OF business, when night fire levelled his
best MILL In 1912 and ls4s he was again returned
mill and went into Fl;chpurg on the first
locomotive, Marca 5. ls45 He afterwards
Massachusetts Railroad. lie spent much
OF his time IN Troy during 1s47 and lS4o, and de-
Vermont upon ,he subject Of the several road
lines ior which he mad obtained charters. In the
Legislature OF 1S4S he assisted vigorously IN the
obtaining OF the hoosac Tunnel charter. In lS49
ire DESTROYED the greater portion OF his
property in Fltchburg. In 1850 he entered
into the partnership OF the well known firm OF
Crocker, Burbank Co., the same nrm winch
now runs several paper mills, turning out from
over twelve tons OF paper per day. In 1862 and
1866 he was sent to the Massachusetts senate and
IN the latter year was commissioner on the HOosac
tunnel He took an active interest In the late
war. In 1866 he became President or the Turner's
Fails Company.
In the year 1869 MIR. Crocker visited Europe
WIT ic in VA n win n
abroad. During this period be was elected presi-
dent OF one OF the national banks. In 1871 ne again
visited Europe and during his absence was elected
member Of Congress by al almost unanimous
vote IN the district where his remains now lie.
This district includes the city oil Ftchburg. He took
his seat in Congress at the opening oil the session
few weeks since, and at the commencement OF the
holiday vacation left his home In Ftchburg by
boat, on which occasion he took severe cod,
which resulted IN congestion OF the lungs and his
death on Saturday last as already stated. Starting
out in lie without any advantages that would
have justified him in arriving at any
elevated position. he attained some OF the
most prominent In his state and the Union.
Sterling honesty united with patient energy and
the most unconquerable determination, with
eflcient as position influence and wealth
could have been. Previous to the last
/ election he declined denomination to
Congress. lie leaves an extensive property to
his three children, and an example TO all OF his
great perseverance and success as self-made
When he was elected TO the Forty-tnlrd Congress
he received Ia, 9l0 votes against 1858 when were
cast for ID. w. Bond, democrat.
Mr.. Crocker's remains Will be buried on Wednes-
day, the 30th inst. The funeral Will take place at
two O'Clock IN the afternoon.