Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-12-29
yEWSBOY TO MILLIONAIRE.
Career of the OwuerqTa 1laEnincent Palac
la Nnu EFuHc1seo.

VI toAu EIdltAsto Ut their lAlh-
tiAl residence in that city recently. Mr..
Croker is one of the millionaires of the
golden State. There were no less than
800 guests present ut the wedding.
Omitting, as we must, descriptions of
the Crocker palace, the assembled CON-
pany, and the wedding scene-only men.
tioning Mr.. Croker had thoughtfully
intimated in the invitation that presents
from guests would not be in order-we
copy from the San Francisco Call an in
teresting biographical sketch of the host.
1t shows something of the achievements
OF Troy boy in his successful life work.
His father was proprietor of large
store in the city of Troy, n. Y, in which
Charles Croker was born in 1922. Until
he was thirteen years old, young Orocler
had the advantages of such education rs
the common schools at that day afforded.
In that year, however, his father failed
in business so completely that the bare
maintenance of his family became a
matter of great difficulty. and Charles,
the eldest of six children, had to leave
his schooling and plNythings to begin
the struggle of life. He sold newspapers
on the street. After a few weeks had
been devoted to the business, the young
twelve-year old learned that the agent
for the New York Transcript, an oppo-
sitiOn journal which had only been run
ming a short time, would be obliged to
give up the billet, and the lad deter
mined to succeed him if possible. He
went at once to the head agency in Al
bany and boldly applied for the place,
much to the amusement and astOnish-
ment of the proprietor, who told him
whoever got it would have to pay 5000
cash. Little Crocker, replied that he
had no money and no means of obtaining
any except by selling newspapers, but
promised that if he got the agency he
would not onl y pay the amount within
six months, but that he would guarantee
to largely increase the sale of the Jour
nal. The chief agent was pleased with
the boys frank and self-reliant manner,
and agreed to give him trial, taking the
risk of loss upon his own shoulders.
Young Crocker put his whole strength
and soul into the business, and soon sue
ceeded in running the daily circulation
of the Transcript in Troy up to 500
numbers, and before six months had
passed up to about 700. Every one of
these papers he sold and delivered in
person, paying for them sixty-two and q
half cents per hundred and selling them
for one cent apiece. He paid the 5000
as agreed, and then contributed to the
family support for seven months, paying
all the expenses while his father was alb
sent In the West seeking a home for
those whom his misfortune had rendered
homeless. Notwithstanding all this out
lay, in two years from the time when he
had started as newsboy young Crooker
had managed to save $500, all of which
went into the family funds. His father
had taken up some wild forest land in
northern Indiana, and in 1886 brought
hispeople to the log hut in the wilderness.
Although totally unused to farming
and woodcraft, the father and his young
sters managed, after much hard labor.
to clear away sufficient land for the
nucleus of farm, and on its opening,
which enlarged year by year., young
Crocker worked for the general good
until his mother died in in 1889. He
was then seventeen years of age, and
hired as a laborer on neighboring
farm; but that sort of work dissatisfied
him, so he became day laborer in a
saw mill. He fell in love with the
daughter OF his master, Miss Mary A..
Deming. In the presence of refine
ment, the poor lad felt his own deficien-
cies, and, throwing up his job. entered
school and remained Just three months
all the teaching he has had since his
twelfth year. Finding, however, that
coin was more needed than education,
he became an apprentice in forge
where bloomed iron was made, and soon
ranked with the skilled workmen. In
1916, after having thoroughly mastered
the trade, he, in company with his en-
ployer, built new forge and ran it until
1850.
Then came the story SO familiar to
early Californians, wondrous tales of
fortunes made in single day, of gigan-
tic nuggets, OF wild adventure, of every.
thing that could attract young, Wig
orous, and ambitious man. Young
Crocker-he was then % years of age
sold out his interest in the forge, bought
two wagons and teams, and started
ac"oss the plains in company with five
other young men, reaching Sacramento
In August, 1850. Crocker at once
VuA'CN lhuO Ou illb Dig CdQOl,
below Placerville. He left the pick and
shovel and opened q store in the camp.
Coin poured in so rapidly that he de-
termined to seek still wider field, an6
migrated to Sacramento, where he soor
established the most money-makina
store IN the town. In October, 1852
having reached his objective point, the
possession of.$100, 900, Mr.. Crocker left
California on the 18th for his old house
and the bride who was awaiting him
On the 9th of November, in the same
year, he was married at Mishawaka
Ind, to Miss Mary A. Deming. A few
days after the wedding he received in
telligence that on the I'd of Novembe1
his store in Sacramento had been total,
destroyed by fire, the result being thai
he lost $50, 900; his remaining capita
being $15, 900 and bare lot. Cutting
short his honeymoon he at once pur
chased with cash and credit large stool
of goods, shipped them by sailing yes
sci, and with his young wife, started fol-
California. Before the goods arrived
he had building ready for their recep
ton. In 1861, Mr.. Croker, who wa
already wealthy man, sold out hi
business to become one of the inaugu
rators of the Central Pacific Railroad
Company His business career sinc
that time is known to all Californians, a
is also the fact that his millions are
estimated above the units.
Estimates and Appropriations.
The book of estimates which accom-
panies the annual report of the secretar,
OF the treasury, and which shows tn
GHtImAfnR in detail fr1. ntnr,ro,n,.in in,n- &c,