Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-01-02
FROM 4 NEWSDOY TO A MILLION
ARE.
Career of Man Who Started in Life as
a NeWsboy, and Who Now Counts His
Wealth by the Millions. M}'
Troy Times

Wealth by the Millions. m}N
Troy Times Ut u
A splendid celebration of the silver
of Mr.. and Mrs. Chas. Crocker,
of San Francisco occurred at their pala-
tial residence in that city on the 9th Of
last month. Mr.. Croker is one Of the
millionaires of the Golden state. 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 Is years old, young Croker had
the advantage of such education as the
common school at that day afforded.
In that year, however, his father failed
in business so completely that the bare
maintenance of his family became
matter of great difficulty, and Charles,
the eldest of six children, had to leave
his schooling and playthings to begin
the struggle Of life. He sold newspa-
pers on the street. After a few weeks
had been devoted to the business, the
young 12-year-old learned that the agent
for the New York Transcript, an oppo-
sition journal which had only been run
ning-a short time would be obliged to
give up the billet, and the lad determin-
ed to succeed him if possible. He went
at once to the head agency in Albany
and boldly applied for the place, much
to the amusement and establishment of
the proprietor who told him whoever
got it would have to pay 5000 cash.
Little Croker replied that he had no
money and no means of obtaining any
except by selling newspapers, but prom
ised that if he got the agency he would
not only pay the amount within six
months, but that he would guarantee to
largely increase the sale of the journal.
The chief 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 Croker 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 five hun
dred numbers, and before six months
had passed up to about seven hundred.
Every one of these papers he sold and
delivered IN person, paying for them
625 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. pay
ing all the expenses while his father was
absent in the west seeking home for
those whom misfortune had rendered
homeless. Notwithstanding all this out
lay, in two Years from the time when
he had started as a neWsboy. young
Croker had managed to save $40O, all
of which went into the family funds.
His father had taken up some wild for
est land ID northern Indiana, and in
1886 brought his people to the log hut
IN the wilderness.
Although totally unused to farming
and to woodcraft, the father and his
youngsters managed, after much hard
labor, to clear away sufficient land for
the nucleus of farm, and on its open
ing, which enlarged year by year, young
Crocker worked for the general good
until his mother died in 1889 He was
then II years of age, and hired as
laborer on a neighboring farm; but that
sort of work dissatisfied MIN, so he be-
came a day laborer in saw-mill He
fell in love with the daughter of his
master, Miss Mary A. Deming. In the
presence of refinement, the poor lad
felt his own deficiencies, and throwing
up his job, entered school and remained
just three months-all the teaching he
had had since his twelfth year Find
ing, however, tn at coin was more needed
than education, he became an appren-
tice in forge where doomed iron was
made, and soon ranked with the skilled
workmen. In 1916, after having
thoroughly mastered the trade, he, in
company with his employer, 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 a 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
across the plains in company with five
other young men. reaching Sacramento
in August, 1850. Croker at once
started into mining on the Big Canon,
below Placerville.. He left the shovel
and pick and started a store in the
camp. Coin poured in so rapidly that
he determined to seek a still wider field,
soon established the most money
making store in the town. In October,
1852, having reached his objective point,
the possession of 100000 Mr.. Croker
left California on the 18th for his old
home and the bride who was awaiting
him. On the 9th Of November, in the
same year, he was married, at Mish-
awake, Ind. to Miss Mary A. Deming.
A few days after the wedding he re-
ceived intelligence that on the I'd of
November his store in Sacramento had
been totally destroyed by fire; the re-
suit being that he lost $4,000; his re-
naming capital being $4,000 and
bare lot Cutting short his honeymoon,
he at once purchased with cash and
credit a large stock of goods, shipped
them by sailing vessel, and with his
young wife started for California. Be
fore the goods arrived he had a building
ready for their reception. In 1861, Mr..
Croker, who was already a wealthy
man, sold out his business to become