Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-08-21

self up to the time he engaged in building
the railroad. He was a man of wonder
ful activity and energy, and took part in
all public matters. He was elected a
member of the City Council and after
wards to the Legislature, and was always
recognized as leader when anything was
to be accomplished"
HONEST, AFFABLE AND CHARITABLE.
William Beckman, President of the
| Peoples Bank, said I" became acquainted
with Charles Croeker as early as 1858,
when he was keeping a store on J street.
He was then the same jolly, whole souled
man he has always been. He always
called me Bill and / always called him
Charley a few years ago / met him at
Monterey, and addressed him rs MIR.
| Croeker,' and he said: None of that. Bill.
Pm the same old Charley Croker | had
q great deal of dealings with Mr. Crocker
when the railroad was being built, supply
ing him with hay and grain. They did
not have as much money then as now, but
his word was good as any mans in the
world, and | would take it for any amount.
Sometimes, when large amount of hay
and grain would be delivered, he would
say: l would like to have you hold the
| bill for this for a month"; When the
! time came round the cash was always
ready. l hold that Charles Crocker was
one of the hest citizens Sacramento ever
had or ever viii have I never saw any
| change in him from the days when he was
comparatively poor until his death. He
/ has been the same to me always | made
q remark to friend Of mine the other day
that If anybody ever went to Heaven
! Charles Crocker would. | never knew
him to be guilty of mean action in my
life. All sorts Of things have been said
about him in connection with the railroad
! but do not believe he ever did a man an
injury. If he ever unintentionally did a
man an injustice he would sit up all night
to make it right with him. | am only
sorry that we have not got more men Ike
him. He deserves TO be rich and he has
made good use of his wealth.
Charles Crocker was continually con-
tributing to charities in a quiet way and
did not want to have them talked about.
| can give as an illustration an incident
which occurred on the very day he died.
A little girl who lives in this city. Miss
Mamie Deming, had written to Mr..
Crocker few days before asking him if he
could not TO something to help kinder
garten school which was being started
here. Within an hour OF the time the
news Of his death reached here a check
| drawn in his favor on the bank of Crocker,
Woolworth & Co., for $3.50 was presented
at this counter, signed by Mr.. Crocker on
! the 18th"
ABSOLUTELY JUST AND HONEST.
c. II. Cummings said that he could
speak OF Mr. Crocker only in the highest
terms of praise. 81 regarded him" he con-
tinued, ''as 4 very just, honest and upright
man; one who would do unto others as he
would have others do unto him. He
always wanted his dues, but he was lust as
ready to give others theirs ] have known
Mr.. Crocker since 1853 or 1854 and found
him always strictly honorable in all his
dealings. He was a man of remarkable
energy and great executive ability. OBJ
stacles that would seem to others like
mountains to him appeared mere trifes
and he oyercame them with will and de-
termination that knew no limits"
HIGHEST TYPE OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP.
W. P. Coleman said: "I have known
Charles Crocker long and favorably. dating
back to 1851 or 1852, and have sold goods
opened his dry goods store on. J street, be-
tween Eighth and Ninth, in this city. He
was a very popular and successful man.
and his square dealing and strict integrity
were never truthfully questioned. Mr..
CTocker was good citizen and great
success, and ] have looked upon him and
the example he has set of the highest type
of American citizenship, illustrating the
possibilities under our form of govern
ment, enabling men to arrive at high
standard of fame in the civil pursuits and
the legitimate acquisition of wealth. The
experience with and knowledge of such a
life as that of Mr. Crocker is as a text
book-a record that will live forever and
constitute reference to what is possible to
be done by honesty, perseverance and in
domitable energy in the pursuits of life in
this advanced age There will be uni
versal regret at the loss of Charles Crocker.
who was doubtless in his sphere of
manhood the peer of any man. We sub
NIT, but with sorrow, to the loss of this
self-made man, one so kind and Just; SO
wise, perseverng and successful a man
possessing so many good traits worthy of
emulation by all humanity"
A sTUPENDOUs BUSINESS TITAN.
The Rev. l. E. Dwinell, formerly of the
Congregational Church of this city, said :
1t gives me pleasure to indicate in a
few words what | regard, as the industrial
mission of Charles Crocker In tie devel-
opment of California no other single party
has acted so prominent or useful part as
the railroad company from which he has
now passed away. They were all remark
able men individually lly-each, in his way,
giant. But they were men remarkable
in their combination They made one
colossal working whole-a stupendous
business Titan; FIVE brains, FIVE hearts, five
separate sets of gifts and qualities supple
menting one another, and going forward
as one superior intelligence and wisdom
and energy-in perfect faith and conf
dence in one another, with unity of plan
and work, and with wonderful power to
infuse a kindred spirit in their subor-
dinates
"In this matchless group Charles
Croker had marked providential place
which no other one of them could have
filed and which was essential to success.
His was the constructive force-not that
which struck out the plans or managed
the finances, or glided through legal com
plications, or smoothed the way before the
public-but that which was at the front.
pushing the road His business was to
throw lines of track, sometimes miles a
day, from his strong arms across mount
aims and rivers and plains. 1t is his
mark, drawn by his own hand, which we
see to-day, along which the trade and
| travel of the coast and the continent speed
north and south, east and west, over this
whole State and the adjacent Territories.
In my judgment the State and coast owe
him great debt of gratitude, which one
day they will gladly pay.n
Rev. J. A. Benton, first pastor of the
Congregational Church in this city and
now President of the Pacific Theological
Seminary at Oakland, said "That Mr..
| Crocker has had a rnost rernn IL hlo oa,.ss.-