New-York tribune., 1897-07-18


Colonel Charles Fred Crocker came Of good New
England stock. His ancestor josiah Crocker'
fought In the Narro gansett War. and some OF the
descendants Ct Josiah emigrated frorn boston 10
Troy ~ Y, about the middle of the last century
There Charles Crocker. of tho four foundsrs
Of the Central Pacific Railroad was born. Hs was
n man OF immense physique. who personally man
aged the building Of the first transconrinenta rail-
road tho Sierras 1t said Of him with
absolute truth that he spent three years IN MS
shIrsleeves, bossIng gangs OF Chinese and white
aborers and compelling contractors TO -urnish sup
plies fast he needed them.
Charles Frederick Crocker born In Sacra-
mento on December %. 1854. The boy was only six
years old when hs father began the railroad career
which resulted In ten years In making him one OF
the richest men In the country. lie did not inherit
his fathers gian. frame but was a lad OF fran
physique until he reached manhood. After prepar-
Ing for college he took tour Of Europe for his
health. and in 1873 entered the Polytechnic Insti-
tute I'm Brooklyn He was not graduated, as he was
threatened with loss OF eyesight. He took another
tour in Europe, and then returned TO California and
determined to master practical railroad work
Young Crocker, though the son of a millionaire.
was as carefully trained though his father was
"A poor man. He not given an easy office m
the railroad company. but he was put at hard WORK
i'm the division superint, ndent's office on the Oak
Land pier and learned all the details OF operating
A railroad. When he mastered this he was trans
ferr ed to the general freight office in San Fran
cisco. where he spent year and was treated pre-
cisey any other clerk.
When General Cotton died Leland Stanford. then
president of the road decided to put young Crocker
In Coltons place as financial agent OF the COM
pany on this coast and purchaser Of all fuel. He
Inspected all the coal mines and showed so much
executive ability that the office OF third vice-presl
dent was created for him.
In 1883 young Crocker was promoted to the place
Of second ylce,presldent and N this capacity IN tne
Charles Crocker, at the East and abroad, the en-.
tire management Of the great raiload on this coast
many important questions without advice ana u,
this way acquired that remarkable faculty or quicE
dispatch OF business which made him without ar
equal this coast.
on September :, 1880, Charles Crocker died ant
left the principal management of his s2i oo0, 90
estate to his eldest son. With his brotheg WI,
age age of twenty;six. in september. 1850 colSns
Adelia " Easton. sister OF d. O. NILS, ,a.cs Mrs
Crocker charming woman. and three chiidrei
Hls wife died suddenly in February. 1881
Upon Leland Stanford's retirement, from me
presidency. Mr Crocker became first vice-presdent
lie was only thirty-six years old, but he had mac
fifteen years of thorough training. Since then n,
had filled this aborious position, with only one
term of one years absence In travel Mr Srockel
was always accessible to all callers. He Kept n'
boy at the door. In this way much time wa'
wasted but he obtained valuable hints when h'
would never have secured had he adopted the usua
Mr. Crocker made many gifts to charities an(
to science He gave to Lick Observatory It's fnes
Photographic instrument. He was regent OF IN, ii
State University and took great interest In its
management He belonged to the Pacinc Cnioi
club. strong Mason and was ,y, active hnrS IN Nh
Irplands one Of the handsomest suburban resi-
dcnces in San Mateo