The record-union., 1897-07-19
COLONEL c. F. CROCKER.

The death of Colonel Charles F.
Crocker which occurred at his country
home in San Mateo on Saturday even
ing. removed the first of the younger
men of family the history of which
is interviewer with the building of Cali
fornia. It is wholly needless to recall
that stirring history in detail here, since
it is known to all who have considered
the upbuilding of the commonwealth. In
connection with the telegraphic an
nOuncement of his death we published in
the Record Union" yesterday morning
a biographical sketch Of Colonel Croker
from the pen of VIM. H. Mills, who had
known him since his boyhood and who
had been intimately associated with him
in the affairs of the railroad company
for many years. To this estimate of his
character. written by one who possessed
all the advantages of personal acquain
tance and intimate knowledge, nothing
OF value can be added; but Colonel
Crocker was so beloved in Sacramento,
where he was born and reared, that
some expression from us in regard to
his life work may not be out of place.
Colonel Crocker's career as a railroad
man. his connection with the largest and
most important industry of the coast,
the great California transportation sys-
tenn, and other business relations are
fully covered in the sketch above re-
ferred to. but some of the outside activi-
ties which engaged his attention may be
here referred to-
Colonel Crocker was man of strong
and broad social qualities Naturally
courteous in bearing, considerate in his
thought for others, kindly of disposition
and merciful. his instincts We're all
humane. Had he lived to greater age it
is improbable that he would have ever
hardened through business attrition
intothe cold and insensibIe man. On the
contrary, those who best knew Colonel
Crocker found him to be broadening in
his sympathies as age advanced upon
him.
He was deeply interested in educa-
tiona1 matters, though he never sought
publicity Of his thought and action in
this direction. His sincerity and
breadth in promoting higher educational
and scientific affairs was manifest, for
instance in his voluntary offerings on
three occasions to outfit at his own cost
University astronomical expeditions of
nigh Importance. Two of these went for
ward and were greatly successful while
thesthird has been but recently endowed
oy him and is to start in a few weeks.
His concern in educational and scien-
tile matters>is further evidenced by his
activity for many years in promoting
the usefulness of the San Francisco
Academy Of Sciences, to which institu-
ton he was profoundly attached, giving
1t very much of his time and thought. AS
Regent of the State University also
Colonel Crocker manifested his special
and sincere interest in education and
scientific advance, and besides he gave
TO several other but lesser educational
ana to several charitable institutions
personal attention, and took in them a
deep personal interest. OF late he has
taken deep personal interest in the es-
tablishment of the Masonic Orphans
Home and given much time and thought
to the advancement of that eharita BILE
undertaking.
Such work and interest by a man
OF so busy life as Colonel Crocker's
Will remain fadeless record in his
honor. He who labors for the better
ment Of his fellow-man, who devotes
time, means and ability TO the spread
of knowledge and the searching out of
truth does for his race more than
belted knights and heroes of war can
achieve. The work of the one is up
building, developing and hopeful; that
of the others is destructive and woful
The death of a man of such intelli-
gence. business. breadth. progressive
impulses. and such a patron of the arts
and sciences, of education and humane