Charles Crocker

Crocker was born in Troy, New York on September 16, 1822. He was the son of Eliza (née Wright) and Isaac Crocker, a modest family. They joined the nineteenth-century migration west and moved to Indiana when he was 14, where they had a farm. Crocker soon became independent, working on several farms, a sawmill, and at an iron forge.

At the age of 23, in 1845, he founded a small, independent iron forge of his own. He used money saved from his earnings to invest later in the new railroad business after moving to California, which had become a boom state since the Gold Rush. His older brother Edwin B. Crocker had become an attorney by the time Crocker was investing in railroads.

File:San Francisco Pacific Railroad Bond WPRR 1865.jpg

Image:Truckee River at Verdi, east of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Nevada, Central Pacific R.R, by Thomas Houseworth & Co..jpg at Verdi, Nevada. When the Central Pacific Railroad reached the site in 1868, Charles Crocker pulled a slip of paper from a hat and read the name of Giuseppe Verdi ; so, the town was named after the Italian opera composer.{{Cite web|title=Home{{!}}Verdi History|url=https://verdihistory.org/|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Verdi History Preservation Society, Inc.|language=en-US}}]]

File:Isaiah West Taber (1830-1912) Charles Crocker's Residence, San Franciscoca. 1880 SFMOMA.jpg-Italian Villa style mansion (1877), formerly at the N.W. corner of California & Taylor, on Nob Hill, San Francisco, now the site of Grace Cathedral.{{Cite web |title=Crocker Mansions Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=63582 |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}]]

In 1861, after hearing an intriguing presentation by Theodore Judah, he was one of the four principal investors, along with Mark Hopkins, Collis Huntington and Leland Stanford (also known as The Big Four), who formed the Central Pacific Railroad, which constructed the western portion of the First transcontinental railroad in North America. His position with the company was that of construction supervisor and president of Charles Crocker & Co., a Central Pacific subsidiary founded expressly for the purpose of building the railroad.

Crocker bought train plows to plow the tracks of snow through the mountains, but they derailed due to ice on the tracks. He had more than {{convert|40|mi|round=5}} of snow sheds built to cover the tracks in the Sierra Nevada mountains, to prevent the tracks from getting covered with snow in the winter. This project cost over $2 million.[https://web.archive.org/web/20010309181724/http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/crocker.htm "Charles Crocker"], ''The West', PBS-WETA

In 1864, Charles asked his older brother Edwin to serve as legal counsel for the Central Pacific Railroad.{{cite web| title=People & Events: Edwin Bryant Crocker (1818-1875)| publisher=Public Broadcasting Service| url= https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/tcrr-ebcrocker/| date=1999–2003| access-date=March 17, 2011}}

While the Central Pacific was still under construction in 1868, Crocker and his three associates acquired control of the Southern Pacific Railroad. It built the westernmost portion of the second transcontinental railroad. Deming, New Mexico, is named after his wife, Mary Ann Deming Crocker. A silver spike was driven here in 1881 to commemorate the meeting of the Southern Pacific with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroads, completing the construction of the second transcontinental railroad in the United States.{{Cite web|title=Deming, NM (DEM)|url=https://www.greatamericanstations.com/stations/deming-nm-dem/|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Great American Stations|language=en-US}}

On September 5, 1876, at the Lang Southern Pacific Station, a California Historic Landmark, Crocker hammered a golden spike into a railroad tie, the ceremonial spike was driven to celebrate the completion of San Joaquin Valley rail line. The completion of the line connected the City of Los Angeles with San Francisco and First transcontinental railroad line.{{Cite web|title=CHL # 590 Lang Southern Pacific Station Los Angeles|url=https://www.californiahistoricallandmarks.com/landmarks/chl-590|access-date=2020-08-11|website=www.californiahistoricallandmarks.com}}

Crocker was briefly the controlling shareholder of Wells Fargo in 1869 and served as president. After he sold down, he was replaced by John J. Valentine, Sr.{{cite book |last=Fradkin |first=Philip L. |year=2002 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QILdMe7lYXgC&q=%22charlescrocker%22%22wellsfargo%22&pg=PA219 |title=Stage Coach, The History of Wells Fargo |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-0-7432-2762-9}} Crocker also acquired controlling interest for his son William in Woolworth National Bank, which was renamed Crocker-Anglo Bank.

In 1963, Crocker-Anglo Bank merged with Los Angeles' Citizens National Bank, to become Crocker-Citizens Bank{{cite news| url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,828371,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423043325/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,828371,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=April 23, 2008 | magazine=Time | title=Banking: The Urge to Unrmerge | date=August 27, 1965 | access-date=April 28, 2010}} and later, Crocker National Bank.{{cite web |last1=Furlong |first1=Tom |last2=Feb. 8 |title=Crocker Takeover Left Him Behind : Executive Out in the Cold in Surprise Wells Fargo Deal |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-02-08-fi-5729-story.html?_amp=true |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=16 April 2021 |date=8 February 1986}} The San Francisco-based bank no longer exists, as it was acquired by Wells Fargo in 1986.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GulVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6575%2C1822758 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Wells Fargo to acquire Crocker National Corp.|date=February 8, 1986 |page=12C}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QYNIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RW4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3046%2C9104660 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |title=Wells Fargo acquires Crocker |date=April 30, 1986|page=16}}File:Muybridge SF pan 1878 portion showing spite fence.jpg]]

Crocker built a mansion on Nob Hill, San Francisco. When his attempts to buy {{anchor|Nicholas Yung}}Nicholas Yung's adjacent property were rebuffed, he built a 40-foot spite fence around three sides of the neighbor's property. Legal challenges to the fence were unavailing. The feud lasted many years, and the fence was only removed after the death of Mrs. Yung, and the sale of the property by Yung's heirs to Crocker's family. Spite fences were thereafter made illegal in San Francisco. The mansion was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Though the disaster rendered the infamous dispute and its resolution moot, Crocker's family donated the entire block of land to charity, in support of the Episcopal Diocese of California.{{cite web |url=https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-man-who-built-a-40-foot-spite-fence-around-his-neighbor-s-home |work=Pocket worthy: Stories to fuel your mind. |title=The Man Who Built a 40-Foot Spite Fence Around His Neighbor's Home

|quote=When Nicholas Yung wouldn't sell his land to railroad baron Charles Crocker, Crocker built a 40-foot fence around his house and blotted out the sun.|publisher=Mental Floss |first1=Jake |last1=Rosse |access-date=May 2, 2020}} In 1910, in the same plot where the fence stood, the cornerstone was laid for Grace Cathedral.{{Cite web|title=History|url=https://gracecathedral.org/history/|date=2016-03-07|website=Grace Cathedral|access-date=2020-05-03}}

File:Harriet Valentine Crocker Alexander, by Giovanni Boldini.jpg, 1887]]

In 1852, Crocker was married to Mary Ann Deming.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mactrust.org/|title=Home|website=Mary A. Crocker|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-24}} Mary was the daughter of John Jay Deming and Emily (née Reed) Deming. Together, they had six children, four of whom survived to adulthood:{{cite news|title=Charles Crocker's Will.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1888/08/30/archives/charles-crockers-will.html|access-date=4 April 2018|work=The New York Times|date=30 August 1888}}

• Charles Frederick Crocker (1854–1897), who married Jennie Ella Easton (1858–1887).{{cite news |title=C. F. Crocker Dead. Vice President of the Southern Pacific Railway Expires in San Mateo, California |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1897/07/18/archives/cf-crocker-dead-vice-president-of-the-southern-pacific-railway.html |quote=Col. Charles F. Crocker, Vice President of the Southern Pacific Railway Company, died at his home here to-night. |work=The New York Times |date=July 18, 1897 |access-date=2010-02-09 }} {{subscription required}}{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SFC18970718.2.3 |title=Clasped in the Arms of Death |author= |date=18 July 1897 |volume=82 |number=48 |newspaper=San Francisco Call |access-date=9 February 2017}}
• George Crocker (1856–1909), who married Emma Hanchett (1855–1904).

{{cite news |author= |title=Geo. Crocker Dying, a Victim of Cancer; Long a Sufferer from the Same Disease That Killed His Wife in 1904. Call His Brother Home - William H. Crocker Hastens from Europe -- $6,000,000 Inheritance Won By Five Years' Fight Against Drink. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1909/11/17/archives/geo-crocker-dying-a-victim-of-cancer-long-a-sufferer-from-the-same.html | work=The New York Times |location=New York City, New York |date=November 17, 1909 |access-date=April 14, 2017}}{{PD-notice}}{{cite news |author= |title=George Crocker Dies of Cancer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1909/12/05/archives/georgeerocker-dies-of-cancer-malady-that-killedhis-wie-fatal-tol.html | work=The New York Times |location=New York City, New York |date=December 5, 1909 |page=13|access-date=April 14, 2017}}{{PD-notice}}{{Cite web |title=Merced County Sun 10 December 1909 — California Digital Newspaper Collection : GEO. CROCKER IS DEAD IN NEW YORK |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MCS19091210.2.38&srpos=8&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN-crocker------- |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=cdnc.ucr.edu}}

• Harriet Valentine Crocker (1859–1935), who married Charles Beatty Alexander (1849–1927).{{cite news|title=MISS ALEXANDER TO WED S. WHITEHOUSE; Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Alexander Engaged to Diplomatist. FIANCEE NOW IN EUROPE Mr. Whitehouse Is Chief of the New Eastern Division, Department of State.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1920/07/30/archives/miss-alexander-to-wed-s-white-house-daughter-of-mr-and-mrs-charles.html|access-date=24 January 2018|work=The New York Times|date=30 July 1920}}{{cite web|author=Lawrence Kestenbaum |url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/whitehouse.html |title=Index to Politicians: Whitehouse |publisher=The Political Graveyard |access-date=2013-06-17}}
• William Henry Crocker (1861–1937), who married Ethel Sperry (1861–1934).{{cite news|title=W. H. Crocker Dies, Banker On Coast |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1937/09/26/96749228.html|access-date=13 June 2018|newspaper=The New York Times|date=26 September 1937}}

Crocker was seriously injured in a New York City carriage accident in 1886,{{cite news|title=Thrown from His Wagon.; Millionaire Crocker Seriously Hurt While Driving.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1886/04/21/archives/thrown-from-his-wagon-millionaire-crocker-seriously-hurt-while.html|access-date=4 April 2018|work=The New York Times|date=21 April 1886}} never fully recovered, and died two years later on August 14, 1888.{{cite news|title=Charles Crocker Dying.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1888/08/12/archives/charles-crocker-dying.html|access-date=4 April 2018|work=The New York Times|date=12 August 1888}} He was buried in a mausoleum located on "Millionaire's Row" at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California.{{Cite web |title=Crocker Monument |url=https://www.mausoleums.com/portfolio/crocker-monument/ |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Mausoleums.com |language=en-US}} The massive granite structure was designed by the New York architect A. Page Brown, who later designed the San Francisco Ferry Building.{{cite web| url=http://cprr.org/Museum/Mt_View_Tombs.html| title=The Tombs of Charles Crocker etal.| work=Central Pacific RR Photographic Museum}}{{cite web| url=http://www.laborstandard.org/New_Postings/Vincent_St_John.htm| title=For May Day, Remembering Vincent St. John| publisher=LaborStandard.org| access-date=January 14, 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209210254/http://www.laborstandard.org/New_Postings/Vincent_St_John.htm| archive-date=December 9, 2015| url-status=dead}} Use "Crocker" as the search text. Crocker's estate has been valued at between $300 million and $400 million at the time of his death in 1888.

During his lifetime Charles Crocker amassed a considerable collection of works of art.{{Cite web |title=Archives Directory for the History of Collecting : Crocker, Charles, 1822-1888 |url=https://research.frick.org/directory/detail/382 |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=research.frick.org |language=en}}

File:Charles Crocker Tomb, Oakland, CA.jpg]]

Mount Crocker is named in his honor.Erwin G. Gudde, California Place Names, University of California Press, 1969, {{ISBN|9780520266193}}, page 96. It is located in California's Sierra Nevada mountains.

• Crocker family
• List of people associated with the California Gold Rush

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{{commons category|Charles Crocker}}

{{Portal|Biography}}

• {{cite book| title=Nothing Like It In The World; The men who built the Transcontinental Railroad 1863-1869| url=https://archive.org/details/nothinglikeitinw00ambr| url-access=registration| author=Ambrose, Stephen E.| year=2000| publisher=Simon & Schuster| isbn=0-684-84609-8| author-link=Stephen Ambrose}}

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Category:1822 births

Category:1888 deaths

Category:American railway entrepreneurs

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Category:Nob Hill, San Francisco

Category:New York (state) Republicans

Category:California Republicans

Category:Burials at Mountain View Cemetery (Oakland, California)

Category:Crocker family