El
Dorado County
Biographies
CROCKER BROTHERS
(WILLIAM FRANKLIN “FRANK” & WARREN)
The history of a community is no longer a story of wars and conquests
but is an account of its business activities, whereon depends its growth and
prosperity. The Crocker Brothers, now at
the head of one of the leading mercantile concerns in Placerville, are
prominent in commercial circles and are recognized as enterprising citizens,
widely and favorably known in their community.
They are both native sons of California, the elder, Frank Crocker,
having been born September 29, 1858, and the younger, Warren Crocker, on the 29th
of March, 1863, in El Dorado County.
Their father, Benjamin S. Crocker,
one of the early and respected pioneers of the county, was born in Virginia,
April 20, 1827, and in 1832 accompanied the family on their westward journey to
Hannibal, Missouri. Three years later
they removed to Grant County, Wisconsin, and when fourteen years of age
Benjamin S. Crocker started out in life on his own account, working in the lead
mines. Later he took flatboats down the
Mississippi River to New Orleans, and in 1851, attracted by the discovery of
gold in California, he made his way to this state coming by the Nicaragua
route. The ship on which he sailed on
the Pacific being an old slow-going tug, the supply of water and provisions
became exhausted ere he reached his destination. This occasioned much suffering, and a number
of the passengers died. They were
obliged to fight for water and the captain landed them at San Diego instead of
taking them on to San Francisco. Mr.
Crocker remained there for a time, working in a hotel, after which he made his
way to San Francisco and subsequently to Sacramento. There he earned a few dollars by removing
property that was endangered by a flood which threatened to carry them away.
In March, 1852, he arrived in
Placerville, without friends and without money; but he soon discovered an old
acquaintance whom he had known in the lead mines of Wisconsin and was rendered
him kindly assistance. He engaged in
placer mining, meeting with desirable success in his work, and after about a
year opened a large mercantile store in Upper Placerville. The enterprise has since been conducted,
being now the property of his two sons.
As a businessman the father was thrifty and straightforward and had the
trade and confidence of a large circle of friends. He was one of the successful pioneer
merchants of the town and his business contributed in no small measure to its
commercial activity. On the 29th
of June, 1858, he married Miss Mary Myers, and they had six children,
namely: Emma Artilla,
William Franklin, Dora, Warren, Arthur Benjamin and Irving Samuel, all of whom
are living with the exception of Dora, who died March 11, 1863. The mother was called to her final rest in
March, 1870, and on the 5th of May, 1872, Mr. Crocker married Miss
Caroline E. Cruson, who with four children survived
him, namely: Robert, Raymond Clinton,
Sarah Catherine and Bernice. The father
of these children departed this life on the 6th of September, 1895, and in his
death the community lost one of its valued citizens.
Frank Crocker, as he is familiarly
called, was educated in Placerville and when eighteen years of age began
hauling goods for the store of which he is now the proprietor. He was thus employed for twenty years, and
upon the death of his father he became a partner in the store in connection
with his brother Warren. On the 17th
of April, 1900, he was elected one of the aldermen of the town and is now
acceptably serving in that capacity.
Warren Crocker was also educated in Placerville and during much of his
life he has been connected with the store as his father’s assistant and now as
a partner. Under his father’s direction
he acquired a thorough knowledge of the business and was well qualified to
assume the management when he became one of the partners. In addition to their mercantile interests
they are largely interested in valuable mining properties and are wide-awake,
progressive businessmen who carry forward to successful completion whatever
they undertake, deterred by no obstacles that can be overcome by honorable effort.
Our subject was married in 1881 to
Miss Alberta Coats, a native of Placerville and a daughter of George
Coats. They have two children: Emma and Marion. The brothers, Frank and Warren Crocker, are
both Republicans.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 594-595. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden
Nugget Library's El Dorado County Biographies