George Crocker (businessman)
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George Crocker | |
|---|---|
 Crocker in 1904 | |
| Born | February 10, 1856 |
| Died | December 4, 1909 (aged 53) New York City, US |
| Resting place | Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, California, US[1] |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse | Emma Rutherford |
| Parent | Charles Crocker |
| Relatives | William H. Crocker (brother) Charles F. Crocker (brother) |
George Crocker (February 10, 1856 – December 4, 1909) was an American businessman and a member of the wealthy Crocker family.[2] A member of Tuller & Co., he was also a director of several corporations,[3] including Trust Company of America. He was second vice president of the Southern Pacific Railroad.[2] In 1909, Crocker was valued between $10 million to $20 million.[4] The 75-room, three-story Crocker Mansion was built in 1907 for Crocker in Mahwah, New Jersey, and is one of New Jersey's historical landmarks.[5]
He was born on February 10, 1856, in Sacramento, California, the second of four children of the railway magnate Charles Crocker.[4] His three siblings were William Henry Crocker, Harriet Crocker Alexander, and Charles Frederick Crocker.[6]
Following his father's death in 1888, an estate was left of $30,000,000.[4] George was willed $6 million on the condition that, "after the space of five years continuously he shall abstain from the use of spirituous, vinous, and malt liquors to the extent that he shall not during this period have been intoxicated." Crocker continued his life in San Francisco as "one of the most reckless young men about town when reckless young men thereabouts were common" for three more years. He then began his probation and entered a sanatorium.[4]
Career
Three years after his father's death, Crocker notified his brothers, who were the trustees of his share, that his abstinence had begun.[3] After his time at a sanitorium, Crocker purchased a 375 acre ranch[2][3] near Promontory, Utah, that was not profitable. He worked on the ranch until his probation was completed, turning it into a successful concern. He then came into his inheritance.[4] After applying for bonds in his name through the courts in September 1898, on October 27, 1898, he was awarded $500,000 for five years of total abstinence from intoxicants.[7] After he returned from Europe on his honeymoon, his brothers turned over $6 million to him.[3]
Afterwards, he opened an office in New York City after moving there.[4] He went into business, with his main endeavor involving the operations and expansion of businesses his father had invested in, including land, railroad, banks, coal, gas, iron, sugar, and chemical companies. He was successful as a businessperson, and was listed in Who's Who in America.[4] A member of Tuller & Co. and Tailer and Company, banking houses, he was also a director of several corporations, including Trust Company of America.[2][3] At Southern Pacific Railroad, he was second vice president.[2] When the Consolidated National Bank was organized in New York City on July 1, 1902, the fourteen directors included Crocker, Mortimer Wagar, John W. Griggs, Henry C. Brewster, and Perry Belmont.[8]
Following his 1906 expedition that failed to reach the North Pole, Robert E. Peary reported in his book that he had sighted distant land from the heights of the northwestern coast of Ellesmere Island. He named it Crocker Land after San Francisco banker George Crocker, one of his financial backers. It is now known that Peary's report was a hoax, as he wrote in his diary at the time that no land was visible.[9] At the time, an expedition (Crocker Land Expedition) was organized, and ultimately failed.[10] In 1909, Crocker was valued between $10 million to $20 million.[4]
Club memberships
George was active in sports in New York.[3] He was involved in clubs such as the New York Athletic Club, the Midday, City, Metropolitan, and the Tuxedo Union League,.[2]
