This Day in History: 1909-12-04

Mr. George Crocker died at his 64th Street home in New York City, after a 2 year bout with cancer. He was born on February 10, 1856 in Sacramento, California. His father was one of the pioneers of the building of the railroads in the Far West and gave his son an estate worth $4.000.000 to $6.000.000 dollars after he proved that he could keep sober for five years. George Crocker had a spectacular career as a railroad man and financier. He left an estate between $10 and $20 million dollars. Eight year age , he bought the estate of Mr. and Mrs. Darling of Darlington for $100.000. Here he proceeded to build a magnificent mansion, on what he called the finest site in the U.S. it is furnished throughout with valuable Antiques. In addition there is an immense greenhouse with about 17.000 sq feet of glass, where flowers, vegetables and grapes are raised. The farm is stocked with fine horses and about 60 head of valuable Jersey cattle. Unfortunately just before the mansion was completed, his wife died, also of cancer. After the funeral in New York City, two special Pullman cars stocked at his order with food from the Darlington Estate , conveyed the funeral party to San Francisco for the burial. All of his holdings will be sold and the proceeds devoted to the George Crocker Special Research at Columbia College, for research into the cause, prevention and cure of cancer. The Darlington estate is expected to be sold as a unit at a private sale. He left many legacies, including a $25.000 legacy and a gift of $10.000 to his Japanese valet and $2500 to his nurse. All of his servants were reputed to have received $100 for each year they served him. (Bristow)