Uriel Crocker (September 12, 1796 – July 19, 1887) was a public-spirited Boston citizen, head of the Crocker & Brewster publishing house during its 58-year existence (1818-1876), and actively involved in other enterprises including railroads.
Crocker was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, as one of eight children of the elder Uriel Crocker and his second wife, Mary James. He graduated from the academy at Marblehead in August 1811, as first scholar. In the next month, on the day after he turned fifteen years old, Crocker began work in Boston as an apprentice in the printing-office of Samuel Turell Armstrong (afterwards mayor of Boston and acting governor of the Commonwealth), who also carried on a bookselling business.
At age 19 Crocker was made foreman of the printing-office, and at 22 was, with his fellow-apprentice Osmyn Brewster taken into partnership with Armstrong. The agreement was that the bookstore was to be conducted in the name of Mr. Armstrong, and the printing-office in that of Crocker & Brewster. After 1825 the entire business was carried on under the name of Crocker & Brewster (although Mr. Armstrong continued a member of the firm until 1840). The printing-office was then in Mr. Crocker's especial charge and the bookstore in that of Mr. Brewster. (For a subsequent history of the firm, see Crocker & Brewster.)
In 1829 Crocker married Sarah Kidder Haskell. Their children were Uriel Haskell Crocker, Sarah Haskell Crocker, and George Glover Crocker.[1] Mrs. Crocker died January 16, 1856, at the age of fifty years.
In 1866, Dartmouth College conferred upon him an honorary degree of A. M. He died at his summer residence in Cohasset on July 19, 1887.[2]
In later years, Crocker became heavily involved with railway companies. He was one of the organizers of the Old Colony Railroad Company and a director. He was also a director of the Northern (N.H.) Railroad Company, the Concord Railroad, the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad (where he was vice-president from 1870 to 1873, and president 1874), the South Pacific Railroad, and the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad.
Crocker was also president and director of the Proprietors of the Revere House; of the United States Hotel Company; of the South Cove Corporation; of the South Bay Improvement Company; and of the Tremont Nail Company. He was also one of the original corporators of the Franklin Savings Bank.
Charitable activitiesEdit
Crocker was a leader in the movement for building the Bunker Hill Monument and raised $40,000 for the fund. He was director of the Monument Association from 1833 till 1869, and vice-president from 1869 till his death, declining to accept the position of president.
A plaque in Crocker Park, Marblehead, Massachusetts, records that Crocker donated the park's excellent site on June 15, 1886, later extended by a further gift from his two sons.
BibliographyEdit
Bacon, Edwin M., Editor. Men of Progress: One Thousand Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Leaders in Business and Professional Life in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Boston: New England Magazine, 1896.
Toomey, Daniel.:, Massachusetts of Today: A Memorial of the State, Historical and Biographical, Issued for the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago, Columbia Publishing Company, Boston, Massachusetts, page 32, (1892).
This article is derived from the Men of Progress entry for Crocker, on which copyright has expired.
ReferencesEdit
^Toomey, Daniel P. (1892), Massachusetts of Today: A Memorial of the State, Historical and Biographical, Boston, MA: Columbia Publishing Company, p. 107
^"Uriel Crocker Dead". The New York Times. Boston. July 20, 1887. p. 1. Retrieved January 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
August 25, 2023
uriel, crocker, september, 1796, july, 1887, public, spirited, boston, citizen, head, crocker, brewster, publishing, house, during, year, existence, 1818, 1876, actively, involved, other, enterprises, including, railroads, born, 1796, september, 1796marblehead. Uriel Crocker September 12 1796 July 19 1887 was a public spirited Boston citizen head of the Crocker amp Brewster publishing house during its 58 year existence 1818 1876 and actively involved in other enterprises including railroads Uriel CrockerBorn 1796 09 12 September 12 1796Marblehead MassachusettsDiedJuly 19 1887 1887 07 19 aged 90 Cohasset MassachusettsNationalityAmericanSpouseSarah Kidder HaskellChildrenUriel Haskell Crocker Sarah Haskell Crocker George Glover CrockerSignatureCrocker was born in Marblehead Massachusetts as one of eight children of the elder Uriel Crocker and his second wife Mary James He graduated from the academy at Marblehead in August 1811 as first scholar In the next month on the day after he turned fifteen years old Crocker began work in Boston as an apprentice in the printing office of Samuel Turell Armstrong afterwards mayor of Boston and acting governor of the Commonwealth who also carried on a bookselling business At age 19 Crocker was made foreman of the printing office and at 22 was with his fellow apprentice Osmyn Brewster taken into partnership with Armstrong The agreement was that the bookstore was to be conducted in the name of Mr Armstrong and the printing office in that of Crocker amp Brewster After 1825 the entire business was carried on under the name of Crocker amp Brewster although Mr Armstrong continued a member of the firm until 1840 The printing office was then in Mr Crocker s especial charge and the bookstore in that of Mr Brewster For a subsequent history of the firm see Crocker amp Brewster In 1829 Crocker married Sarah Kidder Haskell Their children were Uriel Haskell Crocker Sarah Haskell Crocker and George Glover Crocker 1 Mrs Crocker died January 16 1856 at the age of fifty years In 1866 Dartmouth College conferred upon him an honorary degree of A M He died at his summer residence in Cohasset on July 19 1887 2 Contents 1 Other business activities 2 Charitable activities 3 Bibliography 4 ReferencesOther business activities EditIn later years Crocker became heavily involved with railway companies He was one of the organizers of the Old Colony Railroad Company and a director He was also a director of the Northern N H Railroad Company the Concord Railroad the Atlantic amp Pacific Railroad where he was vice president from 1870 to 1873 and president 1874 the South Pacific Railroad and the St Louis amp San Francisco Railroad Crocker was also president and director of the Proprietors of the Revere House of the United States Hotel Company of the South Cove Corporation of the South Bay Improvement Company and of the Tremont Nail Company He was also one of the original corporators of the Franklin Savings Bank Charitable activities EditCrocker was a leader in the movement for building the Bunker Hill Monument and raised 40 000 for the fund He was director of the Monument Association from 1833 till 1869 and vice president from 1869 till his death declining to accept the position of president In addition he held leadership roles in the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association the Massachusetts Charitable Fire Society the Massachusetts Charitable Society the Board of Managers of the Boston Dispensary the Mount Auburn Cemetery the Old South Society the Boston House of Correction the Boston Lying In Hospital the Massachusetts Horticultural Society the New England Historic Genealogical Society and the Bostonian Society A plaque in Crocker Park Marblehead Massachusetts records that Crocker donated the park s excellent site on June 15 1886 later extended by a further gift from his two sons Bibliography EditBacon Edwin M Editor Men of Progress One Thousand Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Leaders in Business and Professional Life in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Boston New England Magazine 1896 Toomey Daniel Massachusetts of Today A Memorial of the State Historical and Biographical Issued for the World s Columbian Exposition at Chicago Columbia Publishing Company Boston Massachusetts page 32 1892 This article is derived from the Men of Progress entry for Crocker on which copyright has expired References Edit Toomey Daniel P 1892 Massachusetts of Today A Memorial of the State Historical and Biographical Boston MA Columbia Publishing Company p 107 Uriel Crocker Dead The New York Times Boston July 20 1887 p 1 Retrieved January 13 2021 via Newspapers com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Uriel Crocker amp oldid 1101414807, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
