Bio of CROCKER, William Garland (b.1864 d.1922), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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WILLIAM G. CROCKER (William Garland Crocker) - Vol III, pg 736-740
William G. Crocker, secretary of the Washburn-Crosby Company and identified with
the directorate of many other important milling and corporate interests
through­out the Mississippi valley and the west, passed away at his home in
Minneapolis, on the 17th of April, 1922, and the city mourned the loss not only
of a representative business man who had contributed largely to her upbuilding,
but also of a philanthropist, who was ever ready to extend a helping hand where
need was great and where assistance would alleviate suffering and hardship for
the unfortunate. His life record has much in it of inspirational value as the
opportunities of his youth were such as most boys enjoy. It was through the
sheer force of his character and ability that he won advancement, coming to rank
with the foremost residents of his native city, for Mr. Crocker was born in
Minneapolis, on the 15th of January. 1864, a son of George W. Crocker, a pioneer
in milling interests of Minneapolis, of whom a review precedes this. His
educational opportunities were those afforded by the public schools of the city
and his initial business training was received in the office of his father, who
was senior partner in the Crocker-Fiske Milling Com­pany. There the son remained
for eleven years, gaining comprehensive knowledge of the business in its various
phases and in 1894 he became identified with the Washburn-Crosby Company as an
invoice clerk. His ability and fidelity to the interests of the house led to his
rapid advancement and for many years he was manager of the feed department of
the company. In fact, he became a nationally known expert on mill feeds and
milling and his opinions upon subjects of this char­acter were frequently
sought, while at all times his judgment was regarded as most sound and his
methods progressive. In 1910 he was elected to the directorate of the company
and in May, 1919, was elected secretary. He belonged to the Millers National
Federation and was chairman of its uniform feed law committee and he became
known throughout the country, his expert knowledge concerning mill feeds being
widely known. By the terms of the will of William H. Dunwoody he was made one of
the trustees and secretary of the Dunwoody Institute and continued to act in
that capacity until his final illness. His business connections covered a wide
scope, as he was a director of the Louisville Milling Company at Louisville,
Ken­tucky, the Kalispell Flour Mill Company of Kalispell, Montana, the Royal
Milling Company and the Rocky Mountain Elevator Company at Great Falls, Montana,
and the St. Anthony & Dakota Elevator Company. His cooperation was regarded as a
most valuable factor in the successful management of these various enterprises
and thus steadily he forged his way to the front in connection with the milling
industry of the country.
Mr. Crocker was married to Mary (Newell) Bull on December 10, 1890, a daughter
of the late Benjamin S. Bull, Sr., and they became the parents of a daughter,
Beulah Mary. Mr. Crocker was well known through his social activities, belonging
to the Minneapolis, Lafayette, Woodhill and Minikahda Clubs. He was also a
member of the Plymouth Congregational church and his life expressed his
Christian faith in its philanthropy and continued helpfulness. He was constantly
extending assistance to some charitable or benevolent institution, while his
private philanthropies were many and often were known only to the recipients and
to himself. He always fully recognized the obligations of man to his fellows and
to W. G. Crocker this was not merely a matter of duty but a matter of pleasure.
William G. Crocker had not yet passed the prime of life when he died. He was
taken in the strength of his manhood, at a time when his mental vision was most
clear and when it seems that he should have been spared for many years to come.
There was not a single esoteric phase in his life. His entire course was
governed by those rules which make for upright manhood and for honorable and
progressive citizen­ship. He carried forward his part of the world's work with
strength and vigor, actuated by high ideals, and his contribution thereto was of
splendid character. He was an outstanding figure among the great names of his
time.
In concluding the record of the remarkable career of Mr. Crocker so many
tributes were made by his friends and associates at his death that it would seem
proper and also would best describe the worth of this man to quote herein the
complete resolution adopted by the Washburn-Crosby Company at the time of his
death, as follows:
"The directors of Washburn-Crosby Company, meeting on the Nineteenth of April,
Nineteen Hundred and Twenty-two, to honor the memory of William Garland Crocker,
for many years a partner in the direction of company affairs, and in recent
years secretary of the company, voiced through Mr. C. C. Bovey, vice president,
their regard for him as man, friend and counselor, and their poignant
realization of the loss to the company.
WILLIAM GARLAND CROCKER
"Some of us knew and played with him as boys, and later, in our vacation days
from school, delighted to drop into the office of Crocker, Fiske & Company, in
the old Corn Exchange, and see him at work, older and growing in experience, but
the same frank, jovial, diligent Will Crocker.
"We all remember that day in 1894 when our president, Mr. James S. Bell,
introduced him from desk to desk as our future associate in the Washburn-Crosby
Company family. From that day on he was one of us, sharing our joys and sorrows
as the stanch, dependable friend and partner.
 'The Feed Czar,' we jokingly called him at the time when his duties were
chiefly the disposition of the enormous stream of by-products distributed
through every state in the Union; a task for many men, but in his orderly,
efficient and masterly way was performed with apparent ease. We have never
ceased to marvel at the way in which he met the vexing and perplexing state feed
laws, and in this one thing more than any other, it seems to me, we find the
fundamentals of his character. Having mastered his subject and founding all his
arguments on truth, men believed his word implicitly, and therefore no time was
wasted in convincing federal and state committees as to the best course of
action. Every card was laid on the table face up.
"However, there was something more than integrity and ability, there was the
charm of his delightful personality that brought such success to his
undertakings. The clear, charming manner, the devotion to truth, what more was
needed to make this man win his way among his fellowmen? The years of almost
daily contact have so endeared this friend and partner that this parting
wrenches us. But this is the price we pay for our life in this honorable
business family. The closer the family is knit the greater the joys and then, of
course, as needs must follow, the greater the sorrows. But we would not have it
otherwise. We shall miss sorely this Christian gentleman, who worked side by
side with us through these many years.
"That clear and graceful signature, William G. Crocker, is spread into the
minute books and records all through the files of this office.
"The mill men were devoted to him. We recall those most enjoyable nights at the
mill during the days when our factory committees were first formed, how his
democratic spirit won the men and enhanced their loyalty to the company.
"He was our envoy to the meetings of the Millers National Federation. What truer
praise can a man receive than that which comes from his competitors in the
field? The records of mass conventions and delegates meetings at the Millers
National Federation bear testimony to the high regard in which he was held by
the millers of all parts of the country.
"On several occasions we all recall the glimpse that we were privileged to get
of those charming relationships within the holy of holies of his family circle.
Shall we ever forget that afternoon and evening at his summer home at Lake
Minnetonka? But to none of us was there any surprise to know the love and
devotion to wife and daughter. Who could think otherwise from a man who showed
so much genuine affection for his associates in the larger business circle.
"Mr. President, it is impossible to spread upon the minutes of our company the
real worth of this man. I have faintly outlined just a few of his many wonderful
qualities, but we shall not forget those finer relationships that only the most
delicate artist could picture.
"With the deepest sorrow of the personal loss, and a full knowledge of the loss
which this company has sustained, I ask that this brief sketch be spread upon
our records and an engrossed copy be handed to the family."
It is a hard task to write a real tribute to such a man as William G. Crocker
but his life was such that it should serve as an example for the coming
generations to follow.