Crocker, Mary Virginia Ives, 1863-

Resident of San Francisco, Calif.; married Henry J. Crocker, railroad and banking heir.

Mary Virginia Ives Crocker was the wife of Henry J. Crocker, nephew of the railroad magnate Charles B. Crocker, and a railroad and banking heir. His social and business offices and positions included: President of American National Bank, President of the Refining and Producing Oil Company of San Francisco, and President of the Olympic Club.

Biography

Described by her contemporaries as an "accomplished and beautiful heiress," Mary Ives Crocker lived the comfortable life of a nineteenth century millionaire's wife. Born in California in 1863 to Eunice Ives, she and her sister Florence were taken under the wing of the wealthy Kate and Charles McLaughlin. Mary Ives quickly gained notoriety among San Francisco's elite and soon emerged as one of the more sought after young single women.

On 3 April 1889 she married Henry J. Crocker. As the wife of one of San Francisco's wealthiest men, Mary Crocker spent her life fulfilling the duties of a social hostess and personal confidant to her husband. They had three daughters and two sons.

Henry J. Crocker, son of Clarke Crocker, mercantilist, and nephew of Charles B. Crocker, railroad magnate, stood heir to a great deal of the Crocker family fortune. Born in 1861 he attended St. Matthews in San Mateo. Following graduation, he entered into his father's mercantile business. He left in 1886 to establish his own firm of H.J. Crocker, Printers and Publishers.

Respected in the business community, Crocker served as president of the American National Bank and the Refining and Producing Oil Company of San Francisco. Because of his reputation for fair dealing and good judgement, he was appointed to the Board of Harbor Commission in 1903. That same year he waged a vigorous campaign for the office of mayor of San Francisco. Although he lost to Schmidt, Crocker continued to wield tremendous influence over the cultural and industrial development of the city. In his personal life, Crocker was an active member of various equestrian and philatelist associations. He died in October of 1913.