FRANK R. CROCKER.

FRANK R. CROCKER.
Among the industries which make Rock Springs one of the progressive and typical western cities, marked by growth in every direction, is the jewelry establishment of Frank R. Crocker, whose training and experience well qualified him for the successful conduct of an enterprise of this character. He was born in Pana, Christian county, Illinois, August 7, 1876, and is a son of John Crocker, a native of Canada who is of English descent, the family, however, having long been established in Canada. He became a flour miller by trade and after crossing the border into the United States lived for some years in Pana, Illinois, but eventually sought a home west of the Mississippi. He located first in Thayer county, Nebraska, about 1886 and there remained for a considerable period but eventually removed to Eugene, Oregon, where he has now resided for the past five years. He figures quite prominently in financial circles there as an investment broker and private banker and ranks with the leading business men of that community. He wedded Mary Crocker, a native of England, and they became the parents of six children. Frank R. Crocker, the fifth in order of birth, acquired a public school education in Hastings, Nebraska, being graduated from the high school in 1892. He also spent one year as a student in McCormick College at Hastings, and thus well equipped by liberal educational training, he started out in the business world to provide for his own support. He has been dependent upon his own resources from the age of eighteen years. He was first employed as an apprentice by. 0. Z. Zinn. a pioneer jeweler of Hastings, with whom he learned all branches of the jewelry trade. He also attended the Horological School of Omaha, Nebraska, from which he was graduated in 1898, after completing a course under Tarbox & Gordon. Following his graduation he was employed by Fritz Sandwall, a leading jeweler of South Omaha, with whom he remained for two years, and on the expiration of that period he removed to Laramie, Wyoming, where he secured a situation in the Massey jewelry store, in which he spent the summer. In the fall of the same year, however, he removed to Rock Springs and obtained a situation with A. J. Vipperman. In the following winter he removed to Green River, where he engaged in business on his own account, starting with a cash capital of but sixty-two dollars. From that humble start he has established and developed one of the finest retail jewelry houses in the state. He carries a very extensive and attractive line of jewelry, precious stones and art goods, and his patronage is now extensive and gratifying. His thorough training, well qualifies him for the business which he has undertaken and long experience, enterprise and laudable ambition are proving the salient features in his growing success. On the 11th of June, 1902, Mr. Crocker was married in Rock Springs, Wyoming, to Miss Annie E. Hopkins, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Hopkins, who were members of an old pioneer family of that state. Her father is now deceased but her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Crocker have become parents of a son, Frank R., who was born in Rock Springs, February 29, 1916. It was in 1912 that Mr. Crocker disposed of his business interests at Green River and returned to Rock Springs, where he has since made his home, and in the social circles of the city he and his wife occupy an enviable position, being accorded the hospitality of those homes where true worth and intelligence are accepted as the passports into good society. Mr. Crocker votes with the republican party and is an active worker in its ranks. He has served as county commissioner of Sweetwater county, filling the office for one term beginning in 1909. He is a champion of all those activities and interests which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to lodge, chapter and commandery and also to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has membership in the First Episcopal church and in these associations are found the nature of his interests and the rules which govern his conduct. His business ability is pronounced and his enterprise and ambition are at all times guided by the soundest principles of integrity.

Among the industries which make Rock Springs one of the progressive and typical western cities, marked by growth in every direction, is the jewelry establishment of Frank R. Crocker, whose training and experience well qualified him for the successful conduct of an enterprise of this character. He was born in Pana, Christian county, Illinois, August 7, 1876, and is a son of John Crocker, a native of Canada who is of English descent, the family, however, having long been established in Canada. He became a flour miller by trade and after crossing the border into the United States lived for some years in Pana, Illinois, but eventually sought a home west of the Mississippi. He located first in Thayer county, Nebraska, about 1886 and there remained for a considerable period but eventually removed to Eugene, Oregon, where he has now resided for the past five years. He figures quite prominently in financial circles there as an investment broker and private banker and ranks with the leading business men of that community. He wedded Mary Crocker, a native of England, and they became the parents of six children.
Frank R. Crocker, the fifth in order of birth, acquired a public school education in Hastings, Nebraska, being graduated from the high school in 1892. He also spent one year as a student in McCormick College at Hastings, and thus well equipped by liberal educational training, he started out in the business world to provide for his own support. He has been dependent upon his own resources from the age of eighteen years. He was first employed as an apprentice by. 0. Z. Zinn. a pioneer jeweler of Hastings, with whom he learned all branches of the jewelry trade. He also attended the Horological School of Omaha, Nebraska, from which he was graduated in 1898, after completing a course under Tarbox & Gordon. Following his graduation he was employed by Fritz Sandwall, a leading jeweler of South Omaha, with whom he remained for two years, and on the expiration of that period he removed to Laramie, Wyoming, where he secured a situation in the Massey jewelry store, in which he spent the summer. In the fall of the same year, however, he removed to Rock Springs and obtained a situation with A. J. Vipperman. In the following winter he removed to Green River, where he engaged in business on his own account, starting with a cash capital of but sixty-two dollars. From that humble start he has established and developed one of the finest retail jewelry houses in the state. He carries a very extensive and attractive line of jewelry, precious stones and art goods, and his patronage is now extensive and gratifying. His thorough training, well qualifies him for the business which he has undertaken and long experience, enterprise and laudable ambition are proving the salient features in his growing success.
On the 11th of June, 1902, Mr. Crocker was married in Rock Springs, Wyoming, to Miss Annie E. Hopkins, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Hopkins, who were members of an old pioneer family of that state. Her father is now deceased but her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Crocker have become parents of a son, Frank R., who was born in Rock Springs, February 29, 1916.
It was in 1912 that Mr. Crocker disposed of his business interests at Green River and returned to Rock Springs, where he has since made his home, and in the social circles of the city he and his wife occupy an enviable position, being accorded the hospitality of those homes where true worth and intelligence are accepted as the passports into good society. Mr. Crocker votes with the republican party and is an active worker in its ranks. He has served as county commissioner of Sweetwater county, filling the office for one term beginning in 1909. He is a champion of all those activities and interests which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to lodge, chapter and commandery and also to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has membership in the First Episcopal church and in these associations are found the nature of his interests and the rules which govern his conduct. His business ability is pronounced and his enterprise and ambition are at all times guided by the soundest principles of integrity.