Lotta Crabtree
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Lotta Mignon Crabtree (November 7, 1847, New York City – September 25, 1924, Boston, Massachusetts) was an American actor and comedian.
Born in New York City to British immigrants, Lotta Crabtree would go on to become one of the wealthiest and most beloved American entertainers of the late 19th century. After her father, John Ashworth Crabtree, left for San Francisco in 1851 to join those seeking fortune in the gold rush, Lotta and her mother followed 2 years later, joining John in the boomtown of Grass Valley.
While in Grass Valley, the young Lotta soon attracted the attention of a neighbor, the dancer and actress Lola Montez, who encouraged Lotta's enthusiasm for the performance. Soon after, Lotta began touring throughout California, making a name for herself as a dancer, singer, and banjo player. Lotta's mother served as her manager and collected all of Lotta's earnings in gold and carried it in a large leather bag.
Having made a name in California, Lotta left to tour the east coast where she began playing roles in plays such as Uncle Tom's Cabin and Little Nell in The Old Curiosity Shop. With her petite size, she became a favorite for her portrayals of children. By 1875, Lotta was touring the nation with her own theatrical company. Her mother was still in tow gathering her proceeds in the same leather grip. Due to the weight of the bag, it was decided that some of the money should be invested in local real estate and bonds. As well as investing, some of the money was used to support local charities and build fountains. Lotta's Fountain, the most famous of these fountains, still stands at the intersection of Market and Kearny Streets in San Francisco, and is the site of meetings every April 18 marking the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
At the age of 45, Lotta retired from the stage and settled in New Jersey where she became a virtual hermit. She later moved to the Brewster Hotel in Boston where she died in 1924 at the age of 77. Her estate, worth about $4 million, was left to many charities. The estate, however ran into complications when a number of people contested the will.
