Rich Man Took Dramatic Action Against Neighbor Who Refused To Sell His House

To say that Charles Crocker was irritated by his neighbor, Nicholas Yung, was a massive understatement. A rich railroad tycoon, Crocker wanted to buy up all of the residential space in the area, but Yung refused every offer that came his way. So Crocker, who was not one to take "no" for answer, dreamed up the pettiest scheme to get his way, which created one of the most bizarre neighborhood disputes in history.

Yung's Work Ethic

Things weren't at all easy for Nicholas Yung when he immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1848. But that didn't stop him from working hard to eventually carve out a decent life for himself.

Earning A Living

Yung, who relocated overseas to San Francisco with his wife Rosina, worked his way up to owning a lucrative mortuary. With the money he raked in, he and Rosina looked to purchase their first home.

California Street Hill

They settled on a lot located at San Francisco's scenic California Street Hill. The money from the mortuary in no way allowed them to live like a Rockefeller, but they were able to snag an adorable cottage.

A Comfortable Beginning

It wasn't huge, but for Yung and his wife, it was perfect. They also had a garden in the front that Rosina tended to daily, ensuring their California Street Hill spot was as comfortable as possible. But then Charles Crocker showed up.