Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-04-15
JOHN JACOB ASTOR:

JOHN JACOB ASTOR:
This individual is living example of wha,
industry perseverance and determination will
DO when their aim.is directed towards single
object. Of humble origin, without education,
industry, Ego head indusiry".-.has won him
fortune far superior to that of any individual
oil our own country, and exceeded by few in
any other.
John Jacob. Astor is native Of one of the
German provinces on the Rhine; his age is
nearly eighty. He arrived in this country
soon after the revolutionary war. in Ham.
burgh trader, commanded by Captain Clark,
well known ship-master OF the time.
His first employment was in fur or skin
store, at low prices. Little could the poor
young German at that day, have imagined he
would become the lordIy possessor of the
whole blocks that he daily traversed on his
slavish rounds, or that for the single package Of
furs he carried no should be tho owner of moro
bales ofrich beaver than il contained skins.
that he should own more bank stock than all
the banks in the country then northumberland
that ships from every quarter of the globe, la
dened with the richest products. should all be
his property. II was so 10 be.
MIR. Aslor having acquired by frugality and
economy, some little capitol, became a specu.
lator in skins In small way. purchasing lit
tie lot here and there---ioo trivial for the large
dealer and when he had accumulated some
thing OF lot, sold them for cash to the whole
sale purchaser, invariably realized handsome
profits.
'Large streams from little fountains iow,n
the poet says, and Mr.. Astor is true illustra-
tion of the line. His small beginning soon a.
mounted TO large sum, aud he shortly took
his proper rank among the principal fur mer-
chants Of the city, and was looked upon as
shrewd, en,erprsing and wealthy. His pay
ments were prompt; short credit was his mot
to, and no fulfilled and axacted it.
As time rolled on, his capital became increas-
ed TO such an enormous extent that no found
il necessary TO make other Investments TO pre-
vent it from being idle. A portion he inves-
ted in city property, then of little value, but
now worth millions; but the principal part ho
invested in new enterprise, by establishing
the American Fur Company. Of which for
many years he was the chief owner. This
company had its agents and hunters in the far
west, amongst the remote lndirn tribes, scat
tered over our sparsely settled territories, who
traded with the aborigines for all the furs and
skins they took in a season. These articles
were shipped to New York, from whence they
Were sen, abroad. BY this trade the company
realised immense profits. Mr.. Astor also on.
gagged extensively in the China trade, making
something what would be considered by most
people Fortune at single voyage.
Just before the war, he conceived the project
of making settlement on the northwest coast,
or what IS now called the Oregon territory, Tor
the purpose of making general depot for the
iurs purchased in that region, and where hs
ships after completing their cargoos could sail
direct for China This settlement, called AS
toria, proved unsuccessful; the natives captu.
ring the ship which he had fitted ont for tho
purpose, and numbering almost every soul on
board.
Mr., Asior's name had now become familiar
throughout the commercial world. II was
known and recognized in Europe, India---in
fact, every whera that commerce existed. His
credit was without bounds.
II would be mere recapiula,ion 10 mention
the various enterprises Of Mr.. Astor. They
all relate 10 commerce, and all resulted in fill
ing his already heaped-up Golfers. Some ff-
teen years ago he went TO Europe, where one
Of his daughters, a woman Of great pieiy and
worth. married German count. She has
since deceased. Mr.. Asior was absent two or
three years.
lie sold out his interes, in the fur company
some years ago, and has retired entirely from
affairs. His son, William ID. AS
tor, has now the chief management in the in
ves,ment Of his vast property on bonds and
business which requires the con-
slant employment Of numerous agents and
clerks. Fitz Green Halleck is the cenfden-
lial clerk OF John Jacob, and we hope, as VIC
believe, the latter will not forget him 10 his
will,
Mr.. Asior has always borne the name of be-
ing close or hard with those who became On.
fortunate or In his debt, showing them no moro
leniiy than the law allowed them. II is said
tina. Il the interest is no. always promptly paid,
he instantly forecioses mortgage, and gcner-
ally buys the property in himself; oiientimos,
in this manner, doubling the money advanced.
Rich men are not apt to be over-chan,able.
It'll said by those who have the best oppor-
,uniiy Of knowing, that he has left, in his will,
a large sum for the purpose of erecting pub
lie library. We trust this is the case. The
splsadd hotel known az the Astor House is
now the property OF his son William. John
Jacob has two sons, besides several daughters.
and numerous grand children. He seldom goes
out, except in fine weather, and his health IS
feeble. His fortune is variously estimated at
from fifteen 10 TWENTY-FIVE MILLIONS or Dol
Y. Atlas.
AMERICAN TIs.-.-Professof Jackson, Of Bos-
a