The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-08-03
From Beaches "Rich Men Of New York "
JOHN JACOB ASTOR.

JOHN JACOB ASTOR.
John Jacob Asror is classcd. by those who
know him best, nol oniy among the richest
but also among the truly great men ofIhe
world. The talent which ia another age. and
in another stale Of society,". was exert ised
IN the art OF war, is uow C a great extent en-
gagged in the pearelul occupations Of The
counting room. War has been great field
Tor The development of great talents, BuI
commerce afiUrds scope for g:eGl variety
Of talent, and is "A field on which the most
gigantic genius, and the most soaring ambi
lion may extend themselves in unlimited con-
quests. liz This department Of human action,
Astor has displayed a great mind. Landing
or our shores as Il common sleerage pas
senger-a poor une@ucaied boy Il stranger
lol e language and The people-he has by
he sole aid o his own industry, accumulated
a fortune scarcely second 20 that of any in
,iisidual Oh the globe, aud has executed pro-
lects that have become Identified with the
history OF his country, and which will perpei-
uie lis name 10 the latest age. He Was
horn in July, 1868, in the vllage of Waldrup.
near heidelberg. in the Duchy oil Barden,
Germany. His 'diher was a very WORTHY
nan and held the Office ol halifl. Al the age
oil Il hieen, young Asior, on the eve Of leav
inn his home for Il foreign land. resolved Ia
be honest aud industrious and nerrr TO gam
bile. In March. 1854 he landed II B ilimOre.
a sioerage passenger, having sailed iron
Len OF in November. and been detained
by tie ice three months. On bis voyage lie
hCcame acquainted with a fellow country
MAN of bis, Il luirer, who induced Mr.. As
or 10 learn this ART. The main portion OF
Mr.. Asior's property nj This time consisted OF
sev en- fiuies from his broiheI's manuiaclory
ia London. which with few oiher articles OF
merchandise. lie sold, and invested the small
proceeds in furs, and commenced learning
he iur trade. He was soon alter engaged lie
clerk in the fur establishment OF Robert
Bovine. the first cousin Of Walkers father.
good old quaker. who priced Mr.. Asior very
much for his un:iring Industry and fidelity
S ibsequenily. by the aid OF few thousands
nom his brother Harry. a rich Bowery hutch
er. he engaged in business ior himself, asso
riaied with The late Cornelius Heyer. Al
forwards he became associated with MIR.
Snllh, the father OF Gerrit Smiih Al the
close of The revolutionary war Oswego, Nj
aga a, Detroit, and other ross being in pos
session OF a foreign power. serious embar
rasSment was thrown in the way of The fur
trade, Soon after MIR. Astor entered the
business. in 1894 s. by treaty these ports
were surrendered when. contemplating The
grand opportunity then offered 10 him, he
>ai :, Now will make MY fortune in The fur
lrade.' His prediction was verified Asfor
with an industry and sagaci,y unparalleled.
improved his opportunity. and after lapse
Of six years. during The first year OF the
present century. lie had amassed something
like 100000 dollars, BY The natural course
of RECONCILIATION. this sum. atthe present time
would have amounted TO $4,000 C00-bui in
Mr.. Asior hands il has increased TO more Than
lcur times that amount Nine years later,
NJ the nge of iorty-fve, Mr.. Asior founded
the American, Fur Company for the purpose
of competing with The powerful British aSso
Citations which were in fair way 10 mnrop-
plize The traffic in fur through the northern
and south western portions of our continent
The ouiposrs Of this new company stretched
mo rev and hitherto uairoGden fields and
secured The rlc hest spois Of beaver. offer
and buffalo. IL had. indeel, PREVIOUSLY a.
well as now, been the policy OF Mr.. AsiCr
10 extend his conqnesls irin new territories
The projection and establishment Of this
company did not satisfy his gigantic intellect.
His grand project, or the Astoria settlement
wasnow Turned. twas HE design TO es-
tahIish series OF forts along the Pacific
Ocean, and on the Columbia River, in con-
nexion with our government, and Illus mo
norolize The fur trade west of The Rocky
Mountains.
The first p ost. Astoria, was established in
1910, by a party OF sixty men under the com
m"nd of Mr.. w. P. Hunt. This settlement.
Nh oh was destined 10 be The commercial EN-
pnrlum ofthe northern Pacific, was 10 be
up lied with commodities from New York.
AMI the same vessel was also 10 convey SUD
I lies 10 the Russian trading settlements far
iher north, and receive iurs in exuhange.-
With the furs from the Russian posts. and |
from Astoria, she Was 10 proceed TO Canton. |
tlen the best market for lurs. ana return |
home with teas, silk sand nankeens lnfhe- |
projection OF this magnificent enterprise. As |
tor anticipated that the settlement would |
prove bill ut COSTS for the first two years,
and that no considerable profit would be re
ceived in less than Ten years. At the expi- /
ration oil twenty years he counted on receiv-
ing mi lion of dollars annual profits. The
Tonquin, The first and the Lark, the third
vessel. despatched for Astoria, were lost Wei
the enterprise would moi
have failed, had not Astoria been sold 10 The
ageIts of the British North West Fur Com
many, through the treachery of one of Mr.
Astor's plrtners, Scoichman named Nc
Dougal.. Astoria had 10 struggle through