New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-03-30
lain Jacob Astor.

e Lay not up for yourselves treasures on ear'n'
IA An ancient exhortaticn recorded in the sacred
volume. and the events Of the past month would
seem powerfully to inculcate tina. doctrine by the
k,rS,e OF several very recent examples
More than sixty years ago, strong m'noeo
ypuns German with slender finances, and OF nun
be birth and education. crossed the Atlantic 10
s.sA home in America, followed, in few years
by q bold. yet cautious and 'hre~d' r'eno"na"'
Who. Though nursed in the lap OF plenty ana MS
h-.,n ses with learned lore, bad tasted poverty
and WAS seeking an asylum from persecution In
the land Of the free.
tn. Young German adventurer made America
M. home HE talents and perseverance, brought
him immense wealth he is said to have accumu'
lated twenty. Eve millions Of dollars. The French
man returue cd to his native land hereditary riches
awaited him. and. at length, throne. The Ger
man lived lost long enough learn tina. the French
sdvsnturer had escaped from his own capital IN
shaven and in disguise. with efranc piece ~
his pocket and that his immense treasures mao
been couascated. The richest MANN America o'so
on the week in which he received udings tnat inc
riches, man in Europe was once more fugitive
and wanderer, bavisg no nome.
JoHx J.cos AsroR, when he landed at Baltimore
from Ensla-d. In q merchant ship on board OF
which ne bad been a steersge passenger 10 Marcn'
l7sa. was in bis 2lss year, poor, uneducated spoke
English very imperfectly, and possessed bot a few
musical instruments and q very small supply Of
money.
Mr.. Astor was born in the village OF Wsidorp'
near the ancient City Of Heidelberg in the drano
r. Il
Duchy of Baden, Germany in July, 1863, oil humble
pareuts. One of bis brothers settled in London IN
thu music line and, when in his 18th year, Mr..
Astor IL stated to have joined him. and after re-
msipirg three years in the British metropolis, to
have accepted an invitation from another brother
Henry. who had settled in this City toward the
clone of the Revolutionary war, and commenced
busipess a. butcher in the Bowery, to emigrate
to America He sailed in November 1888 ana
encountered many difficulties during boisterous
winter voyage of three months
Mr. Astor's eldest brother, the butcher, was
kindly. generous man, and the architect OF his OVID
fortuns. Although be began business without
means, be speedily acquired wealth, lent John
] acob money for his earlier speculstons and LETT
civ property, stocks and other estate to WIN. b.
As,or to the value Of half million of dollars He
married early, but had no children and purchased
IN acre of land where the Bowery Theater now
stands for about $500 the value of which increased
greatly even in his lifetime.
John Jacob Astor seems to have felt keenly the
privatiops Of early poverty, and to have turned his
attention to the acquisition Of wealth with far
seeing sagacity the moment he set his foot on the
American soil He sold few flutes probably OF
bis brothers manufacture bought furs, studied the
fur trade made himself aware OF the value and
qualities of furs and of the best markets engaged
himself for time in the fur store Of Robert Bovine,
a relative of Walter Bovine, sometime Mayor OF
this City. as clerk or assistant was married early
in life to young aud amiabe German damsel, who
had dowery Of about $500, and, obtaining small
loan from bis brother Henry, entered into partner
ship with an active and intelligent lrishmsn Mr.
Cornelius Heeny now Of Brooklyp q, but who was for
many years in trade in this City, and one Of its Re-
representatives. In the Legislature at the close OF the
war of 1912.
Mr.. Heepy, who il now worth probably bali a
million told the writer Of this notice that when he
was 10 business with Mr.. Astor neither OF them
had much wealth to boast of-but they made mo
ney and we next hear Of a connection in the fur
trade subaissing between Mr.. Aston and Mr.. Smith
father Of Gsrris Smith OF Madison County, so cee-
brstcd for bis liberaity toward the oppressed Of
every cline, and his gifts Of many thousands Of
acres to men of color. Messrs. Smith and Astor
carried 10 the then frontiers of civilization articles
desired by the Indian hunter, receiving valusb e
furs in exchange for the European and Chinese
markets. Five years after his arrival In Baltimore
Mr. Astor had store in this City where he sold
pianos and trsficked In furs and skins.
Some forty years since he founded the America
Fur Company, having previously acquired mode
rate fortune (even for his ambi,ion) by dealing in
furs and petries. 1.-The was not the principal owner
At first IL 10 certain that he eventually appears to
have had the chief control and interest in it,
This Company-of which, so recently az 1899
Mr.. Aston was Prssident-shipped carsoes Of furs
direct to China and brought to this port in return
invoices Of teas, china, silks, elk thread, vermi'
lion. handkerchief, grapes. &c. Mr.. A. was prompt
and regular In business, and employ ed the most
active, experienced and Trustworthy captains and
supercargoes one Of whom tells ne that he would
have consigned to him, occasionally, for the Fur
Company, or on his own account, invoices of silks
alone 70 tue Nhiue Vi S-o,0So, SSVsVVV, <l<V,VVV
also vast quantities of vermillion teas china
dining sets, &c. &c.
Mr.. Astor's idea of establishing. at the mouth OF
the Columbia River, q trading house where the
finest of furs could be collected for the Chinese mar
kst and shipped direct to Canton gave evidence of
. vigorous intellect and great sagscity. The last
war with England interfsred with his design, and
he did his utmost to prevent it. His name viii be
found a. the first signer Of an energetic memorial
to Congress, dated in June. 1919, urging continu
anes Of the peace policy, expressing willingness
that some restrictions on trade should be continued
bat urging the repeal Of the embargo and all other
drawbacks on commerce. the moment it should be
known that the British orders in Council were with
drawn.
This policy was not pursued.-Mr. Astor accom-
nodated his business to the times, continued bis
Oregon specus.ions lost two Of bis ships, had his
ort Astoria) taken by the British sent skilful OBJ
ervers overland to take an account Of the valley of
he Oregon. &c. among them Mr.. Ramsay Crooks, an
EXCELLENT business man. brother to Colones as. and
William Crooks Of Canada. and Mr.. VIM. V. Hunt
- L. III