Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-04-07

JOIN JAcoB AsToR.-Mr Astor was born
in the village Of Waldorf, near the ancient city
of Heidelberg, in the Grand Duchy of Baden,
in July, 1868, of humble parents. One of his
brothers settled in London in the music line, and
when in his eighteenth year, Mr. Astor joined
him, and, after remaining three years in the
British metropolis, accepted an invitation from
another brother, Henry, who had settled in this
city toward the close Of the revolutionary war,
and commenced business as a butcher in the
Bowery, to emigrate to America He sailed IN
November, 1888, and encountered many dill
culties during boisterous Winter voyage Of
three months.
Mr. Astor's eldest brother, the butcher, was
kindly, generous man, and the architect Of his
own fortune. Although be began business with
out means, he speedily acquired wealth, lent
John Jacob money for his speculations, and left
city property, stocks, and other estate to VIM. b.
Aston, TO the value of half a million OF dollars
He married early, but had no children, and pur-
chased an acre of land where the Bowcry thea.
tire now stands for about $500, the value OF
which increased greatly even in his lifetime.
John Jacob Aston bought furs, studied the fur
trade, engaged himself for a time in the FUR
store Of Robert Bovine, rs a clerk or assistant
was married early in life to young and amiable
German damsel, who had a dowry of about
er Henry, entered into partnership with an ac-
tive and intelligent Irishman, Mr. Cornelius Hee-
ny, now of Brooklyn.
We next hear of a connection in the iur
trade between Mr. Astor and Mr. Smith, father
Of Gerrit Smith, of Madison Co. Messrs Smith
and Astor carried to the then frontiers OF civil
zation articles desired by the Indian hunter, re-
ceiving valuable furs in exchange, for the Eu-
ropean and Chinese markets. Five years after
his arrival in Baltimore, Mr. Aston had a store in
this city where he sold pianos and traificked in
furs and skins.
Some forty years since he founded the Amer.
lean Fur Company, having previously acquired
moderate fortune (eyen for his ambiton) BY
dealing in firs and peltrics. If he was not the
principal owner at first, it is certain that he
eventually appears 10 have had the chief con-
| troll and interest in IL.
Mr. Astor's idea of establishing, at the mouth
of the Columbia River, trading house where
the finest Of furs could be collected for the Chi
nese market and shipped direct to Canton, gave
evidence of vigorous intellect and great sagacity
Mr. Aston lost two of his ships, had his fort
astoria taken by the British, sent skilful OBJ
servers overland to take an account of the val
ley of the Oregon, &c, among them Mr. Ramsay
Crooks, an excellent business man, and Mr.
VIM. V. Hunt, and would have realized much
wealth from the adventure in the course Of a few
years, had not one of his partners sold Astoria
without his knowledge or consent, 10 his oppo-
nents, the North West Company, at the very no
ment when peace would have restored it to him
During the war with England, Mr. As'o.
adapted his business to the crisis, and gained
enormously by IT, His fnrs in the far west, at
Michilimackinack, Detroit, and elsewhere on
the way to market, were placed in situation oil
great danger, by the movements of opposing ar
mics and hostile fleets, but by his own energy
and tact he released them, and carried them
safely TO the best markets--N T. Tribune