Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-04-19
From the New York Tribune.
L0hn LncOh AStOr.

0eQ IN the sacred volume. anu tile events
Of the past month would seem powerfully
10 inculcate that doctrine, by the force OF
several very recent examples.
More than sixty years ago, strong
minded young German, with slender finan-
cas, and Of humble birth and education.
crossed the Atlantic, to seek a home in
America, followed. in few years. by a bold
vet caut Gus and shrewd, Frenchman, who
though nursed in the lap Of plenty. and his
brain filled with learned lore. had tasted Of
poverty. and was seeking an asylum from
persecution in the land Of the free.
The young German adventurer made
America his home: his talents and perse-
verance brought him immense wealth; he
is said to have accumulated twenty-five
millions of dollars. The Frenchman re-
turned to his native land; hereditary rich
es awaited him, and at length. throne.
The German lived just long enough to
learn that the French adventurer had es-
capped from his own capital, unshaven and
in disguise. with five-franc piece in his
pocket and his immense treasures had
been confiscated. The richest man in
America died on the week in which he re-
ceived tdings that the richest man in Eu-
rope was once more fugitive and a wan
derer, having no home.
JOHN JACOB Aston. when he landed at
Baltimore from England, in merchant
ship, on board Of which he had been
steerage passenger, in March, 1874, was in
his 2lst year. poor. uncducated, spoke
English very inpertectly, and possessed
/ but few musical instruments, and a very
small supply of money.
/ Mr.. Aston was born in the village of
! w aldorf. near the ancient city Of Iicidel-
berg, in the Grand Duchy Of Baden, Ger
many. in July 1863, Of humble parents.
! One of his brothers settled in London in
the music line; and when in his 8th year,
Mr.. Astor is stated to have Joined him.
and after remaining three years in the
British metropolis, to have accepted an in
vitation from another brother, Henry. who
1 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 No
vember. 1853. and encountered many
difficulties during boisterous winter voy
age Of three months.
! Mr.. Astor's eldest brother, the butcher
was a kindly, generous man, and the
architect Of his own fortune. Although
he began business without means. he
speedily acquired wealth; lent John Jacob
money for his earlier speculations, and
left city properly. stocks, and other estate
| to VIM. b. Astor, 10 the value Of half
million of dollars. Hcmarried early. but
had no children, and purchased an acre
of land whore the Bowery Theatre now
stands, for about $500 the value of which
increased greatly even in his lifetime.
John Jacob seems to have felt keenly
the privatons Of early poverty. and 10
have turned his attention to the acluis-
ton of wealth with a far seeing sagacitv
the moment he set his foot on the Ameri-
can soil He sold few flutes pro badly
ofhis brothers manufacture. bought iurs.
studied the fur trade. made himself aware
of the value and qualities Of turs. and OF
the best markets, engaged himself for a
time in the fur store of Robert Bovine,
relative Of " alter Bovine, sometime May
or of this city, as clerk or assistant, was
married early in life TO young and ami
BILE German damsel, who had a dowery of
about $500, and. obtaining a small loan
from his brother Henry. entered into part
nership with an active and intelligent
Irishman, Mr.. Cornelius Heeny. now Of
Brooklyn. but who was for many years in
trade in this city. and one of its Repre-
sentatives in the Legislature at the close of
the war Of 1919.
NJ IIeenv, who is now worth probably
half million. told the writer Of this notice
that when he was in business with Mr..
Astor neither of them had much wealth to
boast of-but they made money: and we
next hear of a connection in the fur trade
subsistins between Mr.. Astor and Mr..
Smith. father of Gerrit Smith of Madison
county, SO celebrated for his liberality to-
ward the oppressed of every cline, and
his gifts of many thousands Of acres to
men of color. Messrs. Smith and Aston
carried to the then frontiers of civilization
articles desired by the Indian hunter, re-
ceiving valuable 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 trafficked in furs and
skins.
Some forty years since he founded the
American Fur Company, having previous
ly acquired moderate fortune (eyen for
his ambition) by dealing in furs and pei
tries. Ifhe was not the principal owner
at first. it is certain that he eventually APP
pears to have had the chief control and in
terest in it.
This Con;pany-ot which, so recently
as 1929. Mr. Astor was President-ship-
ped cargoes Of furs direct TO China. and
brought to this port. in return. invoices of
teas. china, silks, silk thread. vermillion,
handkerchiefs, grapes. &c. Mr.. \. was
prompt and regular in business, and en-
ploved the most active, experienced and
trustworthy captains and supercargoes.
one of whom tells us that he would have
consigned to him. occasionally. for the
Fur Company. or on his own account,
invoices of silks alone to the value of
100000; $4,000. $4,000: also vast
quantities Of vermillion. teas, china di-
ming sets. &C.. &c.
Mr.. Astor's idea of establishing at the
mouth of the Columbia River. a trading
house where the finest of furs could be
collected for the Chinese market and