The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-03-30

John jacob Aste: eminent for the accumulation Of en-
immense property, expired O'Clock yesterday
ing at his residence, In the s5h year of his sge
symptomsof coming dissolution made their appearance
last Sunday yet these outwardy faint - to en-
courage the opinion Of protraoed issue. Even at
eight o'clock this morning hour previous to the time,
he enabled partake Of nourishment His
DEATH which tho oonss quencs Of old age merely
tho physical powers having become gradually exhausted
evidenced no painful struggle, but was easy, quiet
and composedto be compared most htly to an infants
passage into sleep. Ali his family were present
at the scene. The funeral will take place 1t four
O'Clock next Saturday afternoon from the house Of his
sor. WIN. Aston, 50 Lafayette place.
sum Of ten millions Of dollars Was in no part he
a poor youth, without Knowledge Of our language
or our psop: yet in possession OF that disposition OF
isse 81 WALDORF, near ear Heidelberg, in the Duuhy
'n Who had soss ns
Ss ss. 1na the .Ss S, ~ es the hun.
worthy man sought vita much care to impress his
children those pious views aud resolves which he held
Is r.: ,aissusra to worldly happiness aud
obtain in Germany situation that offered to his young
forth i's an nVns prons not Issss
Y, the young Astor with many tears and regre,ful
thoughts, Dads adieu to that home to which tho
hrst omens of unexsmplsd and fortunate q career.
Crossing the British Channel he directed bis steps to
London, whore he found iE his brother who had ess
tablished there hu'e mandatory, sautary advisera
In November ofl7s3. he embarked from that port,
steerago passenger In weasel bound for Baltimore
The passage Was long and dangerous So encompassed
the of the vessel with ce that three msnths
elapsed before her arrival On landing, his property
consisted Of eeven nues and few other articles Of
ohandine. His first business was to sell these The
proce eds of necessity small invssed in the fur
trade, the business OF which he at need to
learn short time had but elapsed he excited the
attention OF Robert Browne proprietor OF fur establish
n
gsgsd d a clerk MIR. Astor sxsrted every power for
sbsorbirg whatever personal ben.as the In
creased advantages Of this situation offered, nor
thsresult less deserving Of note than hs sudeavor mr.
and satisfactorily remunerAted by his employer Wal.
ter Browne first cousin Of the latter, and wealthy
BY Which in connection Win tn. ist. cOpnsIus H.y.r
Mr.. Astor commenced business on his accouat.
The father Of Gerrt Smith ,ubs quenty joined him.
The occasion not uninterestpg which John Jacob
Aston known nrst to have oreathed an ambitious intent.
The revolutionary war, though causing the posts OF Os
wego Niagara, Detroit and others, to DO held by hos
tile power accompanied with such serious emharN
to ths fur trade that the formation oS&
treaty and their consequent surrender, Mr. a.svs =,
view Of the benefits thence resulting declared that he
would make his fortune. The prediction wss not lost
the energetic purpose that prompted It, Onrsrtun,y
opportunity was deserted and skiially la proved
Foreign aosociations, upheld by the most WEALTHY
British capitalists had hitherto nonopox to large
try. John Jacob Astor, not loving their spois msd-
tatsd the construction of . destroying power This
could Do gained Only BY combination OF all Am.ri-
houses engaged in the trade The Dr. TACT
vast and apparently uuattsinabls yet under his
direction and hs skifu guidance of -nvous elements
the American Fur Company was ests blshed-in itsclt
grand monumsnt to his memory. Not only has It
extended Its operations to fields untouched b-ore but
utterly shut out from others the prospect of foreign
ascendency This project realized he conceived ano-
Their. This was the settlement Of Astoria, with
view Ct making it tho commercial empo-
rum Of the Northern Pacific Along that ocean,
and on the Columbia river he designed series OF
forts, which should to their holder tho whole
fur trade west o. tho Rocky Mountains Vessels from
New York were to supply Astoria with commodities,
receive her fuIs and for the confederation, those
of the Russsn posts further north. These then
proceed Canton dispose OF their Cargo and return
with silks and nsnkeens. 1t was In the year 1910
that the first pest, Astoria wss essbsh,d by apartv
Of sixty me commanded by w. L. Hunt. Mr.. Aston
had in twenty years from that time to realize
In the mode mentioned, million at doll,rs per annum.
Though misfortunc this ind rtaking at tho first,
two OF the three vessele sent out having been lost)h
vould have been pressed to SUCCESS but
hat n partner of MIR. Aston sold Astoris to
the British North-w Fur COMPANY. From tha
eetsbisbmebt OF tho American company, Mr. As
tot,s commsrcal dealings bscsme vastly moro
landed soon, every sea his freishtsd vessels *.
horne The instructions he COVE to his captap, were
his extensive knowledge OF the various mafk exhibit
as Of tho products OF each country. ..ts, ss well
details In busigess did not escape his o.. The minor
rot spending st his counting .tep,iop, though
time The house in the lover par nalf his dsro,able
he occupied for many years, D. of Broadway, which
magniacence it was sdoIS' ..paysd within a costly
rally OF the nation expended His seve-
increased value Of REQ with which he traded TLs
swell his wealth. es'ate In this city tended TO
his as ,,s mn sdsts rssn, m or New Y'k and
mortg gss, mortgsging, be constantly isvestea in
quentIy bv "a IN Gaze Of foreclosure wouid moi unf,
detail or n. mo properly impossible to rpsak In
IsnS >, i ~ wealth, amidst which are vast trscts -,
~. ~ EdnNpuri Wscousn love .rI 49, ,.acts VI