The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-09-20
From the New York Leader.
John Jacob Astor.

Jonn jacob AsC0r,
INCIDENTS IN EARLY LIFE-now HE STARTED
AND HOW lie GOT RICH.
Those who pass down Broadway 10
1861, and admire the solidlooking build &.
ing called the castor" extending the
whole front OF "block," can have yery
little idea of the events that transpired,
and the names that have figured 10 the
city history, who resided where the hotel
now stands.
Among the most eminent, OF course,
was John Jacob Astor. lie lived at rum. /.
Der 223 Broadway, in a large double
house. He lived in tie house a great
portion Of his life--certainly commenced
70 live there as early as 1902. l think
Rufus King the founder of the King fam.
lis, of this city, built the house and sold
it 10 Mr.. Astor.
When Mr.. Astor started in this city he
resided at No. 40 Little Dock Street, (now
Water.) lie then moved to lac Broad.
way. He kept his Office a: II Liberty
Street.
In 1909 he moved his residence to 243
Broadway, and there he lived as lac as
1926, when he gave up that house 10 his
son William B.
His neighbors who occupied houses
facing on Broadway, where the Aslor
House now stands, were all prominent
men. :hlnk the numbers were 223 TO 237.
Mr.. Astor, As have said, lived al 223-
north OF him on the corner OF Barclay,
was 927. That house was owned and
occupied by John G. Cos'er. L: was the
last properly purchased by Mr.. Astor to
give him all the land required to build
his contemplated hotel. He had pur-
chased all the other portions at very low
prices. Not over 1000 for a lot and
house Of any price. MIR. Astor, while he
was making the purchase Of olher prop.
erty, had let no one into his score! in
'enlions Finally he went TO Mr.. Coster
and tod him frankly; "Coster, am
going 10 build hotel. want the ground
upon which your house stands. Ii is Of
no particular use 10 you ; you can 60 up
Broadway, above Canal street, aud build
a palace with the money will give you.
Now | wish you TO name two friends, and
| will name one. The three shall fix the
value Of No. 227. When they have done
SO, add $4,000 to it, and | will give you
a check for the tota! amount, and you can
give me the deed for that property"
The proposition so fair. and so much
more than Mr.. Cosler expected, was ac.
cepted at once.
Mr.. Coster Immediately made his ar.
rangements 10 build the hou.e-palace il
was No. 5I7 Broadway. There he
lived until he died. Then it was rented
TO the famous Chinese Museum, brought
from Canton here. The house was finally
called the "Chinese building" and still
stands, portion of il let TO model artists,
or similar amuSements that would horrify
the moral and yiriuous John, could he re
turn from the spirit world.
Between the house Of Mr. Astor, at
e23 and Of Coster, 297. lived at No. 225,
the celebrated Davy Lydig. | do not
know what price Mr. Aslor paid him, he
moved out o! the house preparatory 10
its being torn down 10 1880, TO No. 81
Laight street and there he lived until he
died in 1910. thiEk his son lives there
yet. His name was Philip.
David Lydig was one of band of mer-
chants that built up New York. and l will
not pass the name now without further
mention. II is almost extinct, and YET
no firm" has been more honored.
David Lydig must have been an older
man than John Jacob Astor, for he started
in the -four business, on his own account,
in 1890. at No. FL Peck Slip, and lived
over his store. He afterwards took a res
idence at 5j Beekman, and there he lived
for many years-in fact, until 1919
when he moved to 225 Broadway.
In 1924 old David took into business
his son Philip at l60 South street, and
the firm was, for many years after, David
Lydig & Son.
4 David Lydig was in very prominent
Bank and Insurance. Company for nearly
half a century. He was a prominent
merchant in 1890, and died in 1910. |
believe he had retired only few years
previous to his death. from active business.
In 229 old Michael Paff had his cele
brated Picture Gallery. Who among old
New Workers does not remember the
famous "Old Paff ?" Were he alive
now, he would be worlds wonder.
wish l had time to say more of him.
Aaron Fontaine occupied a store Oh that
block. 80 did Jonathan Smith. WagstaE
kept bis store in one of the numbers; and l
can not recollect at the moment, the other
prominent men who lived in that csle-
brated block.
About the time Mr.. Astor lived last at
223, the firm was John Jacob Astor G. Son,
and also the American Fur Company. That
Office was at Vestry, and extended back,
40 that the rear wall was on lima with tina