Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-09-11

DlOCk.
About the time Mr. Astor lived last a
223, the firm was John Jacob Astor & Son
and also the American Fur Company
That Office was at Vestry, and extended
back. so that the rear wall was on lin,
with the north side of Mr.. Astor's dwelling
, at 223 Broadway. William lived at Il
State street
In the war, and many years after, Mr.
Astor had his store at SO Pine street, cor.
ner of Pearl street.
At 223 Broadway be could 60 from hii
yard into the store. There was an oper
piazza, supported by pillars and arches,
where he frequently sat of an afternoon,
after he had his dinner, at 8 o'clock. He
would play three games of checkers and nc
more, and drink glass of beer. He did
not drink anything else in his working
days
Those who suppose Mr. Astor had an ca
sy time in money matters, are greatly mis-
taken He has often paid old Prime, in
Wall street, very large interest and large
commission to get long paper discounted.
He (Astor) loved to tell anecdotes con-
nected with his early difficulties. One was
about a bargain he made with his brother
Henry when the latter was much better off
than his brother John, for Henry was own
er of butcher stall, No. 81 in the Fly
Market-valuable property in the COM
mencement of the century. Henry then
lived at 67 Bowery.
John, in his financial difficulties, fire.
quently went to Henry for a loan or for
an endorsement This was source of an
noyance to Henry. who did not like to bor-
row or lend to anybody. On one occasion
John wanted 5000 very badly. He went
to Henry, and asked him to lend him that
sum.
John, 1 viii give you 500, if you will
agree never to ask me to loan you any mon
ey, endorse note, or sign bond for you.
or be obligated for you in any manner
whatever.
John says he hesitated for a momenc,
rapidly passed through his mind its advan-
tages, for 500 was 500 in those days.
accepted the proposition, and he never did |
ask favor of that character of his broth /
er in after years
A business acquaintance of Mr.. Astor
one day asked him what peculiar transac-
tion or peculiar kind of business first gave
him his great start? Mr. Astor never
claimed any great sagacity for intelligence
over his fellows
He said, in reply, that at one period of
his life he had accumulated quite quanti-
ty of unsalesble furs in this market, such
as beavers. The common furs tat he OF
his agents picked up, viz: musk-rat, mink,
rabbit, squirrel, &c, he could sell in this
city, and at good prices. The other and
costly he had to buy, but could not sell
here, and they were packed away in whis-
key casks down in the cellar. He had no
correspondent in London to send them to,
and no disposition to send them if he had.
After talking over the matter with his
wife, they concluded it would be best for
himself to 60 out to London with the choic-
est kind of furs. He did So The pros
pect of the trip was uncertain, and to econ
omize as much as possible, he went out, as
a stcerage passenger.
When he reached London, be found a
ready market for his choice fnrs, and sold
them at very high rate He made list
out of such goods as he thought would make
money by being taken to the New York
purchased and shipped them by a
vessel bound hither. After he was all
through with his business. he was de-
tanned couple of weeks by the ship not
being ready to sail. The idle time he
spent in looking about London, and pick
ing up all the information possible, espec-
tally such as was likely to advantage his
business in New York Among other ex-
traordinary places he visited, was the great
East Indian House. He visited the Ware
House, and offices. On one occasion he
asked one of the porters what the name of
the Governor was. The man replied CIV
ing German name very familiar to Mr..
Astor. He asked his infOrmer if the Gov
ernor was an Englishman. He replied
that he had come from Germany originally
when boy. Mr.. Astor determined to see
an opportunity and sent in
w
entered, he said to the Governor:
is not your name Wilhelm? Did
not you 60 to school in such town.
Il did, and now | remember you very
we'll Your name is Astor.'
After this they had long chat, and
talked over old school matters. The Gov
ernor insisted that Mr.. Astor should dine
with him. He declined for that day, but
the next they met again. He asked Mr.. B,
Astor several times if there was nothing he !
could do for him. Mr. Astor said no; he {
had bought all he wanted; he needed no
,ash or credit. Almost every day they
net. The Governor kept urging Mr.. As :
.Or to name something that he could do for
lim. He asked Astor what present would
De acceptable. Astor declined any. FL
lally they met two days before the vessel
vas to sail, and again the Governor asked
AstOr if he would accept any present he
made him -Astor, seeing the Governor so
said:
Yes
When he called to bid the Governor good
'ye the latter was really quite affected at
'arting with his old German schoOlmate. .
Take these, said he, you may find their
'alue.' One of the documents was simply
Canton Prices current.
The other was a carefully engrossed per-
MT on parchment, authorizing the ship
hat bore it to trade freely and without any !
at any of the ports monopo- i
lzed by the East India Company.
Mr.. Astor bade hisfriend good hive and I
returned to this city, never giving the pres
mt second thought. He had no ships.
md never had any trade with the East In ;
lies, and never expected to nave. He lit
lie dreamed that in the parchment would
be the foundation of vast shipping opera
ions, and trade amounting to millions,
md embracing the Pacific Ocean. The per-
nit was No. 6S. IN a=.- .-r.-' !,
a.. r. .a.r. rH-.- .H-.