Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-03-15
CAREER OF A RICH NAN.

We have seen it stated lately, upon wb
appeared to be reliable authority, that Il
wealth of William B. Astor, of New Yo,
amonts to at least forty millions of dolla,
is curious to trace this broad yello
stream to its drst little beginnings in tho earl
career of John Jacob Astor, father of Ii
present millionaire.
From sketch of this remarkable ma,
which appears 10 work entitled "fifty yea,
in both hemispheres,' by Vincent Nolte, v
learn that John Jacob Astor was born 8
Heidelberg, where the original name of hi
family is said to have been Aschter, ant
that he came to New York as a furrier'
apprentice. He WAS at that time as poor a
any other apprentice boy, then or now il
New York, The wages he got in the pei.
try warehouse for beating apt and prepar
ing various skins, he invested in the pur-
chase of all kinds Of peltry-bear, mink
and rabbit skiRs-vhieh be Got frop thf
Indians, who at that tima wandered about
the streets Of New York, and as soon as be
had COLLECTED certain quantity he sent
them to Europe. particularly to the Leipsic
fair.
There, it is stated, he traded them off
tor Nuremberg watches, cheap knives, glsss
beads, and other articles adapted to trade
with the Indians on the Canadian frontiers.
and took them himself to the latter points,
where he again exchanged them for f,lrs of
various kinds. lie had often told Mr..
N"'te that he carried on this work untiring-
~ for twelve long years, going in person,
alternately, to the Canadian frontiers and
then to Leipsic fair and lived all the while
as he had been accustomed to do, humblv
and sparingly. After be had thus man
aged to bring to either considerable cspi-
tai, he gradually became freighter of ships
and fitted out expeditions to the Northwest
coast to trade With the Indians of Nootka
Sound for furs.
Another and very considerable round up
the ladder of fortune was taken by As
tor in land speculation. Some of his couu.
trymen owned land in New York by virtue
OF being relations and heirs of German SOL
diers who had fought in the American
Army in the Revolution, and to whom
Congress had voted land in consequence.
Many of the soldiers died without convert
ing their property into money, and Astor,
after visit to Heidelberg, made arrange
ments with the heirs which was mutually
agreeable; they thinking it better to have
2 little ready cash than to own great deal
Of land, the value of which was very dow
in increasing, and he having foresight to
anticipate, and the patience to await the
result.
So the heirs got their money. aud Astor
obtained their land, some Of which is now
among The most important in the oIsy Of
New York. In this way fortune of twelve
millions OF dollars was accumulated. This
'a't increase, under the management Of hi.
'on, Wm. B. Astor, Esq, shows that be in.
'sr'ts the energy and business habits Of his
a.her, hut affords no such Demonstration
IT money making genius ss the career Of
'ohn Jacob. Indeed, the latter is reported
o have said that it cost him more trouble
o make the frat thousand dollars than an
he remainder of his fortqne.-Baztinsors
american.
Coon HuAoR.-Keep in good humor.
It is not great calamities that embitter ex-
stence; it is the petty vexations, the small
the little dissppoiutmspts, the
minor misnriea that rnoko Tho ho...I~:.