The weekly Butte record., 1862-11-22
The Astors.

Bat among all American capitalists the
name of Astor looms up in unapproachable
solitude, and stands as it has stood for nearly
forty years.
Among the emigrants who landed in New
York about the close of the French ReYolu-
ton, was rude German from Baden Baden
whose life in the New World was commenced
as a laborer He afterwards became peddler
of fancy goods, and eventually dealer in pei
tries. In 1871 there appeared, at No. AZ,
Little Dock street, the unpretending name Of
John Jacob Astor, and here the foundation of
his estate was laid Astor soon took fair rank
among business men. He was prompt and
snug in his dealing. honest and straightfor-
ward, and besides this carried a great weight
Of character in bis countenance. No man
could be much with him without being struck
with his depth Of character and the solidity Of
his views. Al that time the fur trade was
brisk along the Mohawk, aud the peltries, af
ter passing through the hands of frontier deal
ers, generally found their way to Astor's ware
house in Liberty street. Here they were sort
ed by his own hands, and prepared for foreign
markets. An octogenerian merchant Informed
me that, calling once at Mr.. Astor's store, he
found him in a loft clad in long coarse wrap
per, and engaged among his furs: " | shall
get for that" he said, holding up splendid
silver fox, 40 dollars in st. Petersburg" 1t
probably cost him less than five dollars.
Mr.. Astor had brother of the same thrifty
turn, though not so successful in acquiring
wealth He was a butcher by trade and
slaughtered himself into pttance of one hun
dred thousand dollars which, as he died early,
he bequeathed to VIM. B., his nephew.
Mr.. Astor commenced at an early date TO
buy real estate, and the habit grew upon him
until it became passion. He was for years
leading character at Sheriff and other land
sales, and it was the commonest thing at such
places 10 hear the closing words of the auc-
tioneer Last call-going, going gone-to
John Jacob Astor." At that time many
large estates were broken up, aud among 9th
ers that of Aaron Burr was put into the mar
ket and speedily became the property of Mr.
Astor. 1t embraced a small suburban princi
pality, whose mansion, Richmond HILL was
Burr's country seat. The whole property is
now in the heart Of the city, and is worth mil
lions, where once it brought thousands Mr.
Astor boldly bought these wild lands, including
swamps, rocky kuolls and barren commons,
which lay at waste from Canal street onward
to Bloomingdale, aud while others affected to
laugh at his Judgment the correctness of that
judgment is now quite apparent
Mr.. Astor lived to old age, and his life was
one of few changes From his humble shop
in Little Dock street (now Water street, near
Coenties Slip) he removed his place of bust.
ness to Liberty street, (No. II J and subse-
quently TO Broadway. His longest place of
abode was No 223 Broadway, now part of
the site of the Astor House, whence after a
residence in Hoboken, he removed up town to
a block in Broadway, near Prince street
Here he remained until his death, but he lived
long enough TO see the progress of the city COW
ering his lands with dwellings, and bequeathed
10 his son the largest estate in America Mr.
Astor had literary taste, and was fond of
bookmen. He gave Ftz Green Haeck n
snug and profitable clerkship, and on the death
of the capitalist, William b. Astor presented
to the poet the sum of ten thousand dollars
Mr.. Astor also sought the acquaintance of
Washington Irving, on the return of that dis
tinguished gentleman from Europe, and it was
at his especial request that the Astoria was
written The friendship between these two
distinguished men continued until death, when
it was found Mr.. Irving had been appointed
one Of the executors of the will. The fees
connected with this office could not have been
less than one hundred thousand dollars, and
the executors six in number) at one time
received ten thousand dollars apiece
Continental