, 1862-04-24
John Jacob Astor; ;


"Asto,," extending the whole front nf u block,
can have very little idea Of the events that have
tra ,Spirrd aud the names that have figured in
th city history, who resided where the hotel
now stands.
Among the most eminent, Of course, was John
JAG 10 AStOr. lie lived at number 223 Broad
way, in a large double house. H. livrd in the
Lonse great portion Of his lif-ccrtainly com
M need to live th"re az early as lS 2. | think
Rufus King, the founder Of the King family Of
tis city, bull the honsp aud sold il to MIR. Astor.
Whrn NJ. AstOr started In this city, he resid-
ed at No. 40 Little Dock street, Grow Water }
He then moved to l49 Broadway. He kept his
Office at II Liberty street
In 1862 he moved hs residence to 228 Broad.
way, and there he liv, as late as 1926, when
h. gave up that house to his son William b.
His neighbors, who occupied housrs facing up
on Broadway, where the Astor House now stands,
We e al prOmint nj men. think the numbers
" TO 2l3 to 287. Mr.. AStor, az have said, live
ct 223- mrth Of him, On the corner Of Barclay,
was 227. That house was owned and OcculiySl
by John G. Caster. Il was the last pro, ,,erty
purchased by Mr. AStOr to give him all the land
required to buIld his contemplated hotel. He
had purchased ell the other portions ct very low
prices. Not over $4,000 fnr lot and house Of
Sny price. There was no chance Of his ever
wanting money, or Of being fhrced to SELL Mr..
AStnr, while he was making the purchase Of
other property, had let no One iEto his secret n.
Il niiOns. Finally he went to Mr.. Caster and
tod him frankly: "Coster, am going to build
hotel. ! want the gr,und upon which your
house stands. Il is Of no particular uEe to you !;
you can 60 up Broadway. above Canal street,
and build palace with the money will give.
NUw ! wish you To rame two friends and will
name one. The three STall fix the value Of M.
227. When they have done 30, add go, 900 to
il, and | will give you . check for the total
amount, and you can give the the deed for that
vrOperty."
The proposition. 50 fai-, and an much more
than Mr.. Cnster expected, was accepted at once
Mr.. Caster Immediately made hls arrangements
to build the house, palace il was, M. 6l7 Br'ail
way. There H. lived until he died. Then il
was rented to the famous Chinese Mu. eIm,
brought from Canton here. The house was
finally called the " Chinese Building" and still
stan Ia portion of II let to model artists, or
similar amusements that would h0Frify the moral
and vir uons John, could he return from th
spirit rid.
AT 2St Broadway, Astor cou'd go from his
yard into his store. Th,r. was an open piazza,
supper ed by pillars and . ches, where he fre
QuPnilI sat Of an afternoon, after he had his
dinner at three o'c'O,k. He would play three
games nf checkers and ~ more, aud drink
glass Of herr. He did not drink anything else
in his working ,'a!S
Those who suppose Mr.. Axtor had an easy
time in money matters are greatly mistake n.
He has often paid old Prime, in Wall street, very
large interest and large commission to got long
paper hisrOunbd.
H. (Astor) loved to tell anecdotes connected
with his early difficulties. One was about
kaR II, l.,F ,et6 lnoeka~
the latter was much better off than his brother
John, fnr Henry was owner of butcher st u
No. SO in the Fly Markrt-valusble property in
the commencement of IN century. Henry then
lived at 81 BOwrry. JIhn, in his financial diff
cultirs. frequently went to Henry fr loan or for
an endorsement. This was q SQUIRE Of y ov.
ance to Henry. wl,od.d mot like to borrow or lend
tn anyhOdy. On one Occasio Jo' wanted 81 u
very ha'lly. He went to Henry aud asked him
to lend him that sum.
"J"hn, ! will give you 800 IL you will agree
never to ask me to loan you any money, endnrse
= mote, Wr sign bond for you, or be obligated
FOR you in any manner whatever"
john says he heSitated for n moment, RAPIDLY
passed through his mind its adva tagrs fnr 81 o
was 500 in those days, accepted the proposition,
and he never did ask favor uf that character Of
his br"thrr in after years.
A business acquaintance Of Mr.. AstoT one day
asked hi " wh pArticu u'ar transaction or pCcu.
liar kind Of business first gave lin his great
startS Mr.. Aslor never claimed any great sa.
garity Er intelligence ver his allows.
lie sad, in reply, that at One period Of his
life, he had accumulated quite quantity Of nn.
s,lcable iurs in this mark,t such AZ beavers.
The c"Inmon fIrs that he or his agents picked
up, vE. musk.rat, mink, rabbit, squirrel, &c, he
could sell in this city, aud at gOOd prices. The
other and Costly he had to buy but could not sell
here, aud they were packed awav in whiskey
casks down in the cellar. lie lad no cOTTrs-
pondent in London to send th,m to. and M dis
position to scnd thrm il he had. Afler talking
over the matter with his viii, they concluded 1t
would be best for himself to go out to London