, 1863-05-16
NO. %.
The Astors.

Among all American capitalists the name of
Astor looms up in unapproaehable solicitude, and
stands as it has stood for nearly forty years.
Among the emigrants who landed in New
York about the close of the French revolution,
was a rude German from Baden Baden, whose
life in the New World was commenced as lab
orer He afterwards became a dealer in fancy
goods, and eventually dealer in peltries. In
1871 there appeared, at No. ~, 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 straightforward, and besides this car
nance. No man could be much with him with
out being struck with his depth of character and
the solidity of his views. At that time the fur
trlde was brisk along the Mohawk, and the
peltres, after passing through the hands of 'front.'
ier Dealers generally found their way to Astors
warehouse In Liberty street. Here they were
serted by his own hands. and prepared for foreign
markets. An Octogenarian merchant informed
me that, calling once at Mr.. Astor's store, he
found him in loft clad in long, coarse wrapper,
and engaged among his furs 81 shall get for
that" he said, holding up splendid silver fox,
"forty 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 slaught-
cred himself into a pittance of one hundred
thousand dollars, which, as he died early, he be-
queathed 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 to hear
the closing words of the auctloneer: "Last call
going, going, gone-to John Jacob Astor."
AT that time many large estates were broken
up, and among others that of Aaron Burr was
put into the market, ard speedily became the
property of Mr.. Astor. 1t embraced small
suburban principaty whose mansion. Rich
mond HILL was Burrs country seat The whole
property is now in the heart of the city, and is
worth millions, where once it brought thousands.
Mr.. Astor lived to an 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 business
to Liberty street, (No. ~ and subsequently to
Broadway. His longest place of abode was No.
223 Broadway now part of the site ofthe 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 covering his lands with dwellings, and
bequathed to his son the largest estate in Am
erica. Mr.. Astor had literary taste, and was
fond of bookmen. He gave Fitz-Green Halleck
a 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 Washing
ton Irving, on the return of that distinguished
gentleman from Europe, and it was at his especial
request that the Astoria was written. The friend
ship between these two distinguished men con-
tinued 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 thous-
and dollars, and the executors (six in number) at
one time received ten thousand dollars apiece.
.-Continental