The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-02-09
JOHN. JACOB Aston.

\ JOHN JACOB Aston. 81,
i Astor was born in Waldorf, in the Gran
Duchy Of Beden, Germany. on the Eth (
July, l76s.. He was the youngest Of tn
four sons Of Jacob Aator. . butcher. who's
convivial and spsndthrift habits kept hi
family poor, in spite Of the industry Of hi
thrifty wife. Fsom their unattrsctive HON
the elder boys early took their flight
George, the eldest, went to London, wher
he became partner Of the flnte and. plan,
manufacturing firm Of Aator 4 Broadwood
which still aourishes under. the name o
Broadvood & Co. Henry went to Nev
York, where he f,lowei his fathers trade
became rich and djeG, without children. sev
eral years before his younger and famou
brother. John Melchi,r Astor, the ahirt
son, became steward to noblemsn's estate
in Geim,uy. Mrs. Astor having died, tn,
senior Astor married ag,in. The steppothe,
treated John Jacob harshly, and he resolved
70 leave for more pleasant locality. HI
had been weIl edncat ed bv Valentine Jenne
the village schoolmaster, French Protes
tant. but had only crown or two in his
pocket, and bundle Of clothes in . hand
kerchief, when in the year 1850 he left home
! America being his Ultimate destination
though he intended first to visit his brothe,
George in London. He worked his way
down the Rhine on . raft, and arrived at q
Butch seaport wi h larger sum Of money
raised at the oar, than he had ever before
possessed. On reaching London, his broth.
er found him employment probably in h,s
own manufactory. He there learned to
speak English fuently. though to the end Of
his days his accent was unmistakably Ger
man. Hrs wages were small, but he was
very saving. and his industry in obtaining
information about America indsfatiguable.
In September, 1888 he had good suit Of
clothes and fifteen gu:neas, the result Of two
years Of unremit,ing toA As soon as peace
had been concluded with the United States
by the recognition Of their independence by
England, Astor made preparations to sail
for the land Of promise.
In November, he paid five Of his guineas
for s'eerage passage. He invested Ave more
guinens in the purchase of seven flutes, an d
with the third five q his money capital, set
sail. For two months tie vessel was ice.
bound ir Chesapeake Bry,, and the passen-
gers we're fed on very short ra tions This
delay. however. proved very fortunate for
As'or. A German fellow. passenger who had
made good bargains with the Indians in the
purchase OF furs, which h. hai taken to Eng,
land and sold at heavy profit, was return.
ing to get stock for . second venture of the
kind. He gave Astor much information
about the business and advised him to follow
his example. This he resolved to do. In
March, 1874. the ice broke up, and the YES
sci reached Baltimore. The long detention,
and the journey 20 New York. nearly ex.
hausted Astor's money. and his wits and his
seven flutes were his chief sspital. On ar.
irving At New York he found that his brother
Henry was labnring under embarrassments,
which, however, proved Temporary He
could do little for the new conner The latter
was not man to give way to despair. He
at once entered the employ Of Robert Boune.
a Quaker, who bought, dealt in, and export.
ed peltrles.
The wages paid were 81 week and board.
BY h's industry and intelligence the young
beginner soon Thoroughly learned Hrs EN-.
ployer's business and gained his good will
He was soon intrusted with more important
business than beating furs, and made, in his
stead, journey to Montresl. then the chief
fur mart in North America. Returning with
his fHas, he employed the Ind i&ns in trans.
porting them to the Hudson. down which he
brought them in sloop. He speedily learn
ed the art Of trading with the aborigines, and
never could rise superior to the abit of hard
bargaining. which he acquired in his deal
ings With them.
Astor did not long remain in Mr.. Bourne's
employ, In 1856, in 2 little shop in Water
street. with back room. a yard. aud sted.
the sbog furnished with only few toys and
trinkets, be began business for himself. He
had then the most unbounded confidence in
his abilities. He was sure Of getting rich,
-. . - = ~ "a
though, as be remarked in his old age, "The
first hqndred thousand dollars that was
hard to get; but afterward it was easy to
make more" At first he did all his work
himself. He bought, cured, beat. packed
and sold his skins. At the proper seasons
Of the year, with his pack on his back, he
made snort excursions into the country, COL
lea.ing skins from house to house. gradually
extending the area Of his travels, till he
knew the State Of New York IS 10 man Of his
day knew it. He early noted the spots
which be thought would one day become
business centess. and Roches ter and Buffalo
atterward established the keenness of his
discernmen'. His first voyage to LONDON
established his business on solid
foundation. One of the results
Of this was to make an arrangement
with Astor & Brqsdwood, Of London, by
which be became their New York agent for
the sale Of pianos, violins and flutes. He was
the frst man in New York who constantly
kept for sale supply Of musical instruments.
On his return from England he moved to