Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-10-31
THELATE JOHN JACOB ASTOR
The Life and Character Of q Very
Rich Nan
[From Harpers' Monthly Msgazine.l
AsToR's EARLY TEARS.

Rich Nan
From HarIers' Monthly Nsgazine.l
AsToR's EARLY TEARS.
Astor was born in Waldorf, in the Grand
Ducliy Of Baden, Germany, on the 9Th
OF July, 1863. He was the youngest of the
four sops of Jacob Astor, butcher, whose
coDvivial and spendthrift habits kept his
family poor in spite of the industry of his
thrifty wife. From their unattractivs home
the older boys early took their flight
George, the eldest, went to London, where
he became a partner of the flute and man
uafcturing firm Of Astor & Broadwood
which still flourishes under the name Of
Broadwood & Co. Henry went TO New
y ork, where he followed his fathers trade
became rich, died, without children, sew
eral years before his younger and famous
brother, John. Melchoir As;or, the third
son, became steward of nobleman's es-
tsie in Germany. Mrs. Astor having died
the senior AstOr married again. The step
mother treated John Jacob harshly, and
he resolved 10 leave for more pleasant
locality. lie had been we'll educated by
Valentine JENNIE, the village schoolmaster
French Protestant, but had only crown
or two in his pocket, and a bundle oil
clOthe. in a handkerchief, when in the year
1880 he left home, America being his ulti-
mate destination, though he intended "a
visit his brother George in London. Hc
worked his way down the Rhine on raft
and arrived at a Dutch seaport with lar
ger sum of money, raised at the oar, than
he had ever before possessed. On reach
ing London, his brother found him en-
plOyment, probably in his own manu-
factory. He there leaned to speak En-
glish fluently, though to the end of his
days his accent was Enthusiastically Ger
man. His wageswere small, but he was
very saving. and his industry in
obtaining information about America
interchangeable. In September, 1888, he had
a good suit of Sunday clothes and fifteen
guineas, the result of two years of unremit-
ting toll. As soor as peace had been con-
cluded with the United States by the re
land, Astor made preparations TO sail for
the lsnd of promise.
lie CONES TO AMERICA.
In November, he paid five of his guineas
for Storage passage. He invested five
more guineas in the purchase of seven
flutes, and with the third five, as his mon
led capital, set sail For two months the
vessel was ice bound in Chesapeake Bay,
and the passengers were fed on very short
rations. This delay, however, proved very
fortunate for Astor A German fellow
passenger, who had made bargains with
the Indians in the purchase of furs, which
he had taken to England and sold at heavy
profit, was returning TO get stock for the
second venture of the kind. He gave
AstOr much information about the business.
This he resolved to DO. In March, 1854
the ice broke up. and the vessel reached
Baltimore. The long detention, and the
journey TO New York, nearly exhausted
Astor's money, and his wits and his several
flutes were his chief capital. On arriving
at New \ Ork, he found that his BROTHER
Henry waSlaboring under embarrassments,
which, however, proved temporary. He
could do but little for the new conner. The
latter was not man to give way TO de
spair- He at once entered the employ of
Robert BOune, Quaker, who bought,
dealt in, and exported peltries.
The wages pad were two dollars a week
and board. BY his industry and intelli-
gence the young beginner soon thoroughly
learned his employers business, and
gained his good will He was soon in
trusted with more important business than.
beating furs. and made, In its stead. jour
lcy to Montreal, then the chief fur mart in
North America. Returning with his furs,
nc employed the Indians in Transporting
hem to the Hudson, down which he
brought them in = sloop. He speedily
earned the art of dealing with the abori.
mes and never could rise superior To the
habit of hard bargaining which he acquired
n his dealings with them.
HIS START IN BUSINESS.
Astor did not long remain in Mr.. Boune's
employ. In 1856, in little shop in Water
street, with a back room "A yard and shed.
he shop furnished with only few toys
md trinkets he began business for himself
tie had the most unboundcd confidence in
lis abilities. He was sure OF getting rich,
though. a. he remarked in his old.age,-
. The first hundred thousand dollars-ihst
Vas hard to get; but afterward it was easy
10 make more" At first he did all the
work himself. He bought, cured, best,
PAT ked and sold bis skins. At the proper
season he made short excursions into the
country. collecting skins from house TO
house, gradually extending the are Of his
ravels till he knew the State OF New York
as no man of his day knew it. He early
noted the spots which he thought would
1ns day become business centres, and
Rochester and Buffalo afterwards estab-
ished the keenness OF his dIscernment.
Ills first voyage to London with furs es-
ablished his business on q solid foun1a-
iol- One of the results Of this was to
make an arrangements with Astor & Broad
wood, of London, by which be became
heir New York agent for the sale of pi-
mos, viOlinS and flutes. He was the first
nan in New York who constantly kept for
sale a supply Of musical instruments. On
his return from England he moved 10 lit
lie dingy store in Gold street, where he
Iwung out the sign, ''Furs and Pianos"
In 1870 he married Sarah Todd, whose
connection with the Brevoort family, and
little fortune of $500, gave him better So
'ial status and small additional capital.
She proved very Industrious and helpful
lelpmate. About 1894 he became able 10
purchase a ship, in which he occasionally
made voyages himself. In London he Le-
,ame connected with the East India Com
)any and the Chinese trade. In 1900 he
cut Ills IIel FculuIC 10 OdulOu, anu EDU-
inued TO carry on commerce with China
or twenty seven years.
Ills BUSINESS HABITS
In 1900, when he had been In business
lbout fifteen years, he was worth quarter
IF million dollars, an astonishing amount.
when the disadvantages under which he
commenced operations are considered
He had, however, wonderful genius, and
now. as through his whole life, was singu-
srly frugal. His luxuries were a pipe, a
glass of beer, game of draughts, ride on
horseback, and the theater. lie held in
utter contempt the dAshing mode of life of
many New York merchants. and abhorred
and stock -jobbing. Never
Iheless he was himself no plodder when
had ceased to be necessary.
Ills cLosFNESs.
He was very mean. He once lost the
services of one OF his best Captains and
S7O,O 900 into the bargain, by refusing 20
pay for chronometer which the Captain