Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-10-31


Once, also, he gave one of his Captains
immense trouble to get two pipes of Mad
EZRA wine from under cargo Of teas which
he was sending to Amsterdam for a mar
ket. 1t took two days TO disiI:er the
casks. lie promised the Captain denli-
john of the vine for his labor, but he nov
cr got it. Once afterwards the Captain re-
minded him of the promise. "Ah," said
Astor, dent you know the reason? II
isn't fine yet;--wait till ii is fine, and you'll
say you never tasted such Madeira" The
Captain waited but never heard the wine
again.
HOW HR MADE HIS MONEY.
1t was neither furs nor teas that gave
him sc, 100000. When he arrived in New
York, it contained only $4,000 inhabitants.
In 1900, when he began to have money 10
invest, the city had begun to double in
population, and had advanced nearly q
mile up the island.
| Astor foresaw its future growth and
bough, all the lands and lots just beyond
the verge of the city that he could get.
One little anecdotc will show the wisdom
of this proceeding. He sold lot in Wall
Street in 1910, for $4,000, which was sup
posed 10 be somewhat under its value.
The purchaser, after the papers were sign
ed, seemed disposed to chuckle over the
bargain: "Why, Mr.. Aster, said he, this
lot will be worth tl2, 900"
Very true" replied AstoT; "but now
you shall see Whist will do with this mon
ey With eight thousand dollars | buy
eighty lots above Canal street. BY tho
time your lot is worth SIP, 0GO, my eighty
lots will be worth $50, OO0," which proved
TO be the fact. In the course OF time the
Island was dotted over with Astor lands
TO such an extent, that the whole income
his estate for fifty years could be invested
in new houses, without buying any more
| land.
In 1909 more than seven hundred fami
lies were residing in one third OF Putnam
| County, New York, on farms, the titles of
which were given by the State. The land
originally belonged to family named
Morris, who were tories, and their estate
was accordingly confiscated. Aston dis
covered that Mr. and Mrs. Morris had only
life estate in the land, and accordingly
purchased the rights of the heirs for 10000
pounds sterling. Mr.. Morris was then
dead. and his widow nearly eighty, and
very infirm. In few years he commenced
urging his claims There was, of course,
great CONSERVATION in Putnam County.
Commissioners were appointed by the Leg
islature 10 investigate the subject. They
asked him for what he would compromise:
He replied 100000. This was refused.
The affair fingered on until 1927, when
test case was brought 10 trial. Daniel
Webster and Martin Van Buren, were re-
tanned for the State. Emmett Ogden and
AsI on Burr, the latter privately, were Mr.
Astor's counsel lie Won the suit and on
receiving shout q half million dollars, the
titles were secured 10 the occupants. We
pass over his magnificent Astorian scheme,
which, however grand in design, was not
pecuniuy success.
HIS OPINIONS AND IIARITs.
Mr.. Astor was firm believer in the des-
tiny of the United States. La other words,
he held its pubic stock In profound re-
spect. He hSd little 10 say of politics, hut
was . supporter of The Wing party, and
was never better pleased than to have
Henry Clay at his house. The last consid-
cradle sum he was known Ia give away
was a contribution to aid in the election Of
Mr. Clay. When ssked, he answered. II
am not interested in these things. The
gentlemen who are in business ought ~
give. don't make msney any more and
haven't any concern IN Me matter" One
of the committee replied: why, Mr..
Aston, you are like Alexander, when he
wept because there were no more worlds
to conquer. You have naGde al the money,
and now there is no more money To make.
The old eye twinkled at the b!erded conl-
pliment and jest. "us, hs, bs very
good that's very good. WI, we'll, II
give you something's" whereupOn he drew
his check for s 500.
Mr. AsrOR IN A STORM.
i,a;rcr -, E,,rono he lid fro.-,
IIavrc for New York. Headwinds and
boisterous seas kept tie vessel beating and
tossing about in the channel for many days.
The old man was both ses-sick and alarmed.
He asked the Captain to run in aud land
him on the coast Of England. The Cap
tain dissuaded him. but he was urgent and
At last said: Il will give you Z thousand
dollars to put me aboard . pi'ot-boat,"
The Captain finally agreed TO do so, provi
Gsd they did not get out OF the channe, by
tine NEXT morning. A wind spsaBg up
during the designated time, and the ship
vas safe out TO sea. Another gale came
up, however, when the ship was along the
western coast OF Ireland. Astor now of
fsrcd the Captain ten thousand dollars to
put him ashore ON the Emerald lsle. In
vain the Captain demonstrated. At last
the gale having somewhat sbsted, he
yielded Dir. Astor went into the cabin
and wrote what Was expected to be draft
for 10000 in favor of the owners OF the
shin or agent in New York. Ii was. how
ever totally illesible. 4" Whist is this?"
ssksd the Captain. a draft upon my son
for $4,000 dollars" "But &c one can
read it." "Oh, yes, my SEQ viii know
what il is. BY Land trembles SO that |
can not write any better" But, said
the Captain, "you can At least write your
name. Let one of the gentlemen draw up
draft In proper form you sign it, and
will put you ashore" This lie would not
consent to do, and so the affair dropped.
When off the coast Of New Foundland,
two-thirds of the way home, the old gen
uemsn was still frightened, and screamed |
out to the Captain. who wss hsiling anoth- |
or vessel, "Tell them give toussnd dol |
lar If they take another passenger.
HIS LAST DAYS.
On the Goth OF March, 1913, OF old age |
merely, in the presence of his family and |
friends, without pain or disqulet, this re-
msrkabie man bresthed his last. His |
property was mainly left to his own family, |
the greater part to his son, William B. |
Astor, so as to keep it united. The
whole estate was estimated at twenty |
millions, and Is now probably double /
that amount. Seven hundred houses in |
New York City belong to Mr.. Astor. |
The chief legacy was one Of 100000 to
found the Astor Library. The next largest, |
$4,000, was bequeathed to his native |
village Of Waldorf, to found home for
poor people, and $4,000 was left to the |
German Institution Of New York. To his |
old friend and manager, Fitz Greene Hal |
leck, the poet, he left the strange legacy of
$500 per annum for life. This sum Mr.. W. |
Is. Astor at once increased to $1,000. |
The same more liberal heir voluntarily |
gave to the sea CAPTAIN, who had saved |
Mr.. Astor so much money, a handsome |
sum of money, for he was not mentioned
in the old mans will