The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1868-02-06
The late John Jacob Astor Jr.

The second son Of the millionaire,
John Jacob Astor, died at the age of
sixty-five, aud his body has been inter.
red in Trinity Cemetery, where repose
the remains Of his father and mother
When boy, young Astor was consid-
cred remarkably intelligent therefore
his father, determined to give him all
the advantages of a European education,
sent him to the University Of Geneva
to complete his studies. When sent to
this university John Jacob Astor, Jr., =,
was about seventeen years of age
After time news came to the furrier
Astor-the millionaire-that his son.
the one who bore his name, was suffer
ing from alteration of intellect The
next vessel that sailed from Europe car
ricd the elder John Jacob Astor. Arriv-
ing in Geneva, he found the news only
too true, that his son, whom he always
afterward called his ''unfortunate son."
was hopelessly an imbicile. The cause
of the loss of reason, whether by blow
on the head or over study, has never
been FUZZY established. The senior AS
tor thinking that change OF scene
might prove beneficial! made tour
to Europe accompanied by his son.
All was unavailable. So with sor-
rowing heart, he returned to Amer
lea, bringing with him his stricken boy.
In those days there was private asylum
for the insane fourishing i'm Cambridge
port, Mass, under the charge of Dr.
Chaplin and DIR. Dexter Fairbank.-
Thither the senior Astor took his affiic-
ted son for medical treatment. The boy
having violent paroxysms Of rage, need
cd constant Watching, and the case
being peculiar, Dr. Fairbank took it un-
der his immediate supervision, and paid
it particular attention. An absolute
cure was found to be impossible, but
the malady was so far mitigated that
the patient became comparatively
harmless. At this time DR.. Fairbank
removed him from the asylum to his
own home, and there he devoted him
self entirely to the charge of his patient.
The father wanted his boy near him,
and SO he built for his reception the
manson at the intersection of Four
teenth street and Ninth avenue, which,
with the grounds, fills nearly an entire
block. The house was occupied in 1889,
and there the son dwelt, visiting his
fathers house once a week, dining
with him, of course, always accompan-
led by his physician. Time wore along,
and no improvement in the condition
of the patient was djseernable. DIR.
James Mcdonald told the father that
cure could certainly be effected. Grasp
ing at a shadow, John Jacob Astor, Sr.,
despite the advice of his friends, reliev-
ed DIR. Fairbank, and DR.. Mcdonald
reigned in his stead Then came re-
lapse paroXysms of violence and rage
returned, and DIR. Fairbank was sum-
moncd to return, and subsequent to that
time had the undivided care of the pa
tient. The great sedative employed in
the ease of the junior Astor, was exer-
else; When the weather permitted !
rides and walks were taken in the
grounds, or on the street. And many
al inhabitant Of the Ninth avenue and
Fourteenth street neighborhood is famil-
liar with the figure of an old man, with
bowed head and cautious gait, who fol-
lowed closely in the footsteps of the
Al |,
pitious the halls Of the house were used
Tor pedestrian exercise. During his
latter years he became sedate, his SEEM
ng taciturnity arising probably, from
nfirmity and disease Of the kidneys,
10 which he was martyr. He could
not hold connected conversation, but
ais remembrance Of people was marvel