Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-09-21
He'tiniScence and Character of
Mrs. Tdnderbitt.

Mrs. Vanderbilt, wife of Commodore
Vanderbilt, died last week. We find in
an obituary of her the following Incl
dent and character showing that Wand
erbilt had good partner in life, and
that to her influence probably was due
much of his success.
Somewhere about 60 years ago Corne-
Illus Vanderbilt commenced lif. by rum
ming ''perianger" between Staten Is
land and New York. During the day
be piled his vocation, and whenever his
duties permitted, visited his second
cousin, Miss Sophie johnson, then a
young and comely girl of 10, who also
lived on the Island. Perhaps it was ii
outburst of his first love that made the
young sailor so ambitious, and inspired
him with the enterprise he has always
exhibited. Certain it is, however, nat
the cousins married, and old folks who
knew them then, speak with delight of
the handsome pair, for they were adj
mitted to be the comeliest couple Staten
Island has ever produced. 1t is uneces-
sary to trace the Commodore from the
time he was ferryman. until he was
promoted, or more properly, promoted
himself, to the responsible position of
captain of a steamboat which piled be-
tween New York and New Brunswick,
N. j. At the latter place, however, he
was proprietor of hotel, ut which pas
sengers from New York to PHILADELPHIA
used to take meals, and occasionally q
nights rest. It was a kind of halfway
house. His wife superintendent the no.
tel while he was engaged in his active
al uatic vocation. One evening he ar
rived from New York, and while sitting
ut supper, said to his wife:
sophie, / wish had $4,000, in addi-
ton to what l have, to buy shares in the
steamboat line think it would be a
good investment"
do you think so, Cornell p" respond
ed his thoughtful partner.
II do" said he.
She sid nothing more, bat next day
consulted Mr.. Gibbons, and he advised
the investment. Next evening at sup
der she accosted her husband thus:
Cornell, I've spoken to Mr.. Gibbons
about shares, and as lie approves your
idea, there's the $1,000; buy the shares
tomorrow"
AS she spoke she took the amount
from one of those old fashioned pockets
that used to be worn under the dress,
and handed 1t to her astonished husband.
she had saved the money unbeknOwn to
ney that fiOated the Commodore into
fame and fortune. This incident shows
what the woman was. The money was
wisely sown, and, as is Well known, the
harvest is great. The subsequent his
tory of Mr.. Vanderbilt is the inherit
ance OF all men and though the part
taken by his wife in building up his inn
mense wealth cannot be made public,
yet it is safe to say that with him she
bore the burden and heat of the day,
and melted him by her cheering and
courageous words to embark in great I'M
dertakings, and, by her wisdom, conduct
them to successful issues.
In her home she was kind and anna
ble-a true and faithful wife, q fond
mother and firm friend. TWAS in the
sacred precincts of the family circle that
she was best known; it was there her
good qualities were most apparent and
NEST appreciated and now that she is
no more, her cautious counsel, her moth
erly love, and bright face, beaming with
good nature, will be sadly missed.
Mrs. Vanderbilt was no ordinary wo-
man far from it. independently OF
her position as the consort of one of the
notable specimens of selfmade men, she
had inherent in herself elements that
raised her above the level of ordinary
women. She was just the women to be
the wife OF Cornelius Vanderbilt intel
ligent, energetic, of an ardent, hopeful
crly, and purely womanly. 1t is certain
that she relieved him Of all the care of
large family, conducting her house.
hold affairs well and wisely, superinten-
ding the education of her children, and
bringing them up in the way they
should go.