The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1874-05-15
vANDERRMT'S WEALTH.
An Estate Over 500, 900 900 An, ons,
Whom it Will be Divided.


The wealth of the Vanderbilt family
has been variously estimated, and the
teticence of the Commodore himself has
admitted of little else than mere con-
lecture on this point. There is Il general
opinion, however, among those who
| are in a position to judge most correctly
that the wealth vested in Commodore
Vanderbilt exceeds 800, 600 900, and :,
prominent member of the fumily re-
Gently said that the "old man" was
worth more than that sum. This vast
fortune was acquired by Cornelius Van
derhilt through his own efforts, starting
early in life without capital or influence.
His parents were poor, and his first
money was earned in conveying people
to and fro in Il row-boat between New
York and Staten Island. lie made II
large amount Of money in steamboat
ing, but the great bulk OF his wealth
has been acquired in railroad cOmbina-
tions and in the manipulation of rail-
road stocks. He is and has hrcn all his
life, very remarkable man. His self
reliance and pluck are as natural with
him rs drawing breath, and his will
and purpose arc indomitable. \ man
of such tremendous mental force has he
been that he has moved forward to the
accomplishment of his objects with n
power rs irresistible as one of his steam
boats. His one purpose in life has been
the acquisition of money. To this end
he has trained his mental and physical
resources with the greatest care. He
has made of himself q machine that has
always obeyed the requirement Of his
intellect, and wherever he has struck it
has been with telling force and effect.
He has always drank moderately and
fo1~
amount of exercise always. Smoking
and whist playing are the only indui-
gences which nc has permitted himself
to any considerable degree.
Every day he is to be seen driving on
the road, with the stump OF 4 cigar be-
tween his teeth, and until within Il year
past he has had some of his crOnies in
for a rubber ut whist and to talk horse,
subject Of which he never tires. Lat
terly, however, his evenings have been
passed very quietly. He has always
been q strict man Of business, kept his
own counsel, and admitted or known
no partners. He never allows the plea
Of affection or charity to interfere with
his business matters. Appeals to his
sympathy have about as much effect as
a straw forced under the wheels of II
locomotive. lie has been well, active
and in the harness all his life, and has
never tired or weakened. He will he
eighty years of age in May, and his
sixty odd years of constant hard work
show that he has had one of the strong
est physical constitutions over given to
a man.
Some people look at him and say he
will never die, but it is we'll known
that the machine SO admirably built
and which has lasted so long is slowly
but surely wearing out. His mental
faculties remain unimpaircd, but his
gait is less steady than it was, and he
no longer trusts himself with the duties
he used to perform. He frequently
complains of exhaustion, and when hc
drives out it is to be noticed that he no
longer drives fast. lie is getting ready
to lay his harness aside, and has, doubt
less, made full provision for the distri-
button of his colossal accumulations.
For Il number of years his son-in-Iaw,
ID. +. Allen, was his right hand man,
but of late years his son William II.
has represented him in carrying out
the more active duties of Administra-
lion. William II. is rs assiduous in his
attention to work as his father ever
was, is scarcely, if ever, seen in public,
and can nearly always be found, during
business hours, at his desk in the Grand
Central Depot.
Cornelius Vanderbilt was born in
May, 1891, at Stapleton, Staten Island,
and his parents We're also born on
Staten Island. The house in which he
was born is still standing and is owned
by him. At the age Of nineteen he
married Sophia Johnston, his second
cousin, who was then eighteen. She
died five years ago last August. She
was as remarkable a woman as he was
4 man, possessed great firmncss, II very
shrewd manager, strong principle, and
it is said she earned every dollar she
spent after her marriage. Thirteen
children in all were born to them, nine
girls and four boys, of whom are now
living eight daughters and two sons.
Their first child was Phubc Jane, who
married J. NJ. Cross. She is sixty wears
of age, and is now living in this city
with her husband. They have four
children now living, two boys and two
girls. The girls and one of the sons are
married. They reside at No. 5a West
Twenty-second street.
The second child was Ethelinola, who
is the wife OF -. b. Allen, of this city.