The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-09
yANDERBILT,s WEALTH.
AN ESTATE OVER $1,000 0OO-AMoNG WHOM
1T WILL BE DIVIDED.
from the New York Graphic. March,


from the New York Graphic. March,
The wealth of the Vanderbilt family has
been variOusly estimated, and the reticence
If the Commodore himself has admitted of
little else than mere conjecture on this
point. There is a general opinion, however,
among those who are in position to judge
most correctly that the wealth vested in
Commodore Vanderbilt exceeds 100000, 900,
and a prominent member of the family re-
Gently said that the "Old man" was worth
more than that sum. This vast fortune
was acquired by Cornelius Vanderbilt
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
row-boat between New York and Staten
Island. He made large amount of money
in steamboating, but the great bulk of
his wealth has beep acquired in railroad
combinations and in the manipulation Of
railroad stocks. He is, and has been all his
life, very remarkable man. His self-reli
ance and pluck are as natural with him as
drawing breath, and his will and purpose
are indomitable. man of such tremen-
dOus mental force has he been that he has
moved forward to the accomplishment of his
objects with power as Irresistible rs one OF
his steamboats,. His one purpose in life has
been the acquisition of money. To this end
he has trained his mental and physical re-
sources with the greatest care. He has
made of himself machine that has always
obeyed the requirements of els intellect, and
wherever he has struck it has been with
telling force and effect. He has always
drank moderately and lived regularly, ia
king just the requisite amount OF exercise al
ways. Smoking and whist playing are the
only indulgences which he has permitted
himself to any considerable degree.
Every day he is to be seen driving on the
road, with the stump of cigar between his
teeth, and until within year past he has
had some of his cronies in for rubber at
whist and to talk horse, subject of which
he never tires. Latterly, however, his even
ings have been passed very quietly. He
has always been 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 locomo-
tive. He has been well, active and in the
harness all his life, and has never tired or
weakened. He will be eighty years of age
in May, and his sixty odd years of constant
hard work show that he has had one of the
strongest physical constitutions ever given
to a man.
Some people look at him and say he will
never die, but it is well known that the
machine so admirably built and which has
lasted so long is slowly but surely wearing
out. His mental faculties remain unimpair-
ed, 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 he drives
out it is to be noticed that he no longer
drives fast. He is getting ready to lay his
harness aside, and has, doubtless made full
provision for the distribution of his colossal
accumulatiOns For number of years his
son-in-law, d. B. Allen, was his right hand
man, but of late years his son William H.
has represented him in carrying out the more
active duties of Administration. William
H. is as assduOus 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,
1894, at Stapleton, Staten Island, and his
parents were 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 Johnson his
second cousin, who was then eighteen. She
died five years ago last August. She was as
remarkable a woman as he was a man, pos
sessed great firmness, a very shrewd mana
ger, 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 Phoebe Jane, who
married j. NJ. Cross. She is sixty years 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 re-
side at No. SO Yves, Twenty second street.
The second child was Ethelinda, who is
the wife of d. b. Allen, of this city. Mr..
Allen was associated with Commodore Van
derbilt in his steamboat business for some
thirty years, but has retired from active
business. He is worth a half million dollars
| and has six children, five Of whom are boys.
All are married except one son and one
daughter.
Eliza was the third child. She married
G. A. Osgood, the broker. He is presumed
to be worth $3.50, 900. They have no children.
They live at No. 10 East Twenty first street
Emily was the fourth child. She is the
| wife of w. X. TbOrne, the lawyer, who is
worth $2,OOO,OOO. They have four children.
One daughter and one son are married, and
daughter and a son are still unmarried.
| William Henry was the next child. He
married the daughter of the late Mr.. Kissam
| the clergyman. He has seven children.
William H. has son and two daughters
married., and two sons and two daughters
are yet single. He occupies one of the finest
residences in the city, at 459 Fifth Avenue.
| Sophia was the next child. She married
Daniel Torrance, of this city, who was long
President of the Ohio and Mississippi Rail
road, and is worth from 81 600, 900 to 81, OO0 :
600. They have three children, one boy and
two girls. They live at 379 Fifth Avenue.
One daughter is married to Meredith How
land, Esq, who is a very wealthy man.
Maria Louise was the next child. She
married the late Horace F. Clark, who died
leaving fortune Of about $2,OOO,OOO to 50, :
100000, and one child, a daughter, married
to Clarence Collins, of Connecticut.
Maria Elicia was the eighth. She mar
ried Nicholas B. LIE Bon, who was formerly
member of Congress from this Str, and