The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-12-09
VIM. b. Astor's Wealth.

Hrs fathers death brought greater rich
es to an already rich man. His uncle,
Henry Astor, who would have been called
rich had he not been ov~ershadowed by
his brother, had died childless, leaving, it
is said, half a million to his oldest neph-
ew. This he had already invested after
the true Aston fashion, so as to bring in
a handsome return. His father had also
sold him the Astor House for one dollar
in hand paid. But these possessions sank
into insign;ficance compared with the
great bulk of property which he had adj
ministered for a number of years before
his fathers death, and which now came
into his hands. John Jacob Astor ad-
hered to the law of primogeniture, wheth-
er he believed in it or moi. He saw all
his relatives we'll provided for, but he
was too proud of the accumulation of his
lifetime to allow it to be scattered into the
hands of a hundred heirs. 1t is one of
the pleasantest memories that William B.
Aston left behind him that he should have
supplied the DEFICIENCIES of his fathers
will and increased such requests as seemed
to him niggardly or unjust. A handsome
sum was sent to an old Captain in China
who preserved a large property from sud
den peril, and Mr.. Astor increased the
annuity of Fitz-Greene Halleck from
$500 to $500 a year. Other omis-
sions were remedied. Mr.. Astor's
additions to the bequest for the
Astor Library amounted, in books, land
and money, to $500, 900. These duties
once performed, the cares of his new es-
tates absorbed his attention. Following
the example OF his father, whose wealth
was so largely enhanced by the rapid in
crease of the value of property in the I'M
improved portion of the city, Mr.. Aston
bought large numbers of lots below the
Central Park, and between Fourth and
Seventh avenues. Almost entire blocks
were owned by him at the time of his
death. For the space of about thirteen
years prior to 1878 he was engaged in ex-
tensive building operations, until at the
expiration of that time nearly all of the
property which mad been purchased by
him in an unimproved condition was
built upon. His rent-rolls were enormous.
He became the great landlord of the great
city, and was said eight years ago to own
720 houses. Probably no other single
person in this city ever owned an equal
amount of real estate. This power he
used moderately and we'll. As a landlord
he gained the reputation of a prompt,
obliging, b~usincss-like man. and his af-
fairs were conducted in "a little dingy Of
flee in Prince street without either display
or confusion. He was faithful to his
clerks, as they were 10 him, and there
were some who had spent long lives in
the service of father and son.
Most of the houses erected during the
interval of thirteen years were what is
known as first-class. Mr.. Astor also in
vested largely IN the Hudson River X
New York Central, Harlem, New York
& New Haven, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Lackawanna Il Western, and other rail
roads, the Delaware & Hudson Canal
Company, and various coal companies.
He was not a director in any of these, but
his son, John Jacob, who was also large
ly interested, was a director in several.
Mr.. Astor had also held stock in several
tire-insurance companies, but a short time
before the Chicago fire he had begun to
dispose of this kind of stock, not having
found it so remunerative as some other
/ ,,,,r.,,4-Y, l., n-n 80, ~, ~. 1.n, Ia,
sold his stock IN a fire-insurance compa-
ny only one week before the Chicago fire,
and thus escaped serious loss. His cOun-
try-seat, where he and his family were
year, in the town of Red Hook, Duchess
County, comprises between 800 and 600
acres, and was formerly owned by his
father n-law, Gen. Armstrong, who was
Secretary of War under Madison. The
amount of Mr.. Astor's property has been
variously estimated at from $50, 000,000 to
$50, 000, 900. Probably only he, his son
John Jacob and his trusted business man.
ayers could give anything like m approx
innate estimate of the value of
his real and personal property, and
the depreciation in the value of
real estate and stocks and bonds in the
past two years would make it a difficult
matter ever for them. Mr.. Astor's bust
ness habits were fixed and regular. Every
working-day that he was in the city he
called at his office in Prince street and re-
ceived the reports of his ~subordinates, and
examined papers which required his
signature. He was plain in his attire,
averse to show of all kinds. This austerity
was visible in all his household. His
carriage and horses were not likely to
attract attention by reason of rich uphol-
stery or gaudy trappings. His Fifth avenue
mansion, while possessing a good exterior
and being well furnished, does not com
pare with some of the more p%retentious
white marble and brown-stone dwellings
in its vicinity. Mr.. Astor was of a retir-
ing disposition. If a subscription paper
was brought to him he would request that
other signatures be procured, and then
bring it back to him to sign. He was
careful not to give offense by speaking
roughly to those with whom he was
brought in contact. He was genial to
those with whom he was intimate, but he
did not encourage advances from others.
For many years past he has contributed to
various charitable institutions in a quiet
way, giving from $1,000 to s., 200 to each
but not desiring that the fact be made
public. The most noteworthy of his gifts
was that of $50. 900 made to aid st. Luke's
Hospital several years ago.-N. Y. Tribune.
A High Old Passenger Conductor.
A FEW days ago a freight conductor on