New-York tribune., 1875-11-25


being carried on in the first story Mr. Astors earl
est recollectous were said to be of his fathers store
and the work he dad in handling the furs His
early education was better than that Of
the other lads of his station, but his
fathers ideas expanded with his riches. and
il was determined that his heir should have
a university education. He was sent to Heidelberg
and remained there for several years acquiring the
rudiments of culture which he kept and added to
al through life. On his return he entered his
fathers office and immersed IN the details
Of his vast transactions. Ht given an interest
in the business and being found to have inherited
his fathers genius for trade rapidly pushed for
ward. The firm was known John Jacob Astor *
Son from 1915 10 1927, and was one OF the
largest in the China trade. In tie latter
year the firm was dissolved, the father
retiring from the shipping business and
the American Fur Company was then formed. 1t
was composed Of John Jacob Astor, William b.
Astor, and several of the more wealthy agents III
various parts of the country who had been for long
time in the elder Astors employ. VIM. B. Astor was
the President of the Company but his father took
very active part in the business and together they
owned a controlling share of the stock Of the Com
pany. The business prosecuted for several years
and for large part of the time yielded large profits
Finally Mr.. Astor, the elder, decided 10 withdraw
from the Company, and he was soon followed by his
SON The latter was succeeded as President OF the
Company by Ramsay Crooks, one Of John Jacob
Astor's oldest and most trusted agents From that
time forward neither John Jacob Ast0r nor hls son
were actively engaged in commercial pursuits
His fathers death brought greater riches to an
already rich man. His uncle, Henry Astor, VINO
would have been called rich had he not been over
shadowed by his brother had died childess, leaving
il is said half million to his eldest nephew. This
he had already invested after the true Asor fashion,
40 as to bring in handsome return. His father had
also sold him the AstOr House for one dollar in hand
paid But these possessions sank into insgniiicaDce
compared with the great bulk Of property which
be had administered for a numberof years before his
fathers death and which now came into his hands
John acOb AstOr adhered 10 the law OF pumogenure
whether he believed in it or not. He SAW all ms
relatives well provided for but he was too proud OF
the accumulation of Lis lifetime to allow it to he
scattered into the hands OF hundred heirs. 1t Is
one Of the pleasantest memories that William b. As
tor left behind him that he should have supplied the
deficiencies of his fathers WILL and increased such
bequests as seemed to him niggardly or uniust A
handsome sum was sent to an old captain in China
who preserved large property from sud-
den peril. and Mr.. Astor increased the an
nuitv of Fitz-Greene Haleck from $500 10
81 800 a year. Other omissions were remedied
MIR. Astor's additions to the bequest for the Astor
Library amounted. in books, land. and money. 20
5000 900. These duties once performed, the cares
Of his new estates absorbed his attention. Fol
lowing the example Of his father whose wealth was
so largely enhanced by the rapid increase OF the
value of property in the unimpr0ved portion
of the city, Mr.. Astor bought large num-
hers of lots below the Central Park, and
between Fourth and Seventh-aves Almost entire
bl ,cks were owned by him at the time Of his death
For q space Of about 13 years prior to 1873 he was
engaged in extensive building operations. until at
the expiration of that time nearly all OF tie prop
eFty which had been purchased by him in an I'M
proved condition was built upon His rent-rolls
were enormous. lie became the great landlord OF
the GREAT city and was sad eight years ago 10 own
100 houses Pro badly 10 other single person III tlls
CITY ever owned an equal amount OF real estate.
This power he used moderately ana well As a Iahd-
lord he gained the reputation of prompt 1ol!tthE,
busnesS-like man. ard his affairs conducted IN
little dingy Office m Prince-st; wthoqt ell ner as
uav confusion. de was faithiui 10 ms clerks a.
they were To him, and there were some who had
spent long lives i'm tire service of father and son.
Most Of the houses erected during the interval OF
thirteen wears were what il known "a first class
MIR Azor also invested largely IN the Hudson RIVER
and New-York Central. Harlem, New-lork and
New Haven, Pennsylvania, Delaware, L4ckawanna
and Western, and other railroads the Delaware ana
Hudson Canal Company. and various coal
companies. He was not director IN
ouv OF these, bur his SON. John Jacob,
who was also largely Interested, was d.
re tor in several. Mr. AstOr had also held stock IN
several fire insurance companies, bus a snort tlme
before the CHICAGO fire be had begun 20 dispose OF
this kind of stock not having found lt 50 remune-
ratiye a. other Investments. In one instance.
at least he sold his stock IN tre insurance COM
pany only week before the Chicago ME. ald
thus escaped serious loss His country seat, where
he and biz family were accustomed % pass several
months OF each year, in the town OF Rcd hook,
fN nel
acres and was formerly owned by his faher-iu-laW,
Gen Armstrong. who was Secretary ot War under
Madison. The amount ot Ar. AstOrs prop
ertV has been yaIl0uSIy esJnhatgG al Hom
500 900 900 10 SjO.OOOO00. Probably only lie.
his SON. John Jacob and MS trusted business man
ayers could givf anything Ike an approximate estl-
mate of the value of his real and personal property,
and the depreciation in the value OF real estate and
stocks and bonds during the past two years would
made il difficult matter even for them. Mr.. A-tOrS
busiuess habits fixed and regular. Every work
ing day that he N the city he called M ms ONCE
in Prince-S and received the reports OF hls subOrdi-
Mates and examined papers which required Ills si@-
uature He was plain in his attire. averse 10 show OF
all kinds This austerty was visible III a hs house
bcid His carriage and horses were not likely To at
tract attention 10y of rich upholstery gaudy
trappugs. His Fifth-ave. mansion. While possessing
a good exterior and being well furnished, does not
coynpare with some Of the more pIetentiOus White
marble and brOwn-StOne dwellings in its vicinity
Nr AstOT was Of retiring disposition. Ii a sub
srripuon paper was brought TO him. he would re-
ouest that other signatures De procured, ana then
bring t back TO him 90 sign lie was careful moi 10
give offence by speaking roughly TO those with whom
he was brought in contact. Tie was genial to those
with whom he was intimate, but be dld not encour-
rage advances from Others For many years past he
has contributed 10 various charitable institutions IN
"A quiet way. giving from $1,000 20 81. 600 10 each
hut not desiring that the TACT should De MADE pun
lie The most noteworthy of MS gifts was that
of $4,000 made 70 aid ST. Luke's Hospital
several years ago. He was long time q reeu-
lar attendant OF Grace Church. but short tme ago
be withdrew because of ~ distance from his resi-
dence lie had not get decided ~ what church he
would take pew when he was attacked WIN Ing
f,f,i sickness He wished 20 iind an Episcopal
Church with an entrance nearly level with the