The New York herald., 1875-11-25
last year about $700 600 il is believed the fun tax
when collected VIII amount TO over 81, 600, 200
THE Aston PANTY.

THE AsToR FAMILY
The head Of the Astor family in New York was John
Jacob Asior. He was born in the village Of Waldorf,
near Heidelberg in Germany, on July IL 1868. He
was the youngest OF the four sons Of peasant and
passed his boyhood IN work upon his fathers
farm. Religious instruction formed an important
part Of his early training Rising early
in tho morning, his first waking hours devoted to
reading the Bible and his prayer book and these prac
tces he is said TO have adhered through life Two
Of his brothers left home before him. to establish
himself in London as a musical instrument and
the other to settle in America When sixteen years
old he bade farewell to his old home and his parents,
walked to the OF Holland and embarked a Dutch
smack TO join his brother in London Arrived there,
he discovered his industrious character by invara-
bly, rising, as was his previous custcm, at
four O'Clock in the morning and scrupuously
performing all duties assigned to him. Al the
age of twenty no possessed a manly person and
goodaddross few months after the recogni-
tion by Great Britain Of the independence Of the
United States, in 1888 he sailed for Baltimore hay
ing with him musical instruments to the value OF few
hundred dollars When the vessel reached Chesapeake
Bay storm threatened her destruction and Asor dis
played phase Of character that his fellow yoyagers
aterward remembered. In the midst Of the danger
he appeared deck, dressed in his best suit deter
mned If saved, to be as presentabe possible on
the voyage he became acquainted with fur trader by
whose advice he exchanged his musical instruments
for furs in New York With these furs he nastened
back to London, where he advantageously disposed Of
them, after which he again prepared to cross the
Atlantic, determined to apply himself Systematically
the fur trade Meanwhile he made himself familiar
with the different kinds Of fur and studied tho con-
tnenta markets. on his return to America he estab-
lished himself IN New York, where he afterward
nued to reside In the pursuit OF his business he fire.
quently visited London however, and the distant trad
ing posts in Canada His extensive acquaintance with
trappers and traders enabled him to profit largely by
sending furs to Europe and the East when the treaty
negotiated by Mr. Jay in 1904 removed the distractions
to their expectation which had previously existed
About this time his business became extensive that
he had dealings in every quarter of the globe He
worth $780, 00 the result of sixteen years of business
at the beginning OF the century. Then he began to
contemplate great schemes OF trade and colonization
1t his to organize the fur trade from the lakes
to the Pacific coast by establishing trading posts
making the mouth OF the Columbia River central
depot He also wished TO obtain Of the Sandwich
Islands station, to supply the Chinese and Indian
markets From this venture he is said to have looked
for return during the first ten years. During the
next ten some returns were expected but after
ward he hoped to reap Immense profits But two of the
three first vessels despatched this enterprise were
lost The account of this fatal disaster he heard with
composure and after he sold Astoria the first post
established to the British Northwest Fur Company
The fur trade not the sole of his fortune
HIS real estate investments brought HIM enormous
profits and he erected many private and public build
ings He accumulated the largest fortune ever
amassed up TO that time in America, the being
tmaed at $40 COO 000 His possessions embraced vast
tracts of land in Western States, besides his fur trade
and his New York real estate He married TO
Sarah Todd about seven years after his arrival in this
ri wifi bri p no m Of Mo
death he left two sons William b. Astor, whose death
is this day recorded and another son, imbece from
his birth. One Of his daughters, who died in 1886 in
Paris, became the Countess of Rumpff; another was
the wife of Mr.. Brsted, an author and clergyman Of
Bristol, r. L. and father Of the late Charles Astor
Brstod.
The ground now occupied by
AsToR HOUSE
was in his day covered by three story brick houses
Of which he occupied and at the time he retired from
business-about quarter of century before his
death-he determined to fulfil vow of his youth to
build larger and costlier house on Broadway than any
II could then boast The result OF this determination
still remains He is said to have enjoyed immensely
tho consciousness of his great wealth, giving the
roll-book of his possessions peculiarly fond
attention He lived to the age Of eighty -four.
In his life OF John Jacob Astor James Parton says
HE exulted not IN compensating liberal services
literally In all his transactions he kept in view the
simple object of giving the least and getting the
most" IL would appear that he had no expensive
habits, although he was particularly fond of the
theatre His great genius was for money making.
John Jacob Astor the genius of the family as
well as its founder Had little else been done beyond
judciousy administering the affairs of the great
foundation OF wealth lett by him, time alone would
have wonderfully swelled its volume since his day
Henry Astor the brother OF John Jacob Astor, fol
lowed the butcher trade in New York. and made
considerable fortune at the business.
THE LIBRARY.
The memory of John Jacob Astor is chiefly honored
for the iberality to which the Astor Library its
existence For the establishment Of this library he be-
queathed $400, 000 OF this sum 500 900 to be
sae Se IN s sno PsT
manently invested as fund to maintain and increase
the library. These stipuations of the viii OF John
Jacob Astor were fully complied with Its government
by provision in the WILL vested IN eleven trustees
in whose keeping all the property Of the institution
placed. All power the funds and manage the
lbrary's affairs also vested in them. There were
named as first trustees the following gentlemen: ~
Washington Irving William b. Astor, Daniel Lord, Jr.
James 9. King, James g. Cogswel Fitz Greene Haleck,
Henry Brevoort, Jr Samuel b. Ruggles and Samuel
Ward Jr BY codicl Charles Astor Brsted sub
sequently appointed trustee The lot situated the
east side of Lafayette place. IS feet front by 120 Deep
was designated by provision of the will as the ground
upon which the library building should be erected.
Mr.. Astor purchased as early as 1889 number of
volumes intended for the library. In May, 1S48,
the first meeting Of the trustees held, and in
auMmn OF the year Dr. Cogswe ssailed for
chase Of books. Twenty thousand volumes were
collected by him in four months, and those
were placed temporarily In building rented for
the purpose. Subsequently the number Of volumes
increased to 10000 with which number the build
ing first opened the 9th OF January, 1854 The
Asor Library built in the Byzantine style OF archi
lecture, ornamented with brown stone mouldings and
an imposing entablature 1t dimensions are in accord
with the directions in the will It's height is
about 20 feet The library Is 100 feet long by GA
feet wide and so feet high This is reached by flight
Of marble steps. Public documents arc kept in the
lower rooms
After the erection Of the building the number OF vol
increased to nearly 100 000 filling the library
In linguistcs library in the country surpasses the
Asor Attention has also been paid to its departments
of technology and photography In January 1856, the
Astor Library building had become filed.
AS IT stood then IT was noble bequest and the pub
lie appreciated il as SUCH II might thus have remained
enduring monument of the wise and liberal beneh-
cence Of its founder. Mr.. William B. Astor not
satisfied with its resting here. He saw the vast good
it accomplishing He foresaw It's greatly bencfcent
results in the future Discerning herapd growth four
CITY :. -1' aAw laat Only the half was done
mercial metropols, ~ -, -'o-As % perfect the un-
finished work and was amply cndowe. ~ ~ nn25ffI,
site public spirit and bencvoence TO do IT. InS usYsS
know the result He put up an aaJolnlne ouiIans ~ ~
Tho same magnitude and on the same plan AZ
sos, ~ noary c16o 600 He expended about $4,000