Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-06-24
WEALTHY WIDOWS OF GOTHAM.
Women with many Thousands at
their Command.

A donation of $4,000 few days ago
by a well known and very wealthy wild
ow of this city to Certain charitable
institution, recalls to mind the number
OF widows controlling their millions
who reside in New York. To begin
with, there is Mrs. Paran Stevens, wild
ow OF the noted hotel keeper and original
owner of the Fifth Avenue bptel. Mrs.
Stevens was a Miss Reed, of Boston.
She is very ambitions and persevering
lady, and has been more or less promi-
nent to fashionable society here and
abroad for many years. She has house
at Newport. a large amount Of real
estate in New York and Massachusetts,,
and a house in Paris. The Stevens
apartment house on Fifth avenue, valued
at 800, 900, is among her metropolitan
possessions, likewise the fine house in
which she lives, No. PA Fifth Avenue
The story of her stolen jewels is a
familiar one. Her sister, Miss Reed. is
now in Europe completing he musical
education, and her daughter will be
married in tho spring to an English
noblenan. ... -.... --..--..- -.
Next is Mrs. George GrIswold Gray
who was Miss Irwin, daughter of Rich
ard Irwin, merchant of high standing.
George Griswold Gray was bachelor
of five-and-thirty years when he married
Miss Irwin. He had been shining light
in society and at the clubs for a long
period, and few thought him a-marrying
man. He originated the hand
club, and was president of it at the time
of his death. He was a great traveller,
and in China, many years ago, was shot
by the natives while defending the Brit,
ish consulate with handful of English
and American gentlemen. He had
beautiful country seat at Newport,
town house in Washington Square, s
yacht, horses. carriages, dogs and ser
wants in abundance. Mr.. Gray died {
little over q year ago, leaving his widow
thousands upon thousands.
Mrs. Horace F. Clarke comes next
She is daughter of Commodore Van
derbilt and married Mr.. Clarke before
he became such a nabob and railWa.
king as he was at the time of his death
When Mr.. Clarke's estate was settled VI
| it was found that he was by no means a
| rich as was conjectured. Mrs. Clark
soon afterwards went to Europe, wher'
she now resides. Her daughter-wh'
was once q belle in society-marrie'
Clarence Collins.
Mrs. Loring Andrews, whose late hus
band left an estate, valued at $4,000,
600, is also in Europe. The lady own
a house at Newport and several block
of houses here. .,....-..-.-.
Mrs. Lapont, whose husband fell fror
the fourth story window Of his house o
Fifth Avenue and was instantly killed
the family being at West Point-lett
very large amount OF money. and hi
widow and daughter live in Paris.
l Mrs. Thomas (nee PickersgilD osci
lates between this country and Europe
and has secured for herself the reputs
ton of being the most liberal and e,
travagant hostess of the period. He
New York residence is at No. 10 Wei
Fourteenth street, a mansion OF the ol
style, which was recently the scene of
! series Of very elegant entertainments
Mrs. Hicks is lady of very remsrkabl
} beauty, very talented. and possessed
, infinite tact and sound social judgmen
She has a penchant for literary peopl
l and lately patronized Joaquin Miller,
, his intense satisfaction and the ill-co
cealed amazement of her aristocrat
friends. AS the saying is, 'she has I
end of money" She thinks nothing
r spending from $1,000 to S2,50O on
$ single entertainment, delights in uniq1
l and odd features at her parties.
!. Europe year ago she had roor-s ~ AZ
l certain hotel which a certai- queen; the
8 travelling incOg de~iied Tor hersel al
c suite. The l.ad1ord stated the case
Mrs Hicks, and begged her to vacat
r | odering her suite of rooms OH tt
!, same floor free Of charge. Mrs. Hic
r declined to vacate unless the royal lat
! took possession of the desired rooms
3 her invitation and expense. This t.
royal lady refused to do, and Mi
Hicks kept her rooms. She has be-
y many times reported the fancee of &c
!, Robert C. Schenck, eX-United Stat
a minister to England, who is her ceusi
e but friends of the lady deny that the
r is any truth in the report. Mrs. Hic
# left New York for London three wee
ago, and in April will be presented
Il the court Of St. James.
I'll Mrs. Astor, Mrs. Warren, Mrs. A
, pinwall, Mrs. Addison Jerome formt
p iy of Buffalo), Mrs. Chase, Mrs. Bic
# gett, Mrs. Brooks, widow of the la
q James Brooks, and Mrs. Benedict a
{. among the other wealthy widows OF Ne
If York, each OF whom could start a I
O tional bank with large capital on th'
r. own account if so disposed. Mrs kee
v once the richest lady in New York,
n now the wife of Judge Schaley, Of
n vannah, Ga.