Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-01-12
The Late Cornelius Vanderbilt.

Cornelius Vanderbilt, who died in New
York, Thursday morning, was born on
Staten Island. May %, 1874, and had there
fore completed his eighty year. His
parents were poor, and when boy be as
sisted his father in running a ferry. and
with its manag be imbibed the taste
for navigation which shaped his course of
life When sixteen years of age be became
the ooner of a small boat, and by the time
he was eighteen years Of age he was the
part owner and captain of the largest
Deriaugers in the harbOr. During the war
of 1872 he rendered efficient service in sup
plying the forts in and about New York
with supplies, and he enjoyed the reputa-
ton of never having seen night too dark
OF storm so threatening that he would re-
fuse to perform service. In 1913 he mar
ried Miss Sophia johnson, with whom he
lived iitty-three years. She was the mother
OF thirteen children. OF these the eldest
son IL William, who has been for years be-
fore the public as his fathers lieutenant in
railroad matters. lie married the daughter
of clergyman naried Nissan, and has
seven children. Commodore Vanderbilt
leaves no children by his second wife.
At one time during the earlier years of
his married life he was the proprietor Of
hotel at Brunswick, N. j., which his wife
superintended, while he performed the du
ties OF captain Of a steamer which piled be-
tween New York and Brunswick. While be
was industrious and pushing, she was say
ing and careful.
In 1877 Vanderbilt entered the service Of
Thomas Gibbons. the proprietor of line of
steamers running between New York ard
Philadelphia, and his wonderful tact in the
management was soon exhibited. and be
gradually acquired wealth and gave hi. at
tention to building steamboats, for the Hud
son. lie always aimed to build better AMI
faster boats and run at low fares. and he
coined money rapidly. When the Califor-
MIA fever broke out, and everybody appear
ed to be on the start for the gold diggings.
be again seized the favorable opportunity
and established route. lie established
an independent line of steamers between
New York and llavre. and tue exciting
race between the Vanderbilt and the other
steamers will be remembered. "a the Van
derbllt led all her competitors. lie subse-
quently gave the steamer, alter fitting her
up, to the United States Government She
was valued at million Of dollars. A re-
solution of thanks was passed by Congress
and approved by the President. and Il gold
medal presented to Mr.. Vanderbilt to com
memOrate the gift. Since 1863. the Cummu-
dOre has devoted his attention to railroad
enterprises. and his career il we'll known.
Commodore Vanderbilt WAS married on
the 2Oth of August, 1863, at London, Can
ada. to Miss Frank A. Crawford, dau ghter
of Robert l.. Crawford. of Mobile, Ala. II
lady of thirty years Of age, who has dis
pensed in charitable work some of the great
wealth of her husband.
(lMr. Vanderbilt during his steamship
career was the owner OF II steamships, ii
of which he built. and his fleet numbered
66 The control OF 90 large a number
gave him the title Of Commodore. His
interests in railroads were largely extend
ed. In Isl he was interested in the New
York and New Haven Railroad. and
in 1915 he became interested liz the Harlem
Railroad. and in 1854 he held tho whole Of
it. lie secured / controlling interest in
the Hudson River and New York Central
and consolidated tho two,
and since 1873 the Lake Shore and Michi- |
gan Southern have been operated in cOnnec-
ton with the New York Central and IIud- |
son River roads, making continuous route |
Of g1o miles, and with the Harlem road and |
side tracks tho total length controlled by |
him was 2 1913 miles in extent, with CAPT.
tai of Sll9. 900 900.
Mr.. Vanderbilt's wealth is vsriously esti-
mated from fifty to eighty millions of dol
lars. In 1864 his accumulations were
81 900, 600. The Vanderbilt University,
located at Nashville. Tenn, was established
in 1872 by the Methodists. and in 1873 Mr..
Vanderbilt gave to the enterprise half
million of dollars, and he has since increas-
a Tns nnA
dollars OF which Is to remain as
an endowment fund. In his domestic life
he was an amiable man. partial to a good
horse and fond OF the sports of the turf. but
be was free from those vices which accom-
pany too often the possession of great
wealth.