The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-03-27
THE AsrORs.
Nbt q Fast Young Man Among Them
Henry. the BOwery Butcher.

Nbt Fast Young Man Among Them
Henry. the BOwery Butcher.
Cor. Gin. Gazette.
Speaking of the dissipation of our
first families, it is to be noticed that an
exception is found IN the Astors. This
house mas never had fast young man.
The special weakness in this family is
found in Its idiotic character. William
b. Astor's youngest son, Henry, was re-
Gently mulcted of $4,000 for an assault
upon child. Henry is partially idiotle.
He was kept at farm at Rhine6reck,
but csntrived to get away. and married
into a queer family. He was in the
habit of "preaching" in the kitchen, and
on one occasion child laughed at him,
whereupon he struck her in violent
manner. The result was an action for
assault, and the jury, in view of the
wealth of the family, gave q verdict OF
$4,000. This is the heaviest damage
on record for such an offence in this
country. The Astors at first, as it is
said, determined not to pay it, but on
second thought they reached different
conclusion, and the judgment WAS sat-
Isliad. The great As.or estate Is low in
the hands of Williams three sous. John,
Jacob and William. The former is n
leading proprietor and director OF the
Delaware and Hudson Canal Company,
which Is the heaviest OF our coal corpora
tions. 1t now in great trouble its
stock having declined s63 (per share of
SlOu) stree last March. As director
As,or has to bear part of this difficulty,
and the decline in 'the market value OF
his stock is estimated at nearly million.
The company is now threatened with
bankruptcy.
John Jacobs brother William has
been spending the winter in Florida, bu.
will return ss soon rs the northern eli
mate is sufficiently mild. He has i'm.
proved his Southern opportunities by
Joining Masonic Lodge at jackson
vile. In doing this he follows the eX-
ample of his grsndfsther-the original
John Jacob-who was in his days q
noted member of the fraternity. Old
John Jacob was of social turn, and WAS
fond of both billiards ard theatricals.
He loved TO attcnd the Park Thcater, OF
| which he was the owner.
His brother Henry, the noted butcher,
owned the Bowery, and the sole theatrl-
cal establishments of that day were in
the hands of that pair. John Jacobs
son William differed IN these points
from the old man. He was not social,
and never heard of his giving even a
dinner party.ilHe wssI not theater
goer, while, far from joining lodge, it
nav be said he never joined anything
! except the ranks OF married life. lie
never was member of Il political party,
nor of club, nor of lodge of any kind.
He never joined fire company, nor a
church. He never was director in a
bank or insurance company; never was
in the militia; never did jury duty, and
never had any marked friendships The
fact is he was the most striking negatian
this city ever produced. All he did was
to collect rents and invest his money.
Only as tenants could mankind become
of anv value to him. AS matter OF
family pride, he added to the endowmen!
OF the library, and his sons are now as
another mstter of family pride, erecting
a grand alter in Trinity Church to his
memory.