Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-01-10
Death of Cornelius Vanderbilt.


The death of the venerable Cornelius
Vanderbilt, best known as the Com
modore,' which has been anticipated
so long, occurred at 10. 81 a. m Thurs
day, Jan 4th. He had been sinking
for several weeks, aud his death was
not unlocked for.
Cornelius Vanderbilt was born on
Staten Island, May 81, 1874. His
education Was very meaere. At the
age of l6 he began business buying
boat, which he piled between the ferry
of his neighborhood and New York.
Three years later be married. He can
hardly be said to have relinquish bu-
siness until the day of his death. Few
men have begun manhood lite as early,
or maintained hold upon the activi-
ties of the world so late as did Commo-
dore Vanderbilt. He was a giant.
Whatever he did he did in ma
tarIy way. He remained in paviga-
ton business until he outgrew it in
wealth and the magnitude Of his am
bition. He controlled the commerce
between New York and Aspinwall
nearly all the time from the commence
ment Of the California fever until ,be
completion of the Pacific Railroad.
During his steamship career Mr.. Van
derbilt owned not less than twenty
steamers. half of them being construc-
ed by himself, and, counting all his
steam craft, on seas and rivers. his
fleet numbered sixty-six vessels. From
this business he retired with for tune
estimated at s40.00O.OOO. Entering
railroad speculation, the Commodore
risked mu,h, aud without loss, his
stock in various railroads, among tn III
the consolidated l,arlem, Hudson Riv-
err and Central, and the Lake Shore
and Michigan Southern Railroads,
being estimated in value at nearly
SlO0,000,000.
Mr.. Vanderbilt gave literally in
certain directions, his gift to the Van
derbilt University in Nashville, Tenn,
being three-quarters of million dol
lars, sum which has placed that
school upon a basis which should
stand against time. He was more
generous to the poor than is generally
supposed. His list of regular pension
ers was quite long. He made no dis.
pay of his charity to individuals. He
was muni6cens in his contributions
during the war, prompted by patriot
ism. Commodore Vanderbilt did not
die childless and almost heirless, like
Stewart, the dry goods millionaire. He
left ten living childaen--two sons and
eight daughters-and thirty-two grand
and seven great-grand children. or
about fifty direct heirs of his blood. as
the recipients of his vast fortune. He
could have given each million, and
then had left for his widow more than
any woman in America possesses, un-
less it may be. the widow of Stewart,
who received the bulk of her husbands
immense wealth.
| His son, William II. Vanderbilt, has
managed the vast estate for some time
past, and is fully competent to the ar
duous task. 1t is not expected that
the demise of his father will make any
material difference with the railway
affairs of the country.
The funeral of Commodore Wander
bilt took place Sunday in New York
from the Church of the Strangers.
An immense concourse of people at
tended, and there was no attempt at
display. BY post-mortem examina.
ton of the body it was found that the
immediate cause of death had been ul-
ceration, resulting in perforatlon of
the colon. or large intestine. The re.
mains were de posited in the Vanderbilt
va4lt at New York, on Staten Island