The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-01-16
NEW YORK MILLIONAIRES.
Some Interesting Facts and Reflections
About Them.
New York Times

1
fortunes of the present century-John
Jacob Astor, Robert Lenox, Alexan-
der L Stewart, and Cornelius Van
derbilt. have all passed away.
John Jacob Astor arrived In this
city at a period OF great depression,
in 1854. During the latter part of
1888 some $4,000 refugees. men, wom-
en- and children, left New York, Long
/ island and Staten island, for Nova
Scotia and st. John. among them
many persons OF fortune and estate.
These estates Astor began to buy
whenever he could spare the money,
as soon as lie Sot a little ahead in the
world. John Jacob Astor's first pur-
chase of city real estate two lots on
the Bowery lane or road, near Eliza
beth street-was made in August.
1889, and from that date to the time
OF his death, March. 1S4S, he was
steady aud constant buyer OF real
estate. The last conveyance to John
Jacob Astor was made shortly before
his death, in lS4S. The conveyances
made to him during the 80 years
which elapsed between his first and
last purchases of real estate in this
city form seven pages OF closely
printed matter in the index to con-
veyances on file in the registers Of
flee. These wise investments have
with time swollen into enormous
wealth, and the Astor fortune to-day,
as represented by Mr.. John Jacob
Astor and Mr.. William Astor (gand-
sons Of the first Astor), is one of the
great fortunes OF the world. At the
time OF John Jacob Astor's death, in
1913, his fortune was estimated at
from $4,000, 900 to $4O, 900, 900. and he
was counted the fifth on the list OF
rich men, Baron de Rothschild, Louis
Philippe. the Duke of Devonshire
and Sir Robert Peel only exceeding
him.
The late Mr.. Robert Lenox, like Mr..
Astor. was a self made man. He was,
when he first began, an entire strsng-
er in this city. where the nume of
Lencx is now so greatly venerated
because OF the noble deeds OF charity
and the lavish donations for religious
aud literary purposes OF his only son,
James LenOx. Mr.. Robert Lenox
commenced business In 1888 the
year before John Jucob Astor arrived
--uuu fvruurucu -urr0-Pcr rufoucHtsy
until his death, which occurred in
December, 1889, in the Slst year OF
his age. For many years his opera
tions greatly exceeded those q any
other merchant ia the country at that
day. He became eventually one OF
the most successful merchants in the
United States. Mr.. Lenox invested
his accumulations chiefly in real es-
tate. In 1917 and 1918 he bought for
less than s. 900 about thirty acres OF
land running from GSth to 74th street
between Fourth and Fifth avenues,
known as the Lenox farm, much OF
which is now covered with first-cla
brown stone houses. The enormous
increase in the value Of this land,
sold fol- the most part at top prices
between 1864 and 1872. gives Mr..
james Lenox high rank, among
New York milionaires. The Lenox
farm to-day. without brick on it,
would be worth $S,000,0O0. While
the Lenox fortune is modest indeed,
when compared with the colossal ac-
cumulations ct the Astors, Wander
bits and Stewards, we venture to
hazard the opinion that Mr.. James
Lenox has quietly given away as
much as the late Mr.. Peabody. His
donations in land and money to char.
liable, literary and religious insiitu'
! tions situated on the Lenox farm
! alone amount to over-s2 100000. Thi;
is a noble example to those who wielc
the great fortunes Of New York. /
! is to be regretted that the name o
/. Lenox, So far as the founder OF tn,
i family in this city is concerned, die
with the present Mr. James Lenox.
Q bachelor now advanced in years. A
long as New York exists, his memcr,
;. will be remembered and cherished.
d The fortune OF A. L. Sicwart-U
n quicker growth than that Of Astor-
= was accumulated in one life time
At Mr.. Stewards death, in 1866,
r. was estimated at sSO.00O,O 600, or twic
the amount OF the highest estimate {
4 John Jacob Astor's fortune when b
"a died In 1S4S. In 1875, Mr.. Stewart
&c real estate-situated for the mos
part below Union square-was a'
he he sessed at 1922, 700; at that time tn
Of assessed valuation represented .onl
a. as 60 per cent. OF the real value, 80 thi
,ir the then actual value OF the real ei
se tate was s1O,354 800, which form,
.s et but an eighth OF his estimate
,as ns wealth. Mr.. Stewart, however, Owl
% ed real estate in nearly every city
e. e. which he had dealings. He owned
=. ,s. number OF wooden and thread mills
nd this county, among them the NJ
hawk and the Elboeuf,at Little Fall
is the New York mills, at Holyoke; Il
&C. Woodward mills, at Woodstock; Il