The New York herald., 1879-11-22
OBITUARY.
PETER GOBLET.


residence on the of Broadway and Nineteenth
street at noon yesterday. in the eightieth year Of
his age He passed quietly away. surrounded by the
members of his family. Mr.. Goelet belonged to the
generation of Astor. Vanderbilt and Stewart and OF
the older residents OF the city his alone can
be associated with theirs in respect to the wealth.
which he leaves behind him. His fortune is vari-
ousy estimated at from S12. 900 TO s2oOooooo'
part possessed by inheritance from long line OF
thrifty ancestors aud part acquired by the shrewo
transactions in real estate to which he has devoted
his time and energies during long business life.
singularly monotonous round of duty has made
up the life of Mr. Peter Goele 1t has been life OF
continual leasing repairing. loanng and investing
by day. and of computing accounts and posting up
books at night. Work his diversion. and in the
limited variety Of his business transactions he found
pleasure which never grew STALE Before reviewing
his life in fuller detail it is of interest to glance
back at the long line of Goelets which has preceded
him since the first of the family landed on Man.
haitian Island.
it PROSECUTED HUGUENoT.
Jean Goelette Huguenot of good family fed from
France shortly after the famous revocation OF the
Edict Of Nantes by Louis XIV 1855. BY this act Of
HIS Most Christian Majesty the Huguenots who
cung their faith and remained h France were sub
jected to the sorest prosecutions, while accompany
ing edcts proclaimed the severest penalties against
those who should emigrate to avoid persecution
Notwithstanding all DEGREES to the contrary.
however, large numbers OF the oppressed Prot
estants succeeded passing the guards who were
set to watch the frontier and among them was Jean
0oelette, who afterward came across the ocean to
New York in 1897. He settled i'll this city, and, being
an energetic and capable young Frenchman. he
gained deserved reputation for business talent and
obtained, without a long suit, wealthy young
American lady for his wife. She was the daughter
or prominent merchant OF the city. John Cannon.
chaA fI,ok
fortune which has since marvellousy multiplied.
The sons and daughters of the line have always been
blessed by Providence with the gifts of thrift aud
energy, but although notable enough in their re-
spective walks Of life. none can be noticed within
the limits of the present article except the grand
Eoelet.
THE GOLDEN KEY.
During and after the Revolutionary War Peter
Goelet kept q large hardware store on Hanover
SQUARE. Over the door was hung the sign of
golden key. whether as indicating the ''open ses-
anne" to wealth poorly shadowing forth the
hardware treasures within the sorehouse is not ex-
actly known. Here were to be bought all kinds and
furnace. and Is Peter dealt the cash principle
money flowed over the counters. The newspapers
OF that day contain short, striking advertisements
Offering goods of all descriptions within his line at
bottom prices for cash. BY judicious advertising and
sticking to his hard money principles the thrifty
Goelet accumulated large fortune. which went
after his death to his son. On the death OF
this son. the father Of Peter Goelet the bulk Of the
fortune already increased by judcious investments
In estate, fell to Peter Goelet and his brother
Robert. Peter, the eldest got the lions share.
and it is certain that he did not squander it, Not
that he has been in the habit Of living parsimoni-
ously. or has reckoned penny saved as penny
earned. but he has known how to make his one tai
ent ten. He has invested in ground without bury
ing his money in it, too many unlucky specuia-
tors have done. aud everything that he touched
land as an inducement to builders the rates of real
property were certain to be unprecedentedly hign
and when by reason of the value Of real estate fall
ing in the market the builders unable to CON-
pete their contracts Mr. Goelet would take their
successful ventures off their hands. shrewd judge
Of values, whenever he bought property it
profit, and he appreciated not only the worth OF
in the older wards but also in the portions of
the city whose growth during the last few decades
has been most rapid. His practical eye marked out,
at the outset the central line of appreciation and his
purchases, not only along Broadway but i'll the
avenues above Fortieth street. demonstrate his busi
ness acuteness. He owned, at his death, the whole
block which the Windsor Hotel stands, and he did
own q large part of the lot which the Grand Gen.
tral Depot was built until he engineered of
his holding by the superior skill OF the great rail-
road tactican. the late Commodore Vanderbilt. Mr..
Goelet refused to accept the offer made him by the
Commodore. holding on for a higher bid, but Mr.
Vanderbilt quietly procured the passage of an act by
the Legislature authorizing the railroad to take the
land in question at appraised valuation to be set
by o referee. This completely upset Mr.. Goelet's
calculations. and took the lesson to heart. aud
ing ever afterward to Vanderbilt with mingled
respect and bitterness. This one c0ntretemps did
not. however. shake his faith in his luck and judg
ment and his confidence would appear well grounded.
He owned o large number OF valuable stores
Broadway. as well a. property in other sections of
y,
from his investments; stin although conscious of
his acueness in forecasting the market he often
troubled BY gloomy forebodngs: when he would take
of real estate values in particular and would favor
his friends with doletul jeremiads. During the
last year or two his principal occupation has
been to hold fast what he had got. and
he has swung with the regularity of pendulum be-
tween Wall street and his house, visiting the
Chemical National Bank to make deposits or draw
small sums. and then journeyng back after his queer
solitary fashion. to WORK at his forge or play with
h Ha had nfi hasa <nf &c
house. where he has been used to work at his
counts during the evening. or blow away at his
little FORGE where he turned out sundry ingenious
conceptions in iron and brass. which amused his
leisure and we're of no particular use to himself
snybody else. When he was tired OF playing Tubal
house. where he had gathered u curious col
lection OF birds. Pheasants from India and
storks from Egypt fed amicably from his hand and
stalked about his rooms with the proud OF
proprietorship. The lawn about his house in sum-
mer was ranged by pet fowls Of the rarest breeds in
the midst of which o superb milch COW has been
wont to graze about. Passers by on the crowded
thoroughfare have often looked up wonderingly
over the ratings guinea fowl and storks and
the solitary COW parading about the little farm Of
which they were the monarchs.
Mr.. Robert Goelet, brother of Mr.. Peter Goelet.
died the 22d of September last. in the seventy
sixth year Of his age.
THE MILLIoNNAmE's HEIRS.
The bulk OF Mr.. Peter Goelets fortune will proba-
bly, 20 to his nephews aud nieces. the two sons Of
mis- BROTHER Mr. Robert r. Goeet and the child Of
his married sister. Mrs. Gerry, the widow OF Com
modore Gerry. who perished several years ago in
the sloop-of-wa Albany. His favorite nephew MIR.
Eibrdge T. Gerry. WILL in oil likelihood, inherit the
largest share of his property, and stands fair
to be of the rising capitalists Of
the city. few years ago he married the daugh-
ter Mr.. Robert j. Livingston, and Obtained tho
dover of his wife, large fortune. consisting mainly
Of real estate Investments. This nephew. whom his
bachelor uncle was even more fond OF than of his
pet storks, and consulted on all occasions. Is the
counsel of MIR. Henry Bergh and through his uncle
and client must naturally have strong pre-
possession for dumb animals. The remarkable
aviary well as tue other legacies OF his uncle,
will be safe. doubtless, In his charge.
The funeral will take place at EST. Marks Church
In the Bowery," on Monday next. at ten A. NJ
JAMES MKENNA.
Mr.. James McKenna, q we'll known retired mer
chant. eightyone years of age died in this city yes
terday. He was born in the North of Ireland. but
came to New York at early age and engaged In the
metal business in 1927. opening foundry in Spruce
sfreet IL nnle racans and a4ta. IN