Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-04-18
Paving His Brothers Debt.

Some fifteen years ago Cornelius j.
Vanderbilt was somewhat IN disfavor
with his father, Commodore Wander
bilt, on account of his reckless habits
and extravaganza, " Young Cornell !"
managed to ingratiate himself in the
favor of the late Horace Greeley. The
Commodore had cut down Cornelius's s
financial resources to a mere living al
lowance, and was inexorable as to all
further appeals on that subject. In
the course of the acquaintanceship and
intimacy which resulted between Cor
nelius and Mr.. Greeley, the latter was
induced to advance or lend consider
able sums of money to the young man,
but upon what representations, ex-
pectations, or security is not now very
generally known. The total of these
loans has been stated at $4,000. Cor
nelius j. gave Mr.. Greeley his notes
for the amount. He has never since
been in a condition to liquidate the
debt, although he was doubtless dis
posed to do so. The Commodore and
Mr.. Greeley never undertook any set
tlement of the affair, although they are
understood to have had a brief debate
on the subject on one occasion. Since
the close of the Vanderbilt will trial,
negotiations have been completed by
which these long overdue notes have at
last been taken up and paid by Mr..
William II. Vanderbilt in behalf of his
brother, and partly, no doubt, under q
sense of equitable justice to the heirs
of Mr.. Greeley. The matter was finally
closed at the Hoffman House, in con.
ference held yesterday, when Mr.. w
H. Vanderbilt caused to be paid tC
Mrs. Ida Greeley Smith and Miss
Gabrielle Greeley, Mr.. Greeley's sur.
viving daughters, the sum of $28,50C
each, being the principal of the notes
with accrued compound interest. There
was no legal liability whatever agains
the estate of Commodore Vanderbilt or
account OF this debt, and its promp
and generous settlement reflects credit
upon the executors, and will no dOub
prove acceptable to the recipients.
In connection with this debt story
is told that when the Commodore hearC
"Corneel" had been borrowing large
sums of money from Mr.. Greeley, HI
became very angry, and assuming tina
Mr.. Greeley had loaned the none,
mainly in the belief that he, the Com
modore would repay it, determined no
to pay it, as warning to others not t
lend money to his wayward son. Afte
thinking it over, he set off in higl
dudgeon to see Mr.. Greeley, and "giv,
him q piece of his mind about it.
Mr.. Greeley was very busy when th'
Commodore came, putting and indig
nant, into his Office. In his usual bluff
impetuous way the Commodore said
D." Mr.. Greeley, l understand you'v,
been lending my son 'Corneel
money!" Mr.. Greeley, looking u
quickly, and then almost instantly re
suming his work, replied, in his usua
drawling way, Yes, Commodore, Tv,
let him have some money" "Yol
have, eh?" bluffed in the Commodore
"you have-well, want you to under
stand that 1 amt responsible for it an
l shan't pay you cent of it." Mr.
Greeley ran his spectacles up on hi
brows, stopped writing for a moment
and, turning a full face on the Com
modore, fairly yelled out, " You won't
eh? Well, who the deuce asked you t
pay ltP l didn't, did lP" Greele
dropped his glasses over his eyes an
bent. again to his work. The Com
modore, nonplussed and boiling owe
with fury, steamed out of the Office
and it was matter of rumor that tn
two men were never afterward on a
good terms as they had previousl
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