Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-12
JOHN JACOB ASrOR'S GIFT.

He Deeds HIS Entire Estate % HIS
Son-Reserving an Annuity Of One
Hundred ThOus0ad Dollar, Ho Ne.
tires from Active Business Ltses
From the New York World.
It was announced in legal circles yesterday
that Mr.. John Jacob Aston had decided all his
property to his only son. William Waldorf Astor,
now United States minister to Rome. The
news created a profound sensation, and old
lawyers declared that 1t was only another move
ment by the Astors not to permit the value Of
their immense estate to be publicly known.
John Jacob Aston is now an old man, and al
though in apparent good health, the question
Of Wills deeds, heirs and surrogate courts must
occur to him. The story, as reported. is that
Mr.. AstOr has decided away his property, but
that the deeds will not be recorded until after
his death. His son William w. Aston receives
everything. subject, however. to a pension Of
100000 per annum, payable to his father during
his life. BY this means Of transferring the es-
tate two objects are said to be accomplished
first. that the estate will not be divided among
different heirs, and secondly. that no litigation
over will can ever come into q court by which
the value of the estate would be discovered
There are unquestionably other branches Of the
family which, IL will leaving all to the son
were maze, might enter q contest.
1t has always been the idea of Mr.. John Jacob
AstOr's life practically to entail his property
and to have the estate remain intact from gem
Grafton to generation. as in England. The pres
ent John Jacob AstOr's father died about eight
years ago. bequeathing his property to John
Jacob and William Astor and to his grand
daughter. the late Mrs. John W. Chanler The
elder William b. Aston also left an idiot son, for
whom ample provision was made and also for
this sons guardian. The idiot child grew to
manhood and died several years after his
fathers death.
At that time the estate was worth about
$50 COOS coo or $4,000, 600 1t was then mainly
unprOductiye. John Jacob Aston received the
largest part of the estate. including the Aston
house, which was decided to him for 81 The
golden principle of the AS Dor family was never
to build until forced to do 80. and when build
ing was put up it was intended to last for years.
The estate grew more valuable each year. and
solid houses were built upon the land, until to-
day the value is really unknown. Most of the
property lies between SD street and 50th street,
from Sth to Sd avenues. Murray Hill lies in the
heart Of the family possessions. Blocks and
blocks of houses here belong to John jacob
Aston. all of which he has decided to his son.
The value of John Jacob Astor's estate is es-
timated at from between $50. 100000 and
S7O,OO0.OO0. and William BIS estate at some
thing less. The present Mr.. Astor's idea Is for
his son to follow the same course he has and SO
on through generations.
THE AsTOR FAMILY.
The AstOr family is beyond question the leader
in New York society. The two brothers, John
Jacob and William B. Aston, lead very quiet
lives. Mr.. William B. s family go out more in
society. Mr.. John Jacob Astor's only child is
William W., who is now with his wife and two
children at Rome. He had three daughters.
The eldest, Mrs. Van Aleu- died two years ago
at Newport. A very sad story is told i'm cOnnec-
ton with this lady's death. 1t is said that she
married Mr.. Van Allen at her fathers request
and died of heart disease.
Mrs. Coleman Crayton is the second daughter
and Miss Carrie Astor. who made her debut into
society year ago. is the third daughter. This
family has vast estates Also and land is sold
about as often as Mr.. John Jacob Aston sells his
property.
Mr. William ". Aston. to whom John Jacob
Astor has decided his estate, is a bright literary
man. He was elected to the assembly in his
district; but was defeated by Roswell b. Flower
in his contest for Congress. He is spoken of as
pleasant, agreeable man. loving his books and
his pictures, but more than these his wife, Miss
Mamie Paul, the celebrated Philadelphia beauty,
whom he married some four years ago.
Mr.. Aston edited magazine some time ago
which was supported by the Beefsteak club the
members of hch contributed to the magazine
His father gave him house around the corner
from his own on SD street and 9Th avenue
about the time of his marriage. 1t will be re-
membered that much talk was created at the
time of the Vanderbilt ball by the acceptapce of
an invita1on to attend by Mrs. w. b. Aston
1t was thought at the time that by this accept
ance the breach between the Astors and VAN
derbilts had been healed. 1t was not, however,
and the struggle still goes on for the leadership
OF society. The younger members of the VAN
derbilt family will soon enter the contest
equipped not only with wealth but culture,
and the two families will undoubtedly be on a
par.
Mr.. John Jacob Astor is a well-built old gen.
tleman, with snOw-white whiskers. and Of
striking appearance. He enters his office i'm
west 26th street with brisk step and with nod
ana smile for every one. He is q careful and
generous landlord. His houses are kept in the
best OF repair, and the rent market is virtually
In his hands. There was some talk some time
ago of the AstOrs going into mercantile pur-
suits. but view of the real estate ONCE in west
26th street instinctively impresses one with the
belief that the AstOrs will remain real estate
owners.
THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY.
John Jacob Astor is very religious old gen.
tleman. Every Sunday he may be seen at Trini-
ity church. where he is vestryman. At the ap-
pointed time he arises from his seat and passes
around the collection plate. Some queer sto-
ries are told about him. One is to the effect
that on meeting washerwoman loaded down
with her clothes-basket. he assisted her to the
S"is ahu uoppeu gu gOiQ piece into her
basket.
The Aston estate continues to grow in value.
as 1t must. every year. Choice pieces of prop
erty down town have become. by the deed re-
ferred to, the property of William w. Astor.
such as the building and land at No. $50 Broad
way. used by Rogers. Peet & Co. the clothiers:
the building formerly occupied by the irst Ma
tiOnal bank, and the OriOle building in Wall
street. Hundreds Of tenement houses along I'd
avenue also form part OF the estate
fh.a n " nrfv nffl -
are also immense tracts of land at Newport and
elegant cottages at the different watering
places.
A Death.ROH Of Eight Months.
The PSYCHOLOGISTS who selected 1883 as a good
year for earthquakes, pestilence and accidents
seem to have made q hit. During the eight