The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-11-19
So--NIdows Of Successful Nor
chants--H Etc.

mere are III the city OF New 1 Ork
something ike a score Of ladies who are
worth in excess Of 81 900, 900 In their VI
right. The majority ofthem are widows
of successful merchants or members Of
families 10 whom wealth was inheritance
There are some instances where. through
fortunate Investments and wise manage
ment, money has accumulated in the
hands Of fair owners, hut n0ae Is recorded
where a woman BY her own efforts, has
carved out for herself such gignan,ic
fortune.
OF course, the richest aud most widely
known Of The lady miilionaires of New
ork is Mrs. COrnelIa NJ. Stewart, the
widow Of the great merchant prince.
Her quiet life has eeen often described
An invalid, and feeble beyond her years,
she occupies single suite OF rooms in
her great, cherries mansion on Fifth
avenue and West Thirty fourth street,
and lives the quietest Of lives. Alexan-
der t. Stewart left nearly 800 600, 600
when he died. and the greater portion OF
his wealth went to his widow. 1t has
not been dissipated. though the manso-
leum and memorial school erected by
Mrs Stewart at Garden City aud some
muniicent contributions TO existing
charities have drawn upon her income
Another lady millionaire known 10 al
most everybody and beloved by all who
know her, is Miss Catharine Wolfe,
whose s., 600, 600 came to her by inheri-
tance. Of middle age, Just pase the half
century meridian, Miss Wolfe is the d.
rect antipodes of an ''old maid " Beuev-
oent cheerful, highly accomplished. and
in every way iovable, she has hosts Of
friends, both in her own station in life
and among those whom her philanthropy
has reached. Her residence, II Madison
Square. double bfown-stone front, IS
filled with tapestries, bric-a brac and
curiosities, alone valued at over 800, 900,
gathered by Miss Wolfe during her fire.
qucnt European visits, from the latest OF
ghiCh she returned 2 couple o. .aonths
ago she has recently had erected new
house at Newport. Miss Wolfe has given
some notable receptions. rosebud
break fast for her niece last winter at
tracing considerable attention. She is
canuccted with some Of the best families
If the city, aud closely related to the
Kanes Her income is very large, aud
she is now e4pendlng part OF it in cree
ting a spire for Grace church
Mrs Susan Il. Roberts, to whom has
fallen the care of the millions of the late
Marshall y. Roberts, Is another charm
ing lady in the prime of life. Her ele
CANT double residence, lO5 and l07 Fifth
avenue. Is assessed at Sl15, 600. a very
small part Of its value. Some time ago
ruinor hal it that Mrs Roberts was
about to share with the Chief Execu i've
the honors of the " hite House, but she
appears to have been true to her hus-
bands memory.
Two ladies', whose wealth exceeds 81,
coo, coo, were brought into painful prom
inence few years ago, by the attempt
ed suicide OF Lieut.. Gianni Bettine, of
the Italian army, in front of their elegant
Mrs. Josephine Aver is the widow of Dr.
J. c. Aver, who made 81 100000 in
patent Pills. Miss Lillian Aver, her
daughter for uoreuuited love of whom
the ho;-headed Italian attempted to end
his existence, is a beautiful girl of 20
Years.
Another lazy with an eventful history,
who is worth in the neighborhood off
million, is Mrs. Frances a. Vanderbilt,
the widow OF the commodore. Her resi-
dence is al 10 Washington Place. Frances
Crawford was at one time the undlsputed
belle Of Mobile, Ala. Young and highly
accomplished, ber hand was sought by
mary James +. Elliott. promising
young lawyer, Won the prize. After a
lew years OF happiness domestic trouble
ended in divorce The beautiful grass
widow captivated Commodore Wander
bilt, and, despite the opposition of his
children, they were married. The first
husband is now in Texas. A bit Of gossip
which hoated around some time ago was
that the fair widow had yet warm spot
| in her heart for the first love and was
willing to return to him, bringing her
wealth, but after due deliberation the
gentleman in Texas concluded that 81, :
| 900, 900 could not induce him again to
enter the bondage of his eX mother-in-
| law.
The largest lady real estate owner in
| New York is Miss Mary G.. Pinkney, who
lives in West One Hundred and Thirty
ninth street, near Seventh avenue. She
owns block after block of unimproved
ground, including the Polo ground and
vacant lots near IT, Although the value
Of her property is immense, it is unre
munerative, and her iLcome Is eaten UP
by her taxes, which are always in arrears
1 Miss Pinckuey is a somewhat eccentric
lady OF middle age.
i Among others Of the more notable o
The lady magnetts may be mentioned
Mrs Ellen Morgan, the widow of ECwlI
i D Morgan, who lives IN elegant style a
III Fifth avenue Mrs Catharine Taylor
to whom Moses Taylor millions fell
Mrs Jessie Hoyt; Mrs. Paran Stevens
an acknowledge leader in the society 0
two continents. and Mrs. Hicks Lord, I'll,
beautiful young let oi the deceased oc
togenarian.
OF Fifth avenue property owners, ily'
ladies pay taxes on property OF tn
avenue, assessed at over 800 900. Mrs
R.he,ca Jones leads the list, being as
sessed at si39 GOO on 707 and 72l. Han
nah S. Dillon, siay Stevenson aud Mrs
Livinxston are assessed al $4,000 eacl
and Mrs. T. Coles at 5 - 900. Their
are. of course Dumber OF married ladie
. who have inherited 81 900, 900 or more
but those property is merged with tha
} Of their husbands.
Notable among the heiresses to million
IS Miss Carrie Astor, petite blonde 0
70. Of most charming manners, who en-
tered her secoud season 10 society las
, winter Miss Astor dresses elegantly
, bat quietly, and wears but little jeweiry
although her mother, Mrs William Asto
has splendid jewels. At the Vanderbilt
: ball last winter, Miss Astor took part i
: the Dresden china quadrille. Her HON
in Fifth avenue and Thin ty fourth stree
has been often described. She will b
married in few days to young gentle
] man of wealth named Orme Wilson.
r Miss Edith Jaffray, the daughter Of +
, S. Jaffray. the great drv goods merchan
is beautiful blonde of 81 summers. Sh
is wealthy in her own right, and supper
three or four poor girls, besides being a.
lt;ua In ohnrch oh ritiaS her mot her bel r