The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1884-04-18
Tine Great Landlord.

The third richest inai, N the Union
is John Jacob Aston. -t6e ehief owner
and heir of the Aston estate. Unlike
many miIlionaires, Asiof mas both
name and riches name linked With
fabnlous wealth for three succeeding
generations. The estimated yalGe Of
! the Aston estate is from Syu,0O0,0O0 10
! 500 900. OOa, yeritaols mountain OF
| cold. John Jacob and " iiiiam j. are
r. sole owners. the forn. RS interest
said to be two-thir'is
For nearly century the title Of be-
inc ..the landlords of New York. has
attached itseif 10 them. John Jacobs |
| interest in houses. lots and farms may |
he computed in the thousands.
Among the valuable buildings prin- |
cipaIly- owned by Mr.. Astor as chief
heir 70 the estates ths,ss Y landmark,
&he Astor House. whicffs + Ssssci,i 70 his
= father by his grandfather, the founder
of the immense estate for II. Its
present value is said TO be 5000. 600,
being assessed at Sl.750.0 900. The
Guarantee and Indemnity building,
chiefly owned by Mr.. AstOr. was pur-
chased Il short time ago for 81 10000
while the Aston estate pays taxes on
$4,000, 900 of real estate situated be-
low Chambers Street, most of which
consists of business houses on Broadway
/ and Wall Street. There is scarcely q
? ward, street or avenue in the city in
/ which Mr.. Aston does not own real
e estate, on which the total amount OF
> taxes is over 800, 900 annually.
: Another point of difference between
e Mr.. Aston and other millionaires j. in
Y his. investments. In Wall Street his
s name never appears as a speculator
q and seldom as an investor or seller of
II stocks, bonds or other similar securities.
4 Having an income of ten per cent on
q the gross amount invested in real estate.
II he quietly Rays more houses or lands
r when opportunity for good investment
> offers. In an inventory made of his
b. various properties an item of S6.UO0,CO1
:. in cash appeared as money in trust
AZ companies and banks waiting invest
le ment in real estate"
D. Mr. Astor IS man of striking per-
OF sonal appearance, being over six feet in
a height, stout. somewhat inclined TO cor
o. pulence and straight as an arrow.
a When on the street his quick, elastic
sn step and smiling face, fringed with
small, gray side whiskers, invariably
- attract attention. His dress is simple
= and surprisingly neat. At business ol
- in the street he wears a broadcloth cut
- away or frock coat, with trousers e
=, match, comfortable looking shoes al
Sa WAYS lightly polished, while in his hant
usually swings as he walks a large
:, purple silk umbrella In summer hi
- costume is changed TO a black serg
- coat and trousers some lighter color
- while an easy straw hat rests light
no on his iyory-whte hair
:! Mr.. Aston. though seldom speakin
= of himself, recently told a friend this
- although be had completed threescOr
wears, he felt as well and hearty a j
did at forty. Benevolence is his strikin
characteristic, one probably inherite
aM from the founder of the AstOr Librar,
na' Many of his charities are publishe'
nc though the actual amount Of good dol
st ,y;ss, his erer-sssdf zbf,el fsDe-sk.is lid;
or known. In nearly all the charitabl
al institutions of this city the names {
ed himself or wife. and often Jointly, al
III pear a large giyers. During the vii
es' Ter months Mr.. Aston is either at h
lu' Office at No. u West Twenty-siNt
is Street. or at his home at No. 33S Eft
lfs Avenue The house is familiar
lse nearly every resident of Fifth Avenue
Ia and i conspicuous for nothing but j
ire plainness and the spacious grOunC
'ei which surround it. 1t is built of fir
i III moulded brick. with trimmings
ny brown-stOne, and has a double stairwa
Dy leading to the front entrance. The i
te terror compares favorably with m
palace.
Duringthe late illness of his wife, NJ
ays Astors time was chiefly devoted
OF cheering her weary hours at the be
ID side with the same untiring affection
SO has shown throughout the many yea
rly of his married life. His principal recr
IN atiOns are visits to his elegant COUNT
;le' seat at Rheineclitfe-On the Hudson ar
'es, Yachting. The country seat is an a
the cient-looking establishment. keptin &
nks finest order, and is a reminiscence
be olden time. Well shaded with trees
are every kind, its immense lawns and ga
age dens are traversed by long drives a
70 walks.
VIII Here, in the long days of the SUNNI
we months, Mr. AstOr sits on the &C
erl- piazza or under some shady trees a
I'M reads He is having built one of I
ere finest pleasure yachts vet launched
10 the waters of this country. the cost
cry which is placed At tribe over so
end 600. 1t will be completed early in
Ty- summer.-N. y. Morning ,I0UTfs1t