Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-01-15
Astor's Southern Belle.

ASt0rs Southern Belle.
JOHN JACOB AND HIS ROMANTIC COURTsHIl
| NEAR THE HUDSON-HOw THE BASHFUl
BOY BECAME AN ARDENT sUITOR AND wol
ABEAUTIFUL BRIDE-THElR MANY CHARI
4 TIES.
The frown of a stepmother, it appears
| indirectly laid the foundation for the mil
lions of the Astors. The original Johl
Jacob Astor was born in the village of Wal
dorf, on the banks of the Rhine, in 1763.-
His father was butcher. He forced hi
sons William and Jacob to work from morn
ing till night. while, he enjoyed himself
with his neighbOrs at the tavern. The
mother of the Astor boys died while they
were young. The father married again and
| the motherless boys for several years passed
through siege of terror. John Jacob, the
| oldest, seems to have received more than
his share of trials. During the day he would
go from door to door with a heavy basket
of meat upon his shoulder aud when night
came would prefer the soft 81 lie of plank
with the horses rather than to brave tho
scowls of his stepmother. At the age of
sixteen he bade good bye to his native viii
lage and started out to better his fortune.
Sixteen years later the boy who had been
driven from bis home on the Rhine had ac-
cumulated $3.50, 600 in honest money. In
l849 he6ied, leaving $40, 000 600. The two
generations of Astors which followed in
creased and enjoyed this mammoth fortune.
Mr.. John Jacob Astor of to-day, who is
alb, ut to celebrate the evacuation of Hol-
land by his grandfather, is a man of refined
and polished manners, of a retiring nature,
devoting his time chiefly to society and
charities. He was born in this city in 1923.
The home efhis parents, then in the suburbs
of New York, was surrounded by green
fields and stately trees. After that portion
Of the city was built up the old mansion re-
mained intact at Broadway and White
street. Later it gave place to magnificent
structure, which was erected as monument
to mark the location of the Astor home
stead
Young AstOr was born and raised in lux
ury, receiving every advantage of moral
and intellectual education. His early days
were spent at the magnificent Astor conn
try seat at Rhinebeck. on the Hudson, which
was after the English style. A family
chapel on the borders of the estate was used
as a school. which was superintended by a
professor of high degree, and at which the
children of their neighbors commingled with
COuA dilO OdCVU hobOI III bu6 puTSulG VI
knowledge. John Jacob in his boyhood
was of reserved demeanor and retiring
very difident in society, and
showed to poor advantage the thorough
education of which he was possessed. As
years passed, however, this gradually dis
appeared only to return, however, with his
first love.
Thomas Gibbes was southerner who had
made an ample fortune in land speculations
in South Carolina and had brought his fam
lily to New York to enjoy the ease and COM
forts the large metropolis afforded. Mr..
Gibbes and the father of young John soon
became acquainted through business trans
actions. The intimacy ripened to social
intercourse, and John Jacob and his broth
er William B. were introduc. d to the Glib
bes household, where they became acquaint-
ed with the fair daughter of their host,
maiden of the southern type of beauty just
ripening into wOmanhood. Miss Augusta
Gibbes was of noble character talented and
dignified; in every way worth, of the con-
sideration and love of an. Astnr. John
Jacob learned to love the iair southern
maiden and romantic courtship followed.
The young girl with her parents were fire.
quent visitors to the Astor country seat on
the Hudson. Here tue young couple. seat
cu ia 0l0 Suduy UOWGIS Vi Gu0 VdSt PARK, Ut
strolling arm-in- arm along the broad beacl,
of the Hudson by moonlight, pliehted their
troth and laid plans for their future happi-
ness. In the social circles in this city young
Astor and his betrothed were known as a
singularly modest and dignified couple who
would have attracted little notice had it not
been for the great wealth of Mr. Astors
family.
The wedding which followed was one of
the grand social events of the day, and af-
ter an extensive tour the happy couple re-
turned to the Astor country seat on the
Hudson where the event WAS again ctlebrat-
ed by family gathering and a reception af
ter the English custom. Wrhin tile year
following the happy marriage of his son,
William B A>tor died. The large estate,
estimated at $4,000 900, was divided be-
tween the widow and her two sons.
Mr.. J. J. Astor and his wife rose rapidly
in social splendor aud soon became the
l-aders Of New York society. Both devot-
ed much of their time to charitable pur-
poses, and it is said that soon after their
marriage the charitable Donations from Mr.
Astor and his wife amounted to upward of
100000 annually. Shortly after the death
of the senior Astor a be- utiful boy was born
to the new household, who in after life re-
celveQ the entire ai1ectlOnS ana Q6VOJlOnS or
the fond parents. This their only child
gradually grew to be a man of noble char
acter and was at an early age sought to fill
one of the highest representative positions
of the nation.
Mr.. Astor at the age of sixty-one con-
tinues to visit the business Office daily and
superintends the control of his vast estate,
while his wife, several years his Junior, finds
time to visit daily the half dozen or more
charitable institutions which she has assist
ed in organizing and supporting for upward
of score of years. Socially Mr.. John
Jacob Astor and the once difident and re-
served southern belle take the lead. The
broad halls of their spacious mansion on
Fifth avenue are thrown open twice week
regularly to the elite of New York society,
and sumptuous repast is served. The old
family mansion and spacious grounds on the
Hudson, around which many fond memories
are entwined, still remains a popular sum-
mer resort for the aged couple, and in the
warmer months serves as refreshing and
quiet retreat, where they are refreshed by
the fond recollection or earlier days.-Nep
York Journal.