Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1885-12-17
THE DEAD CR0ESUS.
MR.. vANDERBILT's CAREER.
How He Began Life and Fitted Himself
for the Management OF Millions.

Born at New Brunswick, N. j., in 1921,
William H. Vanderbilt began his bust
ness career at the age of eighteen in a
Wall street banking house. He left there
two years later, owing to ill health, and
engaged in the cultivation of an unim-
proved farm on Staten Island. During
some years following he toiled as hard as
any farmer ever did. He went to the
fields before sunrise and was still there at
sunset. Ina few years he had so extend
ed his labors that he had three hundred
and fifty acres in the best managed and
most profitable farm on Staten Island,
and yielded to the owner a large annual
income. While he was working so hard
here he had heavy Indebtedness for the
propsrty hanging over him, which he
was seeking to pay. After he became in
terested in railroads he gave no further
personal labor on his farm, but he did
not cease to manage il.
His first experience as railroad man
was as receiver of the Staten Island
Railroad Company. This is only short
road, but the company was overwhelmed
with debt and embarrassments. He paid
off the debts, connected the road with
New York by an independent ferry and
placed it upon secure financial basis.
Then he became president of the road.
He resigned to go abroad to furnish
necessary attention to his brother George,
who was sick and finally died in Europe,
In 1864, after his return, William II.
Vanderbilt was elected vice president of
New York and Harlem Railroad Com.
pany and the following year of the Hud.
son River Railroad Company He now
entered fully upon his career as rail
road man. During tile entire subse
quent life Of Commodore Vanderbilt his
son William was his confdant and chiei
reliance and agent in everything. HI
familiarized himself with every detail
and personally supervised every depart
ment, stopped the leaks. reduced tn,
expenditures and increased the business
of the roads to an unparalleled extent
The Harlem Railroad, which was bank
rupt when the Vanderbilts became it
owners. was made one of the best-equip
ped and best paying roads in the State
The Hudson River Railroad was treblet
in value, and in 1860 the Central anC
Hudson River were consolidated, maxim,
, corporation with ninety millions o
capital. William II. Vanderbilt wa
, named in the articles of incorporation a
/ vice president and executive officer.
Upon the death of Commodore Van
derbilt William inherited the chief par
of his estate, amounting to something i
the neighborhood of one hundred mill
r ions. 1t was principally in rairoa
bonds and stocks. The will was unsuC
,cessfdliy cantefed by some members 9
the family. William II. Vanderbilt wa
: soon elected to his fathers positions i
| the different railroad companies, an
from that time has held the controllin
interest. In order to divide his great r(
, sponsibilty he not long since sold stoc
E to the extent of fifty millions to leadin
: capitalists of this country and Europe
t He invested the same money in Unite
States bonds and was the largest ind
vidual holder of those securities.
: While he was a Wall street clerk MI
Vanderbilt married Miss Kissam, an a
5 tractive and educated woman, who sti
n lives, Mr.. Vanderbilt, like his fathel
l was fond of good horses and spent
: great deal Of money to crafty his taste
n Mr.. Vanderbilt is credited with havin
| been liberal in his charities, and he ha
c often been large contributor to funt
for public enterprises 1t was his none
which paid for bringing the obelisk
this country. 1t was said he was alway
q lucky and never lost money but ono
. when he was cleaned out in Wall sire
of $4,000 of New Jersey bonds which IL
p old man had, in fit of generosity, give
k him. Report says that the said bont
were traced into the hands of his wi
progenitor, who then exhibited them
l. his son, with the adyice: "Sonn,
IS never sell what you have not got, al
}. never buy what you cannot pay for.
IN Mr.. Vanderbilt leaves eight childrt
IL and eleven grandchildren. His TO,
l. daughters are married to New Yorke
l. and two have been presented with sm'
&c palaces costing 100000 apiece, whi
!, he built houses for the other two at Il
- corner of Fifth avenue and Fifty four
If street. adjoining st. Thomas Churc
s. The ground for the two buildings &C
re $400, 900 and the houses cost double thi
His two eldest sons, Cornelius Vandt
G. bilt-wbo seems destined to occupy {
Of ward his father the same relation til
It, William III. held to the Commodore-a
er William X. Vanderbilt, the second SC
have been for long time millionaires
VI their own right and have palaces viii
even eclipse the new home of tn,
a father. Cornelius is the financier amo
the sons, while William X. is the esthe
member Of the family, having employ
w a skillful architect to build his VIII
r. stone chateau, at the corner Of Fifty s,
ond street and Fifth avenue, and havi
l paid $685., 900 for the carving alone
n | the ineide NJ tho housn