The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-12-09

iVst Citizen.
William II. Vanderbilt vas the oIdes
son Of Commodre Cornelius Vanderbilt
and upon the death Of his father inheritct
an enormous fortune and succeeded to til,
extensive railroad and other interests c
his father. He was born in 1921, at tn,
summer residence of the family in New
brunswick, n. j., and spent his boyhoot
there and In New York City. lie receivet
a practical education, completing it in the
grammar school Of Columbia College
New York, and when but seventeen yearl
old entered tho fnnClat house OF Drew
Robinson 4 Co., in that city, as q clerk
In two years he had so demonstrated hi
aptitude for finance that he vas offered {
partnership in the house, but declined OF
account OF the condition OF his health
which was FILLING under the ei
isctB oi confinement. His father pur
purchased ssyenty-liVe aCTOs Cf un
improved land on Staten Island, which hi
gave to young Vanderbilt, who in ls4l
married Miss Kissam, the daughter OF 4
minister, and removed to this farm. HC
at once mortgaged 1t for 81, 900, which h
spent improving and adding 10 his farm
and the next year had $50 acres under cul
tivatiOn. His father, hearing Of the mort
gage, told him he was good for nothing
aud would ruin al his friends, but the
next day sent him cheek for 81. .0JU with
orders TO pay of the mortgage.
A few yeaTs later the Staten Island Rail,
road Company became involved 6iIan,
cially. Young Vanderbilt and his uncle
Jacob TOOK hold Of the company's RtIairs
and soon had Il in a prosperous condition,
This attracted the attention OF railroad
men, and in 1864 he was made ViCe-Presi,
dent Of tho New York 4 Harlem rSiltead,
and the next year Of the Hudson rive
line. lie has since ahoWu unriiyalei
ability as q railroad MANAGER, haying
built up the great New York Central gys
tent The c0mpany's purchase Of tic
West SeSre road Is nos subject Of litiga,
..,on, the claim being set up that the tive
lineB being parallel, the purchase Is uu'
constitutional. Ills transactions in con
nectiou with the South Pennsylvania line
and its connections, by which twas trans
terred to the Pennsylvania company, and
the disappointment and wrath which thli
ocCAsionedt are still fresh in the minds O
Wheeling people, many OF whom had
been induced 10 look upon the completion
Of that road to this city o. a very prob
able event.
Mr.. Vanderbilt wRs the father of nine
children. eight oil whom survive him
LAIely mTch OF his duties have been takcr
! Ircm his shoulders by his son.in.lRw, II
Mex. Twonbley, and his son, William X
Vanderbilt. Presumably the latter vii
be his fathers successor, Gs the dead mar
was that Of the old Commodore.
In 1851 Mr.. Vanderbilt completed II
New York city palatiAl residence which
was in keeping with his vast estates. Hi
wile'a balls and other entertainments hAy,
hsen the wonder and admiration of twI
continents, and little bRS beer said Of NJ,
0WH or his iamily,s constant gifts 10 man,
charitable and educational institutions
An example Of the unobtrusiye wa,
in which he did good deeds was the bring
ing 10 this country Of the obelisk nre
sented hy the khcdtve of EEypt, aiith,
expenses Of which, and Of its erection il
Central Park, were paid by Mr.. Wander
bilt, a TACT only made public by aCciden
sometime later. His loan Of SliO,0OO +
General Grant en- tho eve Of the iailurI
Of the firm Of Grant i Ward, aad his sub
aeQuGnt mRuly and generous conduct il
relation 10 that loan, the transfer Of Gen
Gmni'B personal belongings to him, anl
his return Of the hwOrds and relics "a MrB
Grant, aud later their bestowal upon IN
Government in trust Rt Mrs. Grant, a re
quest, are fresh In tho minds OF IN
American people,
When Mr.. Nandeibiil'N father died ,leav
ing him the bulk OF his large wealth, TIN
will was contested by bis brother, Cor
nelius, Jr. William H. Vanderbilt VOL
the suit, aud the inhC lance therein tn
volVed has been inCrcA,d until his eStRt,
has been estimated at iIjn one hundred L
one hundred and aity million dollars
Several years ago II WIS positively UtRtoC
that hG held Sj0,OO0,UJ IA Goyernmen
bonds alone. He has bean an extensive
operator in Wail Etssei though he proiees
ed 70 AaY9 Tat.,red latey. A few days Ak,
Nc vis!!:sd the family buying ground u
inspect his tomb, and lbolt the game tim,
bestowed upon his son William H., Il lArgt
fortune. Who shall ay that this was no
with some iotesIght d his approaching
end2