The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-12-18
Mr.. vauGcrbiIt's Career.

William Henry Vanderbilt was born in
Brunswick, New Jersey, May !, 1921. and
was therefore siXty-four years and seven
months old. His father at the time of his
birth, was owner and in command of q steam
boat running to New y ork. The family soon
removed to New York city, where and in
Staten Island, William attended the public
schools, finishing his education at the Column
bia Grammar school, At eighteen
he entered as a clerk the | ouse of Drew Rob
inson a Co, a leading firm OF bankers and
stock brokers of tho period. At the end of
two years his business aptitude was so great
that the firm offered him junior partner
ship. Remaining until two years thereafter
his health failed him in consequence of close
application. lie then purchased seventy five
acres of land on Staten Island, which was
soon increased to 80, and went to work
farming.
During the first year of this activity he
was chosen receiver of the Staten Island rail
road, and after two years of hard work. hav-
ing restored its finances TO a sounl condition,
he was elected its president His father was
large stakeholder in this road, but, as is
well understood, lent no adventitious aid to
his elder sons career After a few years of
hard work on his farm and in the railroad
office, Mr.. Vanderbilt went to Europe, in
consequence of the precarious condition of
his brother Georges health. He remained
with him until his death, a period of several
months, when he returned to Staten Island
and his farm. not engaging any further in
railroad administration until 1864, when he
became, by his fathers desire and the cleo
ton of the corporation, vice president of the
New Y DIRK and Harlem railroad
For twenty years preceding the assump-
ton of this position Mr.. Vanderbilt was to
all intents and purposes practical and hard
working farmer, tilling his own land, market
ing its produce and attending personally to
the farm labors His father slowly learned to
lean upon his business Judgment, but the son
did not uttpulDt SneclQl figure tho
market or as n financier He married
in ISL Miss kisSam, daughter of we'll
known Brooklyn physician, by whom he has
had eight children. four boys and four girls
| His staten Island life was a healthy and
hard working one He generally rose very
| early-ahout or i'm the notwithstanding
to the city on market business and often re-
turning by to take the plow or Join his
hands IN the harvest fields. He was then, as
always, a hard worker, a shrewd manager
and raider.
Commodore Vanderbiits plans We're work.
| ing to full fruition when the oldest son was
summoned TO his aid. After assuming execu-
tive control Of the Harlem he was, in lSO5,
elected vice president of the New York and
Hudson River railroad During the five
years that followed his entrance into rail
road affairs Mr.. Vanderbilt was probably
the hardest working executive
in the country. He made himself familiar
with every detail OF administration, person
ally examining each mile of the great system
under his charge, and becoming acquainted
| with the nature of every mans duties and
work and wages, and the relations they bore
to all others employed by the corporations
he controlled.
In pursuance Of his fathers plan of con-
centrating the great interests he possessed in
his family's hands, his son William was
named in the articles as first vice president
of the New York Central railroad--that is
of the consolidated roads. This consolidation
involved at the time an investment of at
least 500 900, 900, majority of which was
owned and controlled by the Vanderbilt fam
| lily. At the death of his father in 1877,
Mr. Vanderbilt was elected president Of the
New York Central, the Lake Shore and the
Michigan Central railroads, positions which
he held until 1883, when, in his 62d year. he
deliberately retired from the active control of
these corporations providing for the Van
derbt direction, however, in the
persons of his sons and sons-in- law,
who are active as directors.
Mr.. Vanderbilt was man of strong and
stalwart frame and build, being nearly six
feet in height, and large in proportion He
was q sturdy-looHing man direct in speech,
| and in manner. He was fond of horses, at
one tina owning Maud S., and his stalwart
figure behind n team of thoroughbreds was
familiar sight on the bollevards of the me
tropolls.