The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1885-12-19
Mr.. vAnderbIlt,s Career.


William Henry Vanderbilt was born in
Brunswick, New Jersey, May l, 1891 and
was therefore sixty-fouF years and seven
months old. His father at the time of his
birth, was owner and in command OF steam
boatrunning to New York. 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 house of Drew, Rob
inson g. Co., q leading firm of bankers and
stock brokers of the period. AT the end Of
two years his business aptitude was so great
that the firm offered him q Junior partner
ship. Remaining until two years thereafter
his health failed him in consequence of close
application. He then purchased seyenty-fiv
acres of land on Staten Island, which was
soon increased to $50, and went to work
farming.
During the first year of this sctivity be
was chosen receiver of the Staten Island rail
road, and after two years Of hard work, hav-
ing restored its finances to a sound condition,
he was elected its president. his father was
large stockholder in this road but, as is
well understood, lent no adyentitious aid to
his elder sons career. After few years of
hard work on his farm and in the railroad
office, Mr.. Vanderbilt went to Europe, in
consequence of the precArinus 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 York and Harlem railroad
ortwenty-two years preceding the assump-
ton Of tins position Mr. Vanderbilt was TO
ailintents and purposes practical and hard
working farmer, tilling his own lend, market
ing its produce, and attending personally 10
the farm labors. His father slowly learned TO
lean upon.his business Judgment, but the son
did not attempt any special figure IN the
market or as a financier. He married
in 1S41 Miss Nissan, daughter of q well
known Brooklyn physician, by whom he has
had eight children four boys and four girls
His Staten Island life was healthy and
hard working one. He generally rose very
early-about or in the morning
to the city on market business, and often re-
turning by z to take the pillow or Join his
hands IN the harvest fields. He was then, as
always, hard worker, O shrewd manager
and trader.
Commodore Vapderbiit's plans were 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 1855,
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
with every detail of administration. person
ally examining eth 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
be controlled.
In pursuance Of his fathers plan of con-
centrating the great interests be possessed in
his family's hands, his son William was
named in the articles as first viee-president
a -
Of the consolidated roads This consolidation
involved al the time an investment of at
least 500, 000, 900, a majority OF which was
owned and controlled by the Vanderbilt fam
ny. At the death OF his father, In 1877,
MI. Vanderbilt was elected president of the
New York Central, the Lake Shore and the
Michigan Central railroads, positions which
he held until 1888, when, in his SD year, he
deliberately retired from the active control of
these corporations, providing for the Van
derbilt direction, however, in the
persons Of his sons and sons-in-law,
Mr. Vanderbilt was man of strong and
stalwhrt frame and build, being nearly six
feet in height, and large in proportion, He
was a sturdy looking man, direct in speech
and ~ manner. he was fond of horses az
one time owning Maud g.. and his stalwart
figure behind team of thoroughbreds was a
familiar sight on the boulevards of the me-
sropolis.
Mr. Vanderbilt was regarded as one Of the
richest men in the world, and the impr, son
was not far wrong. He was richer than (, n
single member Of the Rothsehild family, all
aitnongh the Duke of Westminster & cred
ted with being worth S200, O0O. 0e0 iis
Assete pays him only about two per
cont Last year Mr.. Vanderbilt held
s94sOoQOoO OF 4 per cent. bonds, but later re-
ooceuh 20 $4,000, 900 Of 81 per cent. gov
stnsnent securities. 1t is said that hsowned
valued his house Ia Fifth avenue, With its
ART treasures, at 80, 600 His Ordinary
household expenses were 500 600 q year.
1t is estimated that Mr. Vanderbilt was
worth sly. eO010g0i although his investments
asPtecaAsen last year His ine0ne WAS cal
government bonds; 81, so4 900 from railroad
sbocks aud bonds; s55B .eQ5 from pIiaoeIlanaone
securities; making total Of over 10. 000. COO
9 year, Or $4,000 day, 81. 200 an hour OF
ele I5 a minute.
The gRad@Fhilts.
Ths children Mr. Vanderbilt leaves are, in
thsir regular Succession A. 10 ags, from Cor.
nelins, who Is aboat forty years Of age. down
CoEnsliaa, WilliAm X, Esedsgiok W. and
George Wand four daukhtarzT.Mrs. Elliot
y. ehe9ard, hrs. william b. aloan, 1Ers. Ham
lien Mex ToHmhl3 and 1IIa. Dr.. Seward
Webb, CpTneiius and William a. ere both
actively engaged ID chs management Of the
family Railroad intazasts. and Hill 80 continue.
CoTneiias IS the chairman q the bqard Of di- T
reetoea gf the New York Central ADD the Mob
ihs same ezaee il he Lake Shore and Airsei-
Piats syaseHl. HEedallak VI, EAo 4 ebout
thir9-tNo yeara old y director ia Al ihe