The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-09
THE DEAD MANS CAREER.
His Aptitude for Business, and the Vast
Wealth He Accumulated.

We{ACn ne ACCumui8LeO.
William H. Vanderbilt was the oldest of the thir-
teen children of Cornelius Vanderbilt, better known
as the Commodore" He was born in New Bruins
wick, n j., May 8, 1921. He received only com.
school education at the Columbia College gram
school, and frequently expressed his regret that
he was not in his youth allowed better educa-
tional advantages. When eighteen years of age he
became clerk in the financial firm of Drew, Robinson
Co., and in his twentieth year he offered part.
nershp in the business City life and especially the
close application to business, telling his health he
started little later as farmer on Staten Island
where his father gave him farm of seventy five
Later, when the Staten Island railroad became
embarrassed he and his uncle Jacob Vanderbilt, ex.
tricated it from its difficulties This his first
experience in railroad affairs He displayed certain
aptitude for business of that sort and in 1864 he was
elected president of the New York & Harlem rail
road. and after he was chosen to fiji the same
Office in the New York Central g. Hudson River road
When his father died in 1867, he inherited the bulk
of the Commodores immense property, making him
railroad business.
Mr.. Vanderbilt was it is thought, richer than any
single member of the Rothschild family. The Duke
of Westminster is said to be worth 5000 900 OOO
out Mr.. Vanderbilt was richer, because the Dukes
money only pays him about per cent being mainly
in lands and houses. Mr.. Vanderbilt had a much
larger income. Last year he held $54, OOO 600 of
four cent bonds and later he reduced this amount
to $50 OOo,o 600 of government three and onehaf per
$75 900 600. At times he owned 24O 900 shares of
Michigan Central, 80, 900 shares of Northwestern
and 200 900 shares of Lake Shore He is said to have
sold considerable Lake Shore lately In addition he had
3d. 600 Chicago & Rock Island. 10000 Delaware Il
Lackawanna and about 20. O00 shares in other rail-
roads making in AL about $50 900 shares of railway
stocks also, $22. 600 600 worth of railroad bonds
$3 200 600 of State and city bonds and So OOO 900
in various manufacturing stocks and mortgages He
ures. at $4,000, 600. His ordinary household
he gave bali that cost $40 900
He sd for Mrs.
worth 5000 600 900. Although his fortune shrank
last year materially through big decline in stocks
and through business depression, the bull" move
ment of the past few months brought it up again
His income was calculated as follows: So. $1,000 a
road stocks s576 sos from miscellaneous securities
total over 10 600. 900 year. or $2S. 600 day.
$1975 minute.
OF Mr. Vanderbit's wealth the New York Sun saws
The most trustworthy estimates place Mr.. Vanber-
bits fortune at about $l75 ,0OO, 600. His principal
investments so far as can be learned are about fol
lows: Government bonds, $55. 5000 railroad
bonds. So 600 0O0 New York Central stock SIS OOO.
s csots. sos2 sss5 $4,000 4S Gs s Nsh"s a
large amount of real estate and cash. say nothing
of lesser interests in corporations not mentioned
above, The story was current last night that Cor
nelius Vanderbilt held power of attorney TO act for
the estate. This probably due to the fact that
Cornelius has for time exercised such power for
letter written in April last thus speaks of his ap
pearance and peculiarities I'm personal appearance
he is tall nearly six feet in height of burly build
ruddy complexion, with coarse heavy. features. gray
eyes sandy side whskers In the English style and yet
only slightly fringed with gray He Is somewhat
bald the hair is rather inclined to curl. Els roughly
chiseed upper lip is not concealed by q mustache
His appearance rather suggests that of the typical En-
gish capitalist but his features without the stupid
stoidy that not seldom distinguishes the large putty
faces of his brother mionares across the water.
His manners have little of the SOL
emn fat wtted attenuation Of many of the
moneyed Englishmen. Still at times he comes alto
gether too near to that sort Of rOnposity usually
observable in comparatively illitera.e Of great
wealth, of whatever nationality, and then the less
ngratating side of his character 10 disclosed He s
off.hand and democratic In his ways. He will walk
around TO his stable Fftysecond street and drive
Oh alone ing he will leave the horses there.
and walk around again TO his house In the evening
especially on Nilsson and Patti nights-he will 60
would attract notice on the street. There
Is nothing hing, in m. his appearance zee. to In,
watch-chain; he is rather careless than otherwise
about his personal appearance is apt to be the
in men Of great wealth. There is not the least per
sonal display. Mr.. Vanderbilt is understood to give a
this quietly, he would be overrun with impostors.
He is by impervious TO the appeals of wor
thy objects of charity. Some months ago he gave
$3.50 600 to erect new building for the College OF
moval of Cleopatra's Needle from Alexandria
TO New York betrayed by Mr.. Vanderbilt fact
which not made public until long after its erection
in Central Park The modesty with which his gifts
are made is characteristic of the millionaire and rail
road king the report of whose alleged unguarded and
profane utterance at Chicago temporarily obscured
the value of his better qualities to society and the
public" ~,
Kissam daughter of q New York Clergyman. Chris
tian lady of sterling qualities and hne atsa,nments