Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-10
VANDERBILT,
rHE DEAD xoNSY KING.

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william II. Vanderbilt, whose sud
den death was announced yesterday
morning. was born at New Brunswick
N. j., in 1921. and began bis business
career 1t the age Of eighteen IN vail
street banking house. lie len there I'VE
wears later, owing to i'll health, ana
engaged in the cultivation OF an unim'
proved farm on Staten Island. During
rome periods following he toiled as
hsrd As spy farmer ever did. lie went
20 the fields before sunrise ana was
sill there At sunset lie was bronzed
and touvhened by his toll. In few
Years he had so extended his laoors
that he had $50 acres in the bcst-man-
.red and most profitable farm on
Staten Island. The wastes and bar
ytns were transformed into q garden,
md Welded to the owner q large an
nusl income. While he was working
SO hard here he had heavy indebted
ness for the property hanging over him,
which he was seeking to pay. After
he became interested in railroads he
gave no further personal labor to his
farm, but he did not cease to manage IT,
His first experience as railroad man
was as receiver of the Ststen-lsland
Railroad Company. This - only
short road, but the company was over
whelmsd with debt and emearrassments.
Mr.. Vanderbilt displayed remarkable
efficiency and business talent IN the
MANAGEMENT of affairs. lie paid of the
debts. connected the road with New
York by an independent ferry and
placed il upon n secure financial basis.
Then be became president of the road.
He resigned to 60 abroad to furnish ne
eessary attention to his brother George,
who was sick and finally died in Europe.
In 1864. after his return, William IL.
Vanderbilt was elected yice-president
of the New York and Harlem Railroad
Company. and the following year OF the
Hudson-River Railroad Company. He
now entered fully upon his career as a
railroad man. During the entire sub
seouent life Of Commodore Vanderbilt
his son William was his con6dant and
chief reliance and agent in everything.
lie familiarized himself with every de-
tail, and personally supervised every
department, stopped the leaks, reduced
the expenditures, and increased the bu-
siness Of the roads to an unparalleled
extent. The Harlem railroad, which
was bankrupt when the Vanderbilts be-
came its owners, was made one of the
best-equipped and best-paying roads in
the State. The Hudson-Riyer railroad
was trebled in value. and in 1869 the
Central and Hudson.River were CONSOLE
dated. making corporation with nine
ty millions OF capital. William II. Van
derbilt was named in the articles Of In
corporation as vice-president and execu-
tive officer.
Upon the death Of Commodore VAN
derbilt William inherited the chief
part Of his estate, amounting to
something in the neighborhood of
one hundred millions. 1t was princi-
pally in railroad bonds and stocks. The
will was unsuccessfully contested by
some members Of the family. William
ii. Vanderbilt was soon elected to his
fathers positions in the different rail-
road companies, and from that time has
held the controlling interest. In order
to divide his great responsibility he not
long since sold stock to the extent of
fifty millions to leading capitalists of
this country and Europe. lie invested
the same money in United States bonds,
and was the largest individual holder Of
those securities.
While he was a Wall-street clerk
Mr.. Vanderbilt married Miss Nissan,
an attractive and educated woman,
who still lives. Mr.. Vanderbilt, like
his father, was fond Of good horses.
and spent Q great deal OF money to
crafty his tastes. Mr.. Vanderbilt is
credited with having been liberal in
his charities, and he has often been
large contributor to funds for public
enterprises. 1t was his money which
paid for bringing the obelisk to this
country. 1t was said he was always
lucky and never lost money but once,
when he was cleaned out in Wall
street Of $4,000 Of New Jersey bonds
which the old man had, in fit Of gen.
crosby, given him. Report says that
the said bonds were traced into the
hands of his willy progenitor, who then
exhibited them to his son, with the
advice Z" Sonny, never sell what you
have not got, and never buy what you
cannot pay for"
Mr.. Vanderbilt leaves eight children
and eleven grandchildren. His four
daughters are married to New Workers,
and two have been presented with small
palaces, costing 100000 apiece, while
he built houses for the other two at the
corner of Fifth avenue and Fifty-fourth
street, adjoining st. Thomas church.
The ground for the two buildings cost
e4O0, 600, and the houses cost double
that. His two eldest sons-Cornelius
Vanderbilt, who seems destined to occu-
py toward his father the same relation
that William III. held to the Commo-
dore, and William X. Vanderbilt, the
second son-hsye been for q long time
millionaiyes in their own right and have
palaces which even eclipse the new
home of their father. Cornelius Van
derbilt is the financier among the sons,
while William X. is the aesthetic men,
Der Of the family, having employed q
skilful architect to build his white
stone chateau, at the corner Of Fifty.
second street and Fifth avenue, and
having paid s2s5,00 for the carving
alone on the inside Of his house.
TIE Rtehess MAN In the Wortd-r5i'
KAisreaa system.
Mr.. Vanderbilt was richer than an!
single member Of the Rothschild family
The Duke Of Westminster is said 30 b
worth s200. eco, 900; but Vanderbilt
VAS richer, because the Dukes none.
only pays him about 2 per cent. II
mainly in land and houses. MIR. Van
derbilt had . much larger income. II
was the richest man in the world.
The Vanderbilt railroad system wi
be managed and owned as heretofore
The sons win manage the estate Of th
properties, all Of which are here, tn