The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-12
SOME WEALTHY WOMEN.
The Richest Single and the Richest Married
Lady Lying at the Point of Death.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-THE richest single and
the richest married lady in the United States
are said to be lying at the point of death in this
city. The unwedded lady is Miss Catherine L.
Wolfe and the wife is Mrs. William Aston
Miss Wolfe enjoys the income of between $751;
coo, 900 and 500, 900, 600. The most of this
money is settled on her for life only. Her in
come is estimated at $5G0,000 a year, and
she has had many offers of marriage. Miss
Wolfe has aristocratic features and slight fig
ure. Her hair is gray and she dresses superbly.
Her diamonds are large and dazzling. She is q
prominent figure in society, and she is loved and
esteemed by all who know her. She spends her
good Her almoner for years has been
Bishop Potter, formerly rector of Grace
Church. Indeed, Miss Wolfe herself has
long been the main pillar of this patrician house
of worship. She it was who spent $50, 900 for
its marble chantry, and who subscribed SO liber
ally toward erecting its beautiful spire. When
Bishop Potter called for $50, 900 with which to
build church in Mulberry street, not long ago.
Miss Wolfe was the first to respond. She sent
him check for $40. 900. Miss Nolfe's father
a prominent merchant of this city. AL
though of the most generous of men,
he rapidly accumulated fortune This fortune
was enlarged by his marriage. He welded in
succession two sisters of the late p. Lorillard
Their dots were immense. Three great fortunes
rolled into one were inherited by Miss Wolfe on
the death of her father. An only sister had died
some time before this event Miss Wolfe lives in
an elegant brownsto mansion fronting Madison
square. 1t is corner house, within stones
throw of the residence Of S. l.. NJ. Barlow. She
owns some of the finest paintings In America. A
picture by Knaus is among them. It was painted
for the Emperor of Russia. While the Car
was hagglng about the price Miss Wolfe secured
it and brought it to New York. Very few per-
sons are admitted to her galleries Some of her
intimate friends are said to have sought admis
sion in vain.
Mrs. William Astor, who is also said to be be-
yond hope of recovery, is the wife of grandson
of old John Jacob Astor and son of William B.
Aston She is an ofshoot of the ancient and
noble house of Schermerhorn. Mrs. Astor is
tall, distingue in bearing and is woman
of graceful carriage. She has black
She is a leader among the real leaders of
fashionable life in New York. She has very
generous disposition. Her charity is possibly
more practical than that of Miss Wolfe. The
church, although they are by no means con-
fined to the religious community. Mrs.
Aston on the contrary, seeks individ-
ual cases of distress, and has made
many humble Preside cheerful and happy.
She takes a great interest in young people
in her sphere of life, and gives them many
dinners and receptions. She takes special pride
in rising young men, and has frequently aided
them at critical periods in their lives. No
woman would be more missed in social circles
Mrs. Astor owns probably the finest
collection of jewels in America. When
attending the opera or private receptions
she has frequently appeared in a blaze
of diamonds. At an entertainment in belmont
co.'s last winter her throat was enciTcled with
three strands of these jewels each a stone of
great size. Triple strands of similar precious
stones were wound around her white shoulders,
and her corsage sparkled like the buck
Ter of Ptolemy Philadelphus. Living jew
els sparkled in her raven hair and all the
colors of the rainbow scntillated from her ringed
fingers She has frequently been seen at the
opera wearing $50. 600 worth Of diamonds, but on
this occasion she surpassed herself, the display
being valued at more than $l00,000 Mrs. Aston
has three daughters and no son. One of her
daughters is the wife of Roosevelt Roosevelt a
second is married to ]. Coleman Drayton and
the third is Mrs Orme Wilson ZIsKA.