Savannah morning news., 1886-01-01

little Of what the world at large does in
reference to the Vanderbilt estate. To his
credit it must also said that he changed
bis methods OF life before his severe III
ness, and Tor several years has abstained
from his long formed habits OF dissipa-
ton. He has even taken to the con-
sideration 'Of religious things, and ex-
presses himself ready TO meet his end with
serenity.
JOHN VANDERBILT'S FAMILY.
OF the ten children born TO Uncle John
and his wife five are dead. 1t is notice
able that the name OF William II. is TO be
found in each family. All the offspring
are sturdy, honest, industrious people,
and, although invariably poor and un-
educated, are OF good habits. In them the
people of the neigh hborhOOd fancy they see
strong facial resemblances to the port
rats OF the late William Ii. Vanderbilt,
particularly so in their well-rOunded
checks and full under lips. The sons of
Uncle John are JOnn l., Anthony 4. and
William Il. Anthony is of much greater
stature than his father, and, as he in
herits the physical powers of his sire, is
yeritable giant in strength. He is six
feet and three inches IN height, and it is
said OF him that he can lift half ton OF
dead weight.
A feeling of ofcuriosity, a desire to know
what effect the death OF the great railway
magnate wOuie have upon this humble
branch of the anderDIlt family, led the
writer to seek Uncle John Vanderbilt
among the lonely mountains of Denmark.
On the way from Doom is passed Hiber-
MIA, where is l6cated the great mines of
the Glendon and AndoYer iron compa-
nies. Near the works a man is labOriHg
at the broken whiflletree of wagon. He
is introduced as John l.. Vanderbilt, son
OF Uncle John, and teamsteF in the en-
pl0y of the Andover Company. He for
merly worked in the mine, but Illness
compelled him to give it up, and he was
forced TO find outside work. He laughed
at the idea of receiving anything from the
Vanderbilt estate, but there was the
slightest tinge ofanXiety in the tones OF
his voice when ne asked if will had been
made. When informed that such was the
case and that his family was not mention
ed, he quietly remarked:
well, it would not hurt them, think,
10 spare the little that would make the old
man comfortable"
AT the Office OF the AndOver Company, a
little further on, the miners were march
ing up to receive their monthly pay, and
in the line are several stalwart grand
sons of John Vanderbilt. Their wages
range from ST 10 50 81 30 per day only, but
they appear contented and happy
when they receive it. The other miners
chat them upon their ktnship 70 the mil
liOnalres, and the larger money they will
receive by direction Of the will, but the
young men laugh at it and pass 1t by
with goOd-natuTed badinage.
After "A wearyEng journey, the Denmark
clearing, and the abiding place Of Uncle
John Vanderbilt and bis wife is reached.
The old mah is filling large corn bas-
ket with the wood which he has chopped
in front of the door When the object of
the to him unusual intrusion is shouted in
his ear, he responds:
''Yes, PYe heerd William II. is dead. A
man who KEN up from Doom tother day
told us he dropped dead in the street. Go
right in, an I'll come, too, as soon as pve
filed this 'ere baskB." A moment later
he lifts the heavy burden. which he car
ries quite easily for one OF his great
age.
In response to aqUery, Uncle John said: I:
81 was II on Aug. 10 last, an the ole
woman will be "A on the lst or next March.
We was married when she was IS. so ye
kin fgger it out fer yerself how long
we've been hitched. AS near as kin tell
the fust ones OF the name that cum here
from fuFFin parts was Jake and John, two
brothers. They was low Dutch. or suth-
in Of that stripe, ! guess, an they sOt
'emselves down on Staten island, near
what they used to call TOad's hull in them
days. Jake was the gran'father Of Cor
nelius-him that they called the COmmO-
dore, John was my gran'iather, an they
called me after him. JAKE was a shoe
maker an John was a blacksmith.
Each of 'em owned little house
an enough ground iOr a garden patch.
l kin member ole Jake very well, but
my grandfather died long atOre l was
thought Of.
THE CoMMODORE'S FATHER.
sole Jake, he had son Cornelius, that
was the COmmOdOre'5 father. an John
had son Aaron, who WAS nay father. an
they was a right smart team Of young
sters an got along we'll. They was brung
up together, too. Yer see, ole John died
when my ole man was a little shaver an
left him all alone an purity poor off. But
old Jake mad a heart in him as BIC as a
pumpkin, and he TUX the leetie teller in
Outen the cold. But ole Jake's wife
wasn't just like MIN. and Pve often heerd
the ole man say she used him purity tough,
maxim him do all the rough jobs an Civ
IN him % eat what the rest wouldn't.
But the ole man was tougher than
a young bear an he squeezed through
an cum out all right. Mebbe ID done
him gOOd-kinder sharped him up like
to noe his own TOW better when he got
bigger.
" 1 nc Oie man d&Ckere0 IN good many
things outside CT fishln' an made money
hand over fist. When he cum out IN Jer-
sey an bought the big farm at Denville
he owned some good property on Jersey
City Heights besides, an ned lots OF mon
ev out in use. His sisters done well, too.
Katie she married man we'll OF; am Isa-
bella she married rich sea captain. But
while they was gittin' along so well ole
Jake--their uncle, We know, who was so
kind TO them when they WIS leetle-was
driftin' backwards. Bimeby the Shurif
got hold OF his hull kit an cargo an was
gOin' to sell him out"
"rhere wasn't any railroads. in them
DAYS an so old Jake, who was nj gh onter
so years by this time, hoofed it ali the way
out 20 Denville, an ses to the ole man:
Aaron ses he, Pm goin' 10 be sold
out mex week by the ShurIff and put on
the road
"'No, We amt ses the ole man, 'I'll be
thar am fix things straight fer ye.'
"An' be was there an bought ia the hull
kit an ketOllick. Then he told ole Jake
he pN1Ild gfaV in tho nrOp3tV "A lrAa ao5e ha