Wichita eagle., 1888-07-22
ASTOR REL ESTATE.
ROW JOHN JACOB asHoosR FOUND
Ed HIS FAMOUS FORTUNE.

A Noted Family IN Which the Law OF
Frimoscniture Is Practically Carried
Out-The Amount of the Estate Kept
Carefully Concealed.
Y is Just 1o5 years since John Jacob Aston
fshe oriyinai name IS said To have BEEN Ash
doer} was born at a small village nea Eeidel-
berg BADEN, the youngest Of four sons OF Q
poor peasant. lie passed his boyhood on his
fathers patch OF land; but, anxious 10 sce
something of the world, he determined to
Join one OF his brothers III London, who had
gone there to follow the business Of making
and selling musical instruments At 10 he
walked all the way 70 the coast OF Holland,
and thence worked his passage on fishing
vessel to his point OF destination Staying IN
England until he was 2l he sailed for this
country, with number OF musical instru-
ments for TIE American market. On the ship
he encountered q furrier, by whose advice he
exchanged his wares, on reaching New Eork,
for a quantity OF furs, with which he re-
turned % London, selling them at an enor-
nous profit This lucky venture, as is well
known, led 70 his establishing himself here in
the fur trade, which increased 50 fast that no
was soon in a position TO ship furs 10 Europe
and the east In his own vessels, which came
back laden with foreign produce, which be
disposed of st an immense profit. He lail
the basis of his vast fortune by dealing in
furs, but did not make the fortune itself in
that way, though it is generally thought so.
Astors wealth, when he died ct ~, forty
years AGO, was estimated at SEQ 900 to
SIS 600 900, some putting it as high as $50
010,G00 doubtless exaggeration- But,
eli. ..Nfb
the bulk Of 1t was made by purchases of real
estate. Never before in the history OF the
world had there been in ali probability such
an opportunity for sale and judicial specu-
latiOn as there was between 1900 and lS46 in
tie buying OF lands, improved and unirl-
proved. on Manhattan Island. The founder
of the piutocratic family perceived this
clearly, and awaited himself OF 1t 10 the ut
Ulost he began purchasing st the begin
ming of the century and kept at It constantly
10 the time of his death. The city grew 50
fast that much Of the real estate he acquired
advanced during hrs lifetime 40 and 50, even
100 per cent
John Jacob had. think, three sons. One
of them died very young; d second was de-
ranged almost from his birth, was carefully
watched ard taken caro- of by s!ecial at
teudants in a house owned by the family on
the west side of town, near Twenty-third
street. and lived 10 be past 60 The third son
was William g. Astor. who had ell hli
fathers frugality and caution without any
OF his talents or originality lie could not
have made money, but he could keep II and
add 70 il by ceascl>ss buying OF real estate,
following the policy OF the founder Of the
colossal fortune. He was cold, phlegmatie
dull, commonplace, without Imagination
tenderness or sympathy lie had neither
vices nor weaknesses, unless desire for money
be so accounted. He was, in the ordinary
sense, a good husband, good father, and
faithfully discharged tho duty imposed on
hiIn Of caring for and increasing the estate
A man necessarily Of power and influence
through his great wealth, be drew nobody %
him lie had no real friends, nor did he feel
the need Of them. He was a stanch Episco-
palian n regular attendant at church, an Oh
ser er Of all ecclesiastic forms, and passed
away at 81 amid tho ceremonies befittiDg
+ his creed, and ia the full odor Of sanctity.
/ The Ast0r fortune has, from It's creation,
been virtually entailed As most % 10 was
left 10 William b. Aston, 10 be managed.
controlled and increased, NO he left IL 20 his
son. John Jacob. and John Jacob has in turn
left it TO his son, William Waldorf with the
same provision. The law Of primogeuiture
has been practically carried cut, and viii no
doubt continue 10 be The amount Of tho
estate is carefully concealed, as is everything,
indeed, relating 10 it that possibly can be.
The transfers Of real estate. in order 70 be
legal, must be recorded, and therefore nlnds
public Otherwise they would be kept secret.
The Astors are perpetually guarding tho
financial facts Of which they are the sole re-
positories. In truth, only two or three nefp-
bers Of the family are acquainted with the
special facts, though all may have Some
general idea Of their prodigasus wealth
Their surplus must reach a number 81 mil
lions annually. and these sre uniformly rein
vested, mainly in real estate. They almost
never sell any, but they are continually buy
ing. buying, buying, and swelling their al
ready stupendous income. They own thOus-
ands Of buildings stores. Offices
and warehouse nearly eli in the municipal
limits, as they very rarely purchase property
un.mprovei or out q town. They are un-
deaiably the riches. family, by AL odds, on
this continent, and perhaps, the richest CON-
monsrs on the giobe. Their united fortune
can not be less than 900, 000, co. and may
be considerably more
The presen. John Jacob h no. materially
unlike bis father William b. Aston. lie il
somewhat broader and quicker witted, moro
a man q the world, but fully a. much bent
on multiplying his estate. William Waldorf
Astor, now tho custodian a the immense
estate, is Of much the same iosr as hts father
ard grandfather Re 10 about 20: bAs tsksz
some part IN politics; has been minister %
Rome ard written az indifferent book. "A
soon as his father quits this plsnot-he Is now
in the reIzhk,crncsxi Of 71--<y becomes ErSsita
he VIII employ whatever intelligence ard
energy be can command 20 lacr-asr tic
f2l4ily wealth. De2ce2csr Ia Globe De1ac.
craE.
Wrist Watches In London
Twas nc, surprised TO 80 tia. nearly az