The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-30
MR. AsroR TO MARRY AGAIN.
John Jacobs Engagement to Hand
some Widow Announced.

JONI JacOD6 engagement 10 Hand
some Widow Announced.
From the Neto York World
According to what appears TO be trust
worthy reports, John Jacob Aston, the
elder, is engaged to be married to Mrs.
Bowler of Cincinnati. This story comes
fr IN the other side of the Atlantic, where
both Mr.. Aston and Mrs Bowler now are,
and from the fact that Mr.. Aston is a very
domestic old gentleman, and has paid Mrs.
Bowler devoted attention for a year or
more, society is inclined TO credit the semi
official announcement which has been made.
Mrs. Bowler has been In Europe for some
months with her two children, and John
Jacob Aston during the past summer has
taken two trips abroad, presumably in
order to have the pleasure of being in her
company.
Mrs. Bowler has been a widow five or six
years. Her late husband was nephew of
George II. Pendleton of Ohio, who at one
Tune was the vice presidential nominee of
the Democratic party, and was minister to
Germany during the eveland administra-
ton. Mr. Bowler inherited a handsome
fortune and invested it iudiciously in rail-
road properties. At his death he was
large owner of the securities of the Ken
lucky Central railroad, of which that excel
lent railroad man, NJ. E. Ingalls,, was one of
the early presidents. Some fifteen years ago
he married Miss Williamson, one of the
bellies OF Cincinnati society. She is a very
handsome woman now. very bright and
intellectual, and charming conversation
allst. The Is well-known in New York So
ciety, and 1t was here that Mr.. Aston first
met her. She has been a guest at the house
OF Henry +. Vail many times during the
winter season just past aud has also visited
other homes in New York
John Jacob Aston, who, according to an
nouncements already made, will be set
down by Thomas G.. Shearman in the
November issue of the Forum as the rich
est man IN this country, having control of
about 500, 100000, is now about 66 years of
age. He is tall, handsome and vigorous.
and bears his years well. In society he is
regarded as the finest specimen of manhood
the Astor family has ever put forward. He
is an accomplished and well-educated
gentleman, of cultivated tastes and
arlstocratic bearing. He is the Oldest
representative of the Astor family
now living and the head and front of the
house. His first wife was q daughter of
Thomas Gibbs of South Carolina, and the
marriage occurred nearly forty-fve years
ago. Miss Gibbs had no very great wealth
to bring to the alliance, but she was
woman OF family-indeed, her father used
to declare that he could trace his linage
back to King John-and she was very
beautiful. On her mothers side she came
from an old Dutch family named Vanden-
heuvel The story in society at the time of
John Jacob Astor's first marriage was that
old MIR. Gibbs was so delighted with the
match his daughter was making that it
was necessary to put him into a straight
jacket.
The only child of John Jacob Astor's first
marriage was William Waldorf Aston.
minister to Italy during the Arthur admin
lstration, the author of two italian novels,
ana young man generally with political
and literary ambitions. 1t is not generally
thou hit, however, that he inherited either
his mothers good looks and vigorous con-
stitution or his fathers strong mental
nature. He is, however, an extremely good
fellow, albeit a little eccentric. He mar
rled seven years ago, selecting for his bride
the beautiful Miss Paul of Philadelphia.
Before his marriage it was currently re-
ported that he was engaged to Miss Helen
Beckwith, sometimes known as 'Babyn
beckwlth. very lovely young society girl,
who is now no longer very young, but who
succeeded the other day, on the death of
her father, to a fortune of nearly S., 900. COO
There is a good deal of difference of opin-
ion over what John Jacob Astors wealth is
The estimate of Mr.. Shearman. lust re-
ferred to, is regarded by well-known Wall
street men as excessive, and it is believed
tIld1 LIS lOIIuuo uOoo nOC F6dCQ UQe SIUU, UUU,
600 mark. 1t is believed now that he has
large holdings in Western Union and Union
Pacific, and the shrinkage in the value of
Missouri Pacific during the past year, If he
really holds any considerable amount of
stock, would have made very big hole In
his wealth. But outside of that he is cred
tied with having made other unlucky ven
lures. However, a man with 100000, 900
can slip up two or three times without get
| ting hurt very mnch.1
He made over his house at Newport some
time ago to his son, William Waldorf
Astor and it is understood, also, that he
has assigned to the same fortunate young
gentleman all his property of both real and
, personal character, so that after his death
no attempt can be made to break his will
on the ground of unsound mind John
Jacob Astor still has country place I'D
the Hudson, near the old family estate of
Rokeby, which he purchased from Mr.. Cot
tinet, but he does not go there very often.
| Three Killed On An Ene-ine