Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-11-21
MR.. ASTOR TO MARRY
JOHN JACOBS ENGAGEMENT to
A HANDSOME WIDOW.
Mrs. Bowler Will Become the Wife Of
the Richest Man in America.

story comes from the other size OF tne
Atlantic, where both Mr.. Astor and
Mrs. Bowler now are, and from the
fact that Mr.. Astor is a very domestic
old gentleman and has paid Mrs;
Bowler devoted attentions for a year
or more, society is inclined to credit
the semi-oficial announcement which
has been made. Mrs. Bowler has been
in Europe for some months with her
two children, and John Jacob Astor
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 1--WE
or six years. Her late husband was a
nephew of George II. Pendleton, OF
Ohio, who at one time was the Vice
Presidential nominee of the Demo-
cratic party. and was Minister to Ger
many during the Cleveland Admins
tration. Mr.. Bowler inherited a hand
some fortune and invested it judicious-
ly in railroad properties. AT his death
he was a large owner of the securities
of the Kentucky Central Railroad, of
which that excellent railroad man, Nj.
L. Ingalls,, was one of the early presi-
dents. Some fifteen years ago he mar
ried Miss Williamson, IN of the bellies
of Cincinnati society. She is q very
handsome woman now, very bright
and intellectual and a charming conver-
s%ationalist. She is well known in New
York society, and it was here that Mr..
Astor first met her. She has been a
guest at the house of Henry +. Vail
many times during the winter season
just past, and has also visited other
homes in New York.
John Jacob Astor, who, according to
announcements already made, set down
by Thomas G.. Sherman, the richest
man in this country, having control of
about $3.50, 900 900, is now about sixty
eight years of age. He is tall, hand
some and vigorous and bears his years
well. In society he is regarded as the
finest speciman of manhood the Astor
family has ever put forward. He is
an accomplished and well-educated
gentleman, of cultivated tastes and ar
istoeratic bearing. He is the oldest
representative of the Astor family now
living and the head and front of the
house. His first wife was a daughter
Of Thomas Gibbs, of South Carolina,
and the marriage occurred nearly forty
five years ago Miss Gibbs had no
very great wealth to bring to the ALI
ance, but she was a woman of family
indeed, her father used to declare
that he could trace his lineage back to
King John-and she was very beauti-
full. On her mothers side she came
from an old Dutch family named Van
denheuvel. The story in society at
the time of John Jacob Astor's first
marriage was that old Mr.. Gibbs was
so delighted with the match his daugh-
ter was making that it was necessary
to put him into a straightjacket.
The only child of John Jacob AS
tors first marriage was William Wal
dorf Astor, Minister to Italy during
the Arthur Administration, the author
of two Italian novels and a young mar
generally with political and literary
ambitions. 1t is not generally thought,
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.
lie married sever years ago, selecting
for his bride the beautiful Miss Paul,
of Philadelphia. Before his marriage
it was currently reported that he was
engaged to Miss Helen Beckwith, some
times known as ''Baby" Beckwith, a
very lovely young society girl, who is
now no longer very young, but who
mcceeded the other day, on the death
cf her father, to a fortune of nearly
81. 200, 900.
There is a good deal of difference of
opinion owe what John Jacob Astor's
wealth is. The estimate of Mr.. Shear
man, just referred to, is regarded BY
well-known Wall street men as Excess
sive, and it is believed that his fortune
does not reach the hundred-million
mark. 1t is believed now that he has
large holdings in Western Union and
y