The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-02-24
JOHN JACOB ASTvR'S DEATH.
The Head OF the Richest Family In Amer.
lea Suddenly Dies.

years ago. In 1875 his father died, leav-
ing John jacob two-thirds' share OF bis
estate, valued at s200,000,OOO. During
the civil war Mr.. Astor went to the front
and served with credit as aid-de.camp to
General Mcclellan. He married a Mrs.
Gibbs, Of South Carolina, who died two
years ago. He is succeeded by his only
son, William Waldorf Astor, who was
Minister to Italy some years ago.
: The estate which Mr.. Astor left is
landed property, and it is said that in
cludcs over one thousand dwellings,
which yielded an enormous average rem
tai. It was his father who started the
movement here for better tenement
houses. Thomas G. Shearman, in the
Forum, for November last, set down Mr..
Astor's fortune at Sl5O, ,000, 1000, making
him the American CrGsus. Mr.. Astor
followed the family traditions by giving
three city lots to the Astor Library, and
lie spent $3.50, 900 in building new wings
to the library, and giving books to it.
THE AsToR FORTUNE.
John Jacob Astor the first was born in
17G3, the third son OF poor peasants at
Waldorf, in Baden. He came to Ameri :
ca IN 1854, and began with a stock in
trade consisting Of six flutes and two
other musical instruments. He entered
the employ Of furrier in this city, and
in few months mastered the trade which
was extremely profitable rs carried on
with the Indiana Astor visited the
Canadian woods, going on foot and car
ryiDg in pack on his back ssbaubles
such as delighted the aborigines. He
traded them for furs, and carried the
furs home on his back. He made money,
enlarged his business, using pack-sleds
and the like, and in few years was
doing an immense trade, getting the
skins for literally nothing OF the Indiana
and sending them to the Orient, where
they were exchanged for most valuable
goods, teas, spices, Indian and Japanese
silks and the like. at the beginning Of
the century his wealth was estimated at
$3.50, 900, IN enormous fortune for those
days. Y
John Jacob Astor began very early in
bis successful financial career to mako
investments in New York real estate,
and in the rapid growth OF the city the
value Of some Of his property increased
one hundred fold in his life time. Dur
ing his whole life he hardly made mis-.
step. through defective judgment, and he
left fortune estimated at 5000, 900, 900.
Among his most noteworthy donations
were the gift OF S50.0 900 for the benefit Of
the poor OF his native village Of Waldorf,
and 100000 for the founding OF tho fam.
Gus Astor Library.
Ht THE FAMILY.
John Jacob Astor the first had three
sons. The first died a babe. The sec.
ond, named after himself, John Jacob
Astor, was demented and was kept in q
fine residence in West Twenty.third
street at his fathers expense, and, aite,
his fathers death, on the income OF {
fund Of 100000 set apart for that pur
pose. That John Jacob passed away
aged sixty years, some thirty years ago.
The Astor millions were handed down
to the third son, William B. Astor, and
he it was who began the movement fol
better tenement houses in New Y York.
When VIM. B. Astor died he left the
vastly increased family fortune to his
eldest son, John Jacob Astor the third,
who died yesterday He leaves one
brother, Win. Astor, and the latter has q
son, John Jacob Astor the fourth, who
Is now about twenty-four years OF age. /,
Among the beneiactions OF Mr.. Asto,
and his wife were princely gifts to the
Newsboys' Lodging House and the Chill
dren's Aid Society. Ten thousand dol.
lars was given to send street waits tc
homes in, the West. Schools, too, were
endowed with fortunes by MI. and Mrs
Astor. When Mrs. Astor died she gave
S250,000 alone to the Skin and Cancel
Hospital. ( The diamonds, valued a
s. .000,0 900, she left to Mrs. William Astor
who succeeded her as the leader Of New
York society. si,. isiE 5]si5