Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-03-03
WHAT A NICKNAME DID.
liz Ruined the Prospective Fortunes
of John Jacob r's.PoOr.ltelati
Across the, seas.

of John Jacob Actors. Poor n latiens
Across the.seas.
There is a phase in the life and affairs
of the late John Jacob Astor. said Mr..
L. Simon this morning, (which to the
best of my knowledge has not vet been
given to the public. At least have seen
no reference to it in the papers, and
regard it as of considerable interest as
bearing not only upon the early life. bu,
of the after life of the man who died with
the reputation of being the wealthies,
man in America, his estimated fortune
being 5000. 900. 900. The older Astor, the
father Of the late John Jacob Astor, was
a native of my birthplace, Waldorf in
the Grand Dutchez, of Baden. From
this place William Waldorf Aston
the grand son, the present heir to
the immense estate. took his mid
die name. He is regarded now as the
richest man in Americs-if not in the
world. But to return to my narrative.
The original Aston was in his native
country peasant lad. To be sure he go,
common school education, but during
the summer he took care of swine and
geese. He was then called by his middle
name, Jacob, and 1t was from his some,
what lowly occupation that he was nick
named Sou Jacob, which is none other
than Swine Jacob As the boy grew
into manhood the unhaudsome nickname
chung about him as these things often do,
and in order to escape it he came to
America. How he acquired his immense
fortune from small beginnings by means
of trading with the Indians is too well
known to need more than passing refer
ence.
But to the thread OF my story again.
10 the early 40's MIR. Astor returned to
his native land with view of lifting his
numerous poor relatives out of poverty,
and providing them all with comforta.
BILE competence. But an unfortunate
salutation knocked the whole plan in the
head, changed entirely Mr.. Astor's noble
purpose and deprived his people of their
then impending good fortune. AS he
alighted from the train in his native to wn
an acquaintance of early days re-
cognized him and grasping him by
the hand and in the joyous enthusiasm of
the moment greeted him ss-'Sou Jacob.
"Mr. Astor was go overcome with re-
morse and sadness that he had been re-
membered only by bis vulgar nickname
that his benevolent intentions fed. and
he returned to America without doing
anything.
"a few years later, however-in 1855
when worth $4,000, 600. being ap.
parently conscious stricken. he sent a
representative to the old country and had
an orphan asylum built in his native
town at an immense outlay, covering an
extensive tract of land, and it remains TO
perpetuste his name. 1t was at the same
time so literally endowed that it is self
sustaining for all time to come, and is
free to all deserving. But that I'M
fortunate greeting in the depot on the
old millionaire's first return to his native
land ruined the prospects of his imme
date relatives there of being nicely pro-
vided for the remainder of their days"
1t is strange thought, to be sure. that
the old man, while beng too much con,
scious stricken to neglect his native
town. should bave been so sensitive as
TO forget his own people.