Wichita eagle., 1890-02-23
JOHN JACOB AsTOR DEAD.
The Many Times Millionaire no More
The FamilY's History.

NEW YORK, Feb 22-John Jacob Astor
died suddenly at his residence at b O'clock
this morning. His death was unexpected
by his family. 1t is supposed to be due TO
heart failure.
Mr.. Astor complained yesterday morn
ing that he was feeling unwell, but III che
evening he went out to dinner. Soon alter
his return home he became so Ill that MS
family were greatly alarmed and sent Tor
their physician DR.. Fordice Barker VINO
resides near by. He at once hastened to
Mr.. Astors bed side but when he reached
it he found his patient already dying.
Hardly any pulse was percept1bie. MI.
Astor continued to sink slowly until
O'Clock this morning when he died. There
were present at his death bed William
Waldo Astor and couple of other reia-
tiveS.
John Jacob Astor was the Oldest son OF
the late William Astor and grand son OF
the original John Jacob Astor, who
founded the fortunes OF the family. He
was the head of the third generation OF
the Astor family. He was born about
siXty-fve years ago. In 1910 MS Iather
died, leaving John Jacob two-thlrds
share of his estate valued at 2O0,0OU,UOU.
front and served with credit as an alde-de-
camp to General Mcclellan.
HISTORY OF THE FAMILY.
John Jacob Astor came to America in
1884 beginning with stock IN trade
consisting of six flutes and two other
musical instruments. He entered the en-
ploy of furrier in this city and in few
months mastered the trade which was ex-
tremely profitable as carried on with the
Indians. Astor visited the Canadian
woods, going on foot and carrying pack
OF his back, baubles such as delighted the
ahorigines He traded them for furs and
carried the furs home on his back. tie
made money, enlarged his business, nsing
pack sleds and the lint, in few
years doing an immense trade, get
ting the skins for literally nothing
of the Indians and sending them TO
J the orient where they were exchanged for
most valuable goods teas. spices, Indian
| and Japanese silks and the like. The
| profit averaged $50, 900 10 every cruise and
when in 1850 the old man died he left S2O,-
! 600. COO He founded the Astor library at
| the urgent solicitation of Washington
| Irving, Fitz Greene Hallock and an old
and trusted commercial friend. He had
been extremely penurious even to mean
ness and delighted in saving pennies, even
when he was a millionaire. He had three
sons The first died a babe. The second
named after himself, John Jacob Astor,
was demented aud was kept III Tine resi-
dence in West Twenty-thlrd street at his
fathers expense and after his fathers
death the income of fund of coo set
apart for that purpose. That John Jacob
| passed away aged 60 years. some thirty
wears ago The As5or millions
had been handed down to a
third son. William d. Astor
+ l., .. bn ba ont
for better tenement houses in New Hork
| When William B. Astor died he left the
vastly increased family fortune 10 MS eld-
est son. John j lcob Astor, the third, who
Is now dead.
Thomas G. Sherman, of the Forum for
November last, estimated john Jacob
Astor's fortune at $50, ,000O0O, making
him the American Cresus. The Astors"
were known for hall century as New
1ork's landlord. 1t has been estimated
that the estate included more than thou
sand dwelling houses.
John Jacob Astor, who died today, was
the finest specimen of manhood the AStor
family ever offered. He was tall, erect.
handsome, vigorous and carried himself
admirably almost to the last. He was ac-
c0mplished, well educated and of cult
waited tastes.
The funeral will take place On Tuesday
| morning 1t 10 o'clock from Trinity chapel
DIR. Morgan Dix and DR. c. f. Swope will
officiate. 1t was at this chapel that Mr..
: Assor usually attended services, and he
) was formerly vestryman of Trinity
church.
: Thus passes away perhaps the richest
man of America; certainly the head OF the
5 wealthiest family in the country. For
over two years Mir Astor had not quite
: been himself. ln December 1885,. his wife
: died, and from. thai time on there was
I noticeable change in him. Among hi:
l benifcents were princeiy gifts to the
Children's Aid society; $1,000 was giveI
: TO send street waits to homes in tht
west. Schools, too, were endowed with for
tunes by Mr. ami Mrs. Astor. When Mrs
i, Astor died, she gave S25o, 900 at one lot Il
the skin and cancer hospital. Her dia
monds valued at 81, ,oO0, 0fo, she lett 10 Mrs
: William Astor, who succeeded her as sht
: leader of New York society. It Is a coin
: cideuce that at the time of Mrs. JONI
z Jacob Asuor's death two years ago. Mr.
: aud Mrs William Astor were, as al IL
. present time. abroad ana unable TO be .
: the bedside Of the dead.