Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-03-07
Death of John Jacob Astor Ill.
LIFE OF MAN WHO OWNED 5000, 600, 600
WORTH OF REAL ESTATE

LIFE OF A MAN WHO OWNED 5000, 100000
WORTH OF REAL ESTATE.
NEW YORK, Feb. 22-John Jacob Aston
the noted millionaire, died suddenly this
morning at o'clock. at his residence on
Fifth avenue, of heart failure. His death
was unexpected. When he returned from
Europe in December last he had slight
attack of la grippe, which is supposed to
have FASTENED his death. At noon yester-
day he was in his reading-roOm, after hay
ing taken lunch, when suddenly he fell
back breathless upon the sofa on which he
had been reclining. 1t was 1880 O'Clock
when a servant found him in this condi-
ton.
Dr.. Morris Asche, the family physician,
was Immediately called, and pronounced
the trouble angina pectoris, heart disease.
The patient was revived somewhat, and re-
manned conscious. but he subsequently
had renewed attacks at the heart, and real
lied that his end was near. Soon there
gathered at his bedside his only son, Will
liam Waldorf Astor, Mrs. William Wal
dorf Astor and Miss leila Gibbs, the Sis
ter-in-law of the dying man. His only
brother, William, is in Europe. They re-
manned at the bedside through the night,
and until the end came early this morning.
John Jacob Astor, whose death is noted
above, was probably the wealthiest man
in the United States since the great fortune
fWilliam II. Vanderbilt was divided up.
He was the grandson of the first John
Jacob AstOr and son of William Back
house Astor, who died in November, 1875,
leaving three sonS-JOhn Jacob, William
and Henry-and three daughters. One OF
the most magnificent endowments in New
York-the Astor Library-was founded by
his father and grandfather, and in 1875
John Jacob himself added to the library
hv OrocnntinU thrQa 1diOOinU lots and
erecting third structure similar to the
originals. He also added story to the
central building, the whole outlay, exclu-
Sive of the ground, being estimated al
$3.50, 900. His fathers wealth was placed
at about $40, 900 at his death, and this
was divided by will between John Jacot
and William Astor, the former receiving
two-thirds and the latter the remainder
The two sons were, however, given only q
lifeinterest in the residuary estate, the
principal of which deScends to their chill
dren,
John Jacob Astor was born in 1922, and
was about IS years old. He bore his years
remarkably we'll, being tall, handsome,
and of robust build. He was good liver,
and, therefore, occasionally subject to at
tacks OF govt, though inclined to penuri
BUSINESS in small things. He served as aid
de-camp to Mcclellan during the rebel
lion, and bore the title of Colonel. Like
his father, he was devoted to the develop
ment OF the large estates which he inner
tied, and under his fostering management
they grew to unprecedented proportion, his
fortune being variously estimated at from
$780, 00, 900 to $3.50, 900, 900. The largest part
of his great wealth was in real estate,
which it is said paid at least 10 per cent.
and he was constantly adding to it by in
vesting all he could spare from his rents in
more land. To his vast estate he gave his
personal attention, and was said to be a
careful and generous landlord. His brother
Williams fortune is estimated at from
$50, 000, 900 to $75,000,000.
About fOrtV-five years ago John Jacob
married the daughter of Thomas Gibbs, of
South Carolina. She died in 1887. Before
her death she contributed $780, 900 to erect
building for the New York Cancer Hos
pital, which was munificently endowed by
her husband and other wealthy gentlemen.
The institution was formally opened only
a few days before her decease.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. AStOr were averSe to
publicity and gave millions to charity
without any one knowing of it. They were
both members of Trinity Episcopal Church.
Among the benefactions of Mr.. Astor and
his wife were princely gifts to the News
boys LOdging-HOuse and the Children S
Aid Society; $4,000 was given to send
street waits to homes in the West. Schools,
too, were endowed with fortunes by Mi.
and Mrs Astor. Mrs. Aston left her dia-
monds valued at S3,0OO,OO to Mrs. Will
liam Astor, who succeeded her as the
leader of New York society. MI. and Mrs.
William Astor, who have lately spen
much of their time in Europe, live in the
other half of the block in which lived
Williams brother, John Jacob, who has
lust died. 1t is d coincidence that at the
time of Mrs. John Jacob Astor's death,
two years ago, Mr.. and Mrs. William
Aston, as at the present time, were abroad,
and were unable to be at the bedside OF
the dead.
MI Astor's only child-Hon. William
Waldorf Astor-survives him. His son is
a young man Of laudable ambition and
bright intellect. He was Minister to
Italy under President Arthur, and is the
author of two Italian novels of some
merit.