The state herald., 1890-02-07
NEW YoRk.s ARIsrocRAcv.
Origin Of the Wealth Of the Astorl
Aan AnnAarhIlfa ard Aha arIll

Origin Of the Wealt Of the Astors,
tho vanderbllts. and the LorIll-
ards.
An old inhabitant writes 10 the Now
York Times: John Jacob Astor had
his st ore in Vesey street in the build
ing in which DR.. Halleok lived. Fitz
Green Halleck, the doctors son, was
ono OF Astor's clerks. Astor got
his start in lie by hiring out to
furrier to beat housekeeping tho moths
out OF them-nt 81 day. He was
economical and saving, and presently
began to buy cat furs and muskrnt
furs, and when he had accumulated
lot OF them he took them to England
and sold them at u large profit. Then
he established his own business here,
and extended his connections west
ward and northward until he became
tho largest dealer In the country.
Commodore Vanderbilt was at this
time running II perry -augcr' (pcri-
agun'-a small ferry-boat carrying two
masts and n lecboard) between quaran-
tine station and the city, and was be-
coming very popular with boatmon and
others who were thrown in his way.
Fulton & Livingston owned an cxclu-
sire charter to run steamboats, between
New York und Albany. and the monop-
oily was paying immensely. Two old
Jerseyfnen then started un opposition
line, but MS they could not run direct
between New York and Albany they got
around the difficulty by going from
New York TO Jersey City and making
that the starting point for Albany.
They encountered all sorts Of diill.
culties, however. the monopOlists CO.
ing SO far as to willfully run their
boats down and otherwise crippling
them, and they were threatened with
bankruptcy.
Ono OF the proprlctors was at New
Dorp one day, when he asked old Mr..
Guion II he knew of man who was
competent to take hold OF their line
and make success OF it. Yes said
Guion, 4 know such man. His namo
is Cornell Vanderbilt. He'll take
your boats to the mouth OF hell II you
want him to- That's Just the man
want was the response, and in little
while the bargain was concluded and
Cornelius Vanderbilt took charge OF
the line. The monopolists tried every
possible means TO prevent the line from
doing business in New York, and at
last put sheriff on board with in-
structions to arrest Vanderbilt II ho
should attempt to move tho steamer
from tho wharf. Vanderbilt got all
ready TO go. and then stood by with an
AK. and when the wheels had begun to
revolve and there was good strain on
tho hawser he mp with his ax and cut
the hawser and steamed away TO Al
bany with the sheriff on board. a
continuation OF his vigorous policy
finally broke up the Fulton e. Living
ston monopoly aud established the OPP
position line on profitable basis.
Vanderbilts daughters were wild
kind OF girls. They were perfectly Mt
home everywhere on Staten island
and werc very popular. used to see
them In grocery over there. sitting
on the counter and swinging their feet,
and talking To the young fellows who
were chatting them.
Tho Lorillards had n snuff and to-
bacco business and they made good
deal of money out OF it. There were
three brothers OF them-Jacob, and
Peter. and George. Jacob had
butcher-shop up near the Bowery the
ntcr Pcter-that was the Dutch OF IL;
1t came TO be Pierre after 1t had been
transplantcd into French soil few
months-Peter and George were the
snuif and toblcco dealers. After they
got wealthy nothing would do but old
Lorillard must have n carriage and
coat-of-arms upon. He chose for his
coit-of-arms Who'd thought it-snufI
bought it.n This made the people
laugh, and so he changed II after
while. putting on In place, "Quid
rides, which means "At what do you
lnugh?" His tobacco store was In
Chatham street.