New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-23
A SKETCH OF Ills CAREER.

John Jacob AStOr was born in this city sixty.
seven years ago. He was the grandson of John
Jacob Astor, the founder Of the Astor estate, and
the of William t. AstOr who died in 1875,
from whom hc inherited two-thirds of the already
immense Astor estate, the remainder going TO his
brother William. John Jacob received a good
education, and went into business with his father
In about 1914 Thomas Gibbs, of South Carolina,
came to this city, bringing his daughter, who was
a beautiful and accomplished woman Mr.. Gibbs
traced his ancestry back 10 King John. The
Gibbs family visited William B. Astor at his
home at Rhincbeclx. where John Jacob fell in
love with Miss Gibbs. The young people were
married in lS4j, and one son was born, William
Waldorf Astor, recently United States Minister
10 Italy, and man of high literary ability MIR.
Astors married life was happy one
lie continued in business with his father after
his marriage up TO the outbreak of the war.
lie was patriotic young man, and early enlisted
as volunteer lie served an aid on the staff
of General Mcclellan, with the title of Colonel,
and with credit to himself On the staff was
the Compte de Paris, for whom Mr.. AstOr had the
highest regard. On Thursday night Mr.. Astor
gave dinner TO a few friends, to whom he told
a number of anecdotes about the war experiences
Of himself and the Compte dc Paris. As men,
ber Of the Loyal Legion and other kindred orsani-
zations he kept up his interest in his old army
friends.
At the close of the war he resumed business
with his father and from that time on his
life had no incidents of public interest at all COM
mcnsurate with his connection with great fortune
lie inherited the traits of his ancestors, and pur-
sued their business methods. On the death OF
his father he sweed his great Inheritance by
constantly buying valuable real estate wherever
he could and rarely selling. lie made II rue
TO keep if possible what he had acquired. buo
he never hestated to lease if he could on safe,
long terms for improvement purposes. lhe re-
suit was that at his death he was the largest
owner of real estate in The city next 10 the Irin-
ity Church corporation.
Ii was Mr.. Astor's father who originated the
movement for better tenement houses John
Jacob is said to have owned 1000 dwellings,
whose aggregate rental comes 10 an enormous
figure lie also believed in his fathers ideas
about the tenemcnt-house system In another
rcspcct he carried out the family tradition by
giving three city lots TO the Astor Library
IIc also uave $3.50. 900 to the library, with which
three WINS were built and new books purchased.
But the quiet and unostcntatous way IN which
hc supplemented his wifc's devotion 10 charity 10
not generally known. Some of his charitable acts
have been made public. Mrs. Astor left large
sum Of money for the Skin and Cancer Hospital
MIR. Astor gave 100000 10 the hospital a few
years ago With Mrs. Astor he was ADeral
liver 20 many charity organizations. MIS-. ASlor
was the patron of hundreds of ragged ne"sooSS
of this city, who often enjoyed the dinners sne
llave 10 them OH THANKSGIVING Day. lo-ethcr
Mr. and Mrs AStor favored the \cwsboys Logging
House and the Chldrcns Aid Society lhey also
rave $40 OOO so il is said, to send children oil tlo
street TO Western homes. ,..;
While he did not take an active part IN p0n.Ics'
Mr. Astor's sympathicS were with the hcpuplyd9
marty. The success with which his dlStllGulSheo
son discharged his duties rs Minister TO ltaN was
especially pleasing to him. Mr.. Astor was Il
member of the Mon League Clup ana many
social ORGANIZATIONS His home at NO: o2o
Fifth-aNr was one of the finest mansions IN ING
citv He also had a splendid country pace a'
Irvington After the death of his wlic nc enier.
tainri little The story that he NJ one une
contemplated marrying a Mrs. Bowler. ot Oincul,,
noti n niece of t;corgc II. Pcudleton. was dchlsu
Yesterday by an int innate friend Ol Mt. AstoI, WIG
said that he never thought of marrying a Secohd
time. ,t ,,o,sod oro
found sorrow among his many acqhalhianceS' ana
WAS talked about here by people IN al walks OF
Iifc There were many callers at the mouse
Hcstcrday. Among those who left cards OF con-
IoIcncc were Clarence A. seward. Mrs W illam
4 Lus, General George W. Cullum, wilson "
Hunt Charles l. Peabody. Samuel Sloane, Klch-