The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-11-21
WHOLE No. 2.6O9

by the support OF most the crowne'
heads Of Europe.
In spite OF these facts, the unitet
wealth of all the branches of tn
Rothschild family is estimated at no
more than half as much again as tina
of the four Vanderbilt brothers.
The landed possessions OF the Astors
! preserved intact for four generations
and augmented by the unearned IN
crement OF New York's development
hardly afford parallel case.
The rising generation of the Goulc
family has yet to prove its ability to
manage fortune which was probably
as great as Commodore Vanderblt's al
the time Of the latter's death.
When the Commodore died, il
January, 1877, in his sgd year, he lef
two sons. The younger, Cornelu:
Jeremiah, was the nearest approach
to black sheep among his numerous
posterity.
This statement must not be inter
preted too severely, for together witt
utter lack OF financial ability, "young
Cornell p possessed many amiable
traits of character, and retained TO the
last the friendship of some of the fore
most Of his contemporaries, notably
Horace Greeley.
His father, who regarded his pee
cadil.oes with unreTenting severity, be-
queathed him only the interest upon
the sum of 100000. After other
legacies, amounting in ali to about
SIS, 900, the remainder Of the
commodore's accumulatlons were left
to his other son, William H. Wander
bilt.
William H. Vanderbilt's family con-
sisted OF four sons, Cornelius, William
Kissan, Frederick w. and George, and
four daughters, Mrs. Elliot E. Shep,
pard, Mrs. William Sloane, Mrs. H.
Mex. Twombly and Mrs. w. S. Webb.
Cornelius Vanderbilt was 40 years
old when the sudden death of his
father (William) on DEC. s, 1885,
raised him to the head of New York S
greatest moneyed family. That head
ship is not merely an empty phrase, it
may be remarked, for the wealth ofthe
Nanderbilts, though not held in com
mon as that of the Rothschilds is said
to be, Is yet kept together by strong
bonds Of family alliance, and is prac-
tically controlled as a unit by the elder
brother.
Entering the world OF business in his
teens, as clerk in the Shoe & Leather
Bank, Cornelius was always, like his
father, a hard worker. He left the
bank to fulfill the duties of a subordin-
ate position in the office of the New
York Central, and worked his way up
the ladder, until at his fathers death he
was ready to take the vacant place at
the head of the management of his
great railroad interests.
There are few more public spirited
men than Cornelius Vanderbilt. His
charities, as well as his wife's, are
numerous and unostentatious. He
takes an especially deep interest in all
movements tor the benefit of boys and
young men.
Mr.. Vanderbilt is a church warden
of St. Bartholemew's the handsome
Episcopal house OF worship on Madison
avenue.
He succeeded to the office at the
death of his father, who had held it for
many years, and whose name is now
craven on bronze memorial tablet Oh
the wall of the edifice.
He is active IN the work of the
church, and liberal and cheerful giver
to the missions connected with it.
In his home life, too, Mr.. Wander
bilt is most happily situated. He is a
model husband and father, and is very
fortunate in his family relations.
He was married IS years ago to
Miss Gwinn, Of Cincinnati, and has
four children. The eldest, who is
named William H., after his grand
father, is Yale student and very
promising boy.
His New York residence, at the
northwest, corner OF 5th avenue ana
57th street, was built for him by his
father, and is considered one of the
handsomest houses in the country.
His cottage at Newport, the Break
ers, is one OF the finest of the summer
capitals palaces, while his farm in
Portsmouth, "Oakland," is the finest
on the island of Rhode Island.
None of the Vanderbilt brothers are
actively interested in the speCulations
of Wall street.