New-York tribune., 1891-02-18
THE ASTOR AND WILLING FAMILIES

The name of Asor Is with the Americans ms well as
with the English. tho synonyme for wealth. and the
marriage Of a and heir of a branch Of that family
is looked upon A. matter Of importance almost
equal II rot exceeding in Interest the marriage OF a
Of rlching horse In a monarcbcal country. The
bridegroom Of to-day. John Jacob Astor IS about
twenty four years " age and for the last three years
haS been Identified with the most prominent young set
IN Ncv YORK. and Newport society He attended Harvard
University, but WIS never craiuacd. lie Is tall. quite
siN feet In height. with strongly marked features
scmbng his mother, who Miss Caroline Schermer-
horn. rather than his father. Though fond Of all
social pleasures, young Mr. Astor's tastes have as
sumcd mechanical bent, ana not long ago he
patented brake for bicycle which Is considered
ful and practical He Is interested I'm nautical
matters, and can tell 70 fine point the cost Of running
one Of the great ocean steamships and In his frequent
crossings he has made himself familiar with the duties
Of every man deck in the depths Of the hold.
Though never identified with the leaders OF cotlllors
Cu certain occasions h. has acquitted himself with
credit In that capacity, and last winter led with much
success. the New-Year's dance at Tuxedo Park. hi
partner being Miss Mabel Van Rensselaer,. II is hardly
necessary to touch upon the history Of the Astor family
IN this country. The bridegroom IL great grandson
NJ the founder Of the family in this country. John
Jacob Astor though Of the younger branch his cousin
william Waldorf Astor. in London. being the direct
descendant in the mnlo luc. The last marriage In
the Astor family wa, that Of Miss Caroline schcrmer
horn A,tor sister ~ the bridegroom of today, 10 Orme
Wilson. son ~ Richard T. Wilson. This viii be the
third # the Aetor fauly 10 marry phIladclphinn
Tho 4, u william Waldorf Astor was Miss Manic
Paul, II the Quaker City. and j. Coleman Drayton
also Phaiclphan, married another sister OF tho
bridegroom.
The willing family in Philadelphia is Of those
families which has made the state Of Pennsylvania
famous There ARE held by certain members Of
that family today hndS which came to them
through the original grants Of william Penn. "The
Magazine Of American History says that the town
Of Wilmington, Del. was started hy Thomas VIII
Inc, who,c fathcrinlaw. s|cde owned the site
The scttlomcnt vas nr-t STYLED Willlngtown.
The name was aft,rNafd changed 10 Wilmington.
The first Of the wiling family to achieve special
prominence was Charles Willing. great shippin;
merchant. who wa, Of the founders of the Uni
versity Of Pcnnsylvuua. and VINO was twice elected
Mayor Of Philadelphia. IN l1i5 and lI54 The women
of the willing family have been noted for their
beauty "A prominent member being Ann "lllng' "h"
married the merchant William Bingham in l7-O, and
afterward at the Court Of Louis XVI gained Teai
admiration Mrs bingham died during the early
part Of this century. some of the Wiilngs have
married into titled English families ana
two Of Mrs. BIngharls daughters mar
red into the celebrated family Of Barring, Of
banking rcnown. The mother Of Miss Ava Willns
a Miss Barton. daughter OF DR.. liait0n famous
considerable fortune through her mother, who wa
related 10 the famous Kdgeway family OF this city.
Miss Willing wa, prominently brought " the notice
Of people In New York society when sic passed a
season at Newport two years ago. From her first a
pcarancc young SIR Astor has been her devoted al
miier and various times IL has boon reported that
they engaged. but as oitea the r,mor was
denied. Nlss vikings father even last summer sedInc
a letter Of denial to the press. When an announce
men, appeared i've weeks ago. II quickly denied
by Mrs. Astor and Mrs. Willing. but was formally on
nounced two weeks later by both ladies. after the
consent Of Mr. AstOr. who was then abroad had been
obtained
Mis- willing has passed much Of her time abroad and
IS as we'll known IN New-YOrk In. Philadelphia, as
since her formal Introduction into society she hes
divided her time between these two cities and New
port. last fall paying visit TO hHr ntimas' friend
Miss Ethel Cram. at LenOS. She possesses great
beauty. Her hair Is dark brown and her complexion
wonderfully clear and fresh. Slantng eyebrows add
piquancy to her face When in conversation her face
light, up and she becomes far moro attractive. She
is probably not than twenty two years OF age.