The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-18
GREAT xnrLroxA1RES WILLS.
II America the Bulk or Each Great Eststs
Has Gone to the Rich Mans Children.

Has Gone 70 the Rich Mans Children.
Tho small requests by Jay Gould to his
brother and sister call attention anew to the
fact that tho financial results OF the creation
OF fortune In n family IRE apt to be small to
the collateral branches and heavy to the direct
limo OF issue. This Is not surprising. 1t Is nat
ural that men should beauoath their fortunes
to their own children. both as a consequence
OF affection and as means OF founding q
family and perpetuating an estate. 1t is said
that other causes operate TO mako this rule
more marked than 1t would otherwise DO. 1t
is declared by some observers that poor BROTH
ers OF rich men are apt to be cnvious. and to
make their envy apparent to the fortunate
brother. Tho poor sisters OF such man are
quite likely to marry humby and to get n
degree of assistance during life which renders
heavy bequest less incumbent upon the rich
brother than IL he had not provided frequently
and moro or less literally for the women be-
forehand.
The Wills OF the heads OF the Astor family
do not point a moral in this respect. because
that family has followed rule designed for
the perpetuation Of great family estate In
Two parcels. Side Ieduests, II considerable.
would have prevented tho execution Of this
nan. The distribution Of tho late Samuel j.
Iiiden's fortune is not illustrative of the COM
mon custom. because he was bachelor.
A. L. Stewart. tho great merchant prince.
made simple will. In the second paragraph
OF the document opened after his death In
ieio. he wrote simply: IAN my property and
estate OF every kind and description. and
wherever situated. l give. devise. and be.
Queath to my dear Wife. Cornoia NJ. Stewart,
her heirs and assigns forever" In tho next
age. close mud wind UP his partnership h,Isi-
i ness ana affairs, lie mnde ,eX-ludge Hilton.
and he hequcathed. TO Mr.. Hilton the sum Of
ore million dollars "ag mark OF regarl."
IN tn codiell t., to the VII he beluyathed vari-
s sums q s#i5o0 to $5@o., savep ESasshoii
whose fathers house and hands he had en- n:
ioyei Hospitality; lie gave $1,000 q year and
$4,000 each to four persons Of the name of
Ciincl. who we're relatives Of his wife. to two
Sarah Smith and her daughter he gave $4,000
e each IL Me wil i that al, persons who had
should lave Sl.OOO. and ali who had worked
for him ten years 5000. A letter to his wife
accompanied the will. and in that he saiI that
schemes. but, II no died before doing 50 lie
would depend on her. to do SO with the advice
Mr. Stewart had no Chi dren. If lie had no
relatives either. his will is not case in point
n KY; on the other L8nI, II 1t Is true as many
cousins and other kin in Ireland. his absolute
ii3'rgetiMlness OF them or refusal to benefit
who have defended his estate against assault
produced testimony that he always said, lie
Jay Gould left to his sisters. Anna G. Hough
and Mrs. ELIZABETH Palen. and to his brother.
N N Gamaen a%d hGT e saSS
$1,000 u year additional income. II he had
t 3tmer KIN o. further remove he does not mem
his hs cdsn snd MS desps
Keen his estate in the direct line of tami!y de-
scent. for he gave it into the hands OF his chill
children. and each got an equal share OF the
fortune utter certain extra leGacies were taken
country homes ana their valuable contents.
us 1o ed hG SON Geqrge j. got present Of
Edwin got house in town. and half q million
was set aside Tor IA grandson
lommo4ore Vanderbilt, who died In IAN
than his children. 10 lis wife he gave half n
million DOLLARS and all the, contents Of his
was hers for life. 70 his brother. Jacob H. Van.
he gave 81 200 n year during her life TO his
ranging from $4,000 and $4,000 down aI to
5000 aud $500 year; But he gave one grand
doctor got Sl0.o00. and a faithful old clerk
got got $4,000: To uncle he Caye $1,000. and
III isaF H hs
eldest son. he handed down the bulk Of his
The whole, property had been considered MS
ths teen mons hat @am IT, AID tha not OF
get. one-half went to William sons the Oldest
SsattnE greatly the
that young Cornelius. who had already shown
ability as i'nnncierr; would become the head
nj fhn hn in fhEat tsl ftN,
gave merely tho Interest on s21ooGo. lie d. ii"
sanaly am"nS i've daughers. o% and two HSt'' 81
these he further hc oG cnrched the one With the
term to use. for 1t was evident that he intend
ed only to insure to each Of them the comforts
When i came tins to open the will o,
Sa WHen i EGs found h4t no
shares Of New York Central to his aunt phIbe
and to each Of twelve other relatives annuities
Went The ehdrsn. Thers were esht
81 them; and eaGn got ye mll9nS outright.
OTHER i've millions the eshth part Of trust u
fund Of $4,000. 900. The principal in this leg
ssiy sba to 20 as ID his when
outright. and to his favorite grandson. William
outriaRt. The youngest SON. George was 10
have the family mansion and works OF art
whom his m other should die. To his own widow
he left yearly allowance Of 5000, 1000 and the
soeyer or to whomsoever she pleased 10 each
Of his four daughters he gave the house in
which she was living whom he died. Having
property. which was said to he sufficient to
give. four, dollars 10 every man. woman. and
child in the country. Mr.. Vanderbilt gave the
rest to his first and second sons Cornelius and
William H.. or about 500. 100000 each.
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