Evening journal., 1893-05-19
ONE oE rHe FOUR HUNDRED.
something About New York Family
Which Hos Attained NotorietN.

Something About New York Family
Which Has Attained Notoriety.
The Bradley Martins have figured con-
spicuously for the past 10 years in that set
of society known as the millionaire SET"
Mrs. Bradley Martin, who was known TO
her intimate school friends as Nellie Sher-
man, was the only child Of Isaac Sherman,
who up to the time Of his death was re
garded as q well TO dO' man, and one who
could give his family comforts above the
ordinary, but not great luXuries His
daughter was sent TO Miss McCauley's
school-in those days an exclusive school
and there she met many girls who have
since risen TO a position in the million
aire set, but who like herself in school
days were not looked upon as catches"
Isaac Sherman was the son of a cooper.
In early life he followed the same calling,
and when he had amassed the sum of $780,
600 i'm the western part Of this state de-
clared TO one of his old friends and advisers
that he was as rich as he ever desired to be.
With this amount he came to New York
something more than aquarter of a century
ago, when with his ready money he began
TO look about FOR chances OF investment.
He invested, but did not speculate, and the
government bonds and railroad shares
which he accumulated made a fortune
which no one suspected. After his death
New York was dumfounded at the amount
of his estate which reached up into the
millions, and which was left to his widow
and only child
While at Miss McCauley's school Miss
Nellie Sherman was mate of certain mem
bers of the Vanderbilt Slmily Tier most
intimate friend was Miss Margaret Louise
Vanderbilt, who on the occasion Of her NAV
riage to Colonel Elliott Fitch Shepard just
few months more than 2j years AGO, i'm
vited Miss Sherman TO "stand up" with
! her, as the fashion was in those days. Colo
mel Shepard, who was on Governor Fen
toms staff, telegraphed to his friend Brad
| ley Martin, an aid-de-camp to the govern
or, then at Albany, to come on for his we'd
ding TO act as one of his groomsmen. Mr.
Martin was introduced to Miss Sherman at
that wedding, and before two months they
were engaged Neither girl at that time
was considered an heiress in the present
sense Of that term.
Isaac Sherman died about 10 years ago,
and after coming into possession of her
| great fortune his daughter began to enjoy
| it. She built, or rather reconstructed, three
houses in West Twentieth street, which
were made into one. The richest furniture
that Europe and America could afford was
placed within its walls, and the rarest tap
estries and paintings, objects dart without
number. Then with the completion of
! such a house entertainments of an elab-
crate scale began. Mrs. Martin by mar
riage is connected with the Townsends,
Lansings and Van Rensselaers of Albany
and the Lawrences Of Long Island, that
placing her at once ON n certain footing
with families whose names are historical in
New York state.
Eight years ago great ball was given
blythe Bradley Martins, for which a tempo
rary structure was built extending from
the rear of the houses to Nineteenth street.
For that week Mrs. Bradley Martin carried
an insurance policy ON the entire block
bounded by Fifth and Sixth avenues and
Nineteenth and Twentieth streets. With
theup town movement Of grand opera they
became stockholders and had a box which
through the manner of choosing by lottery
was not one of the best ia the house. Thre,
winters ago the mammoth dinner party al
Delmonico's, when $50 guests were sentet
in the ballroom, and the cotilion following
were the sensation of the season. 1t wa
generally said that Mrs. Bradley Martin
owed her position in society to the good of
fees Of man who has the reputation o
placing" people, but at this dinner it wa
generally noted in society that this MAJ
was not even consulted and that he had al
inconspicuous place at one Of the tables -
| New York Herald