Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-06-13
ONE OF THE FOUR HUNDRED.
Something About New York Famlay
Which Has Attained Notorfety.

! Something About New York Famisv
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 eas 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 a well to dos man, and one who
| could give his family comforts above the
ordinary, but not great luxuries His
daughter was sent to Miss McCanley' 3
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 q cooper.
In early life he followed the same calling,
and when he had amassed the sum of $780,
600 in the western part of this state de.
elared 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 quarter of 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 family. Her most
Intimate friend was Miss Margaret Louise
Vanderbilt, who on the occasion of her mar
rage to. Colonel Elliott Fitch Shepard, just
q few months more than 25 years ago, in
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 wed
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
We're 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 d art without
number Then with the completion of
such a house entertainments of an elab-
crate scale began. Mrs Martin by mar
rlage Is connected with the IOwDSendS,
I.ansings and Van RensSelaers of Albany
and the Iawrences of Long Island, that
placing her ut once on certain footing
with families whose names are historical in
New York state.
Eight yeSrs ago great ball was given
by the Bradley Martins, for which 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
the up town movement of grand opera they
became stockholders and had box which,
through the manner of choosing by lottery.
was not one OF the best in the house. Three
winters ago the mammoth dinner party at
Delmonico's. when $50 guests Were seated
in the ballroom. and the cotillon following
were the sensation of the season. 1t was
generally said that Mrs. Bradley Martin
owed her position in society to the good Of
fees of a man who has the reputation of
placing" people, but at this dinner it was
generally noted in society that this mar
was not even consulted and that he had aa
inconspicuous place at one of the tables
New York Herald.