Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-05-16

Since the filst John Jacob AstOr, the
Badenese peasant began to grow very
rich in this city, mainly by the pur
chase of New York real estate, some
ninety years ago, he gave whatever at
tention was not occupied with the ac
emulation of money to the founding
Of a family. He himself looked after
the connubial branch of his financial
accumulation with vigilant and Jealous
eyes. And when he had seen his son
William r. Astor, married to the
daughter Of a prominent American
politician, or statesman Ii you choose
of excellent social position, who had
held high offices under the government,
he believed his scheme had been favor
ably introduced and would yield the
desired results. His second son was
imberile from birth. and though every
possible means was taken 70 cure his
mental infirmity, II grew worse with
years and lie finally died here, past 60,
in private residence, where he was
secluded and had the very best Of care
Jacob was all the more anxious that
his sane son should carry out his in
tentions and projects matrimonially rs
well as monetarily.
He believed in prilnogeniture as the
English manage it, and wished TO have
it followed, so far as the laws of this
country would allow, in his immediate
descendants. William b. Astor natur-
ally became the head Of the family ana
the representative Of the estate, stead
lily increasing its millions, to which he
was entirely devoted, until he died at
the ripe age of ST. His eldest son,
John Jacob, in turn succeeded to the
headship of the family, and exhibited
even more amaSsing talent than his
father had done. Meanwhile, the mar
rying industry had been satisfactorily
arranged among the AStors, who had
stood closely together ON all questions,
those of a matrimonial kind particu-
larly, and everything had gone on as
the founder of the estate would have
wished and advised. Family councils
had been Instituted early in the cen
fury and been regularly held, very
much as If the Astors were a princely
or royal line, instead of consan-
guineous convention of money-grub-
bers.
Until within the last ten or twelve
years. says a correspondent Of the 81.
Louis Glol Democrat, certainly most
things had proSpered with the Astors.
Their enormous income had swelled
continually and their conjugal alli-
ances had thriven--and these Were
what chiefly concerned them. They
had had no nte.nal troubles, so far as
known; no external misfortunes be
yond occasional deaths and some IN
sanity; no divorces, no scandals, no
permanent worries. the gods ap-
peared to smile on their plutocracy,
and they may have grown to believe,
as they have ever been uneompromis-
ing Episeopalians. fencing TO high
church forms. that their course had
been approved by heaven But latterly
4 change, Il series of changes, has
come upon them The second John
Jacob Astor died at about 81, when his
father and grandfather had lived
nearly twenty years longer, and his
brother William died soon after 60, IN
dicating marked decline Of life IN
the third generation. Then Mrs. John
Jacob Astor had had but one child, 4
son, William Waldorf Astor, an eX.
ception to the general fertility of the
wives Of the family. Other adversities
soon ensued, and. as they have been
made public by the persons most in
tereSted, comment on them would an
bear to he wholly legitimate,
Every body remembers what an eN.
traordinary disturbance was caused a
few years ago at Newport by the mo
,nentous dispute. "Who is Mrs AstorT'
Then Mrs. William Astor and Mrs.
william Waldorf Astof were both
there. and as letters came for Mrs. AS
tor the postmaster naturally Delivered
them to the first person calling for
them. But. as he was severely in-
formed that Mrs. William Astor was
the only Mrs. Astor, he acted on the
name belonged to Mrs William Valid
orr Astor. He was in quandary; ne
knew not what to do. lie begged the
ladies 10 settle the matter for them
selves. But they could not, or AT least
would not. All the cottagers took part
In the controversy. which furnished
gossip aud Jokes to the newspapers for
months. Childish and ridiculous ~
the thing Was, the Astors We're q 50
much consequence to themselves that
ii made IN irreparable breach IA me
hitherto compact, harmonious family.
The different members took sides. and
they are still divided on that issue
rhe general public laughed and forgot
the affair which still rankles Ike po-
tcnt poison hi their veins Al poor Mrs.
William waldorf AStor's funeral aas
lust disclosed
Net long after this storm in a saucer
Tho domestic trouble between Mr. ana