The herald., 1896-07-05

ple-blooded aristocrats are to the people
on the other side of the Atlantic Richard
T. Wilson and his wife are to the folk
on this end of the pond
Yet outside Of a circumscribed sphere
the Wilson's, husband and wife, are COM
paratively unknown. In the newspaper
reports of society functions they are
Mr.. and Mrs. Orme Wilson, or as the
parents of Mrs. Ogden Goelet. or as
Mrs. Michael Herbert's father and moth
er. Unless the unforeseen happens. they
will also be known as the parents of Mr..
and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, jr.
To fully appreciate what all this means
IL must be known that their children
have married into four Of the wealthiest
families in the world over, yet forty
years ago the father was clerk in
country grocery store in the obscure
town of Madison, Ga. This shows the
possibility of the American citizen anu
the towering heights, both financially
and socially, which the most lowly can
reach.
There has been a lot of talk about Cor
nelius Vanderbilt disinheriting his son
because of his marriage to Miss Wilson.
Those who know Cornelius Vanderbilt
know that all this talk Is absolute rot.
The father is kindly. broad-minded
man and the peacemaker of the family
When his father, the late William H.
Vanderbilt, drew up his will it was the
intention of the old gentleman to cut off
Willie K, his second son. with $40. 600, ,000
the amount left to each of his other six
children, and leave about $3.50, 600 900 to
Cornelius The latter championed the
cause of Willie K, and although 1t meant
difference of $4,000, 900 to himself he
induced the old man to give as much to
Willie X. as he gave him (Cornelius).
1t is not often that one brother fights for
another in this way, particularly when
success meant loss of $55, 100000. But
this shows the kind of man Cornelius
Vanderbilt is.
MAY GET s1OO,Ooo.OOO
If he is convinced that his son is men,
tally and morally fitted to WELD the i'm
mense power which scores of millions
gives the young man will come in for the
bulk of the fortune. The wealth of the
father now amounts to more than $780,
100000, and unless the unforeseen happens
1t will probably amount to $50, 900 900 at
the time of his death. Allowing for
charitable bequests and the amounts be-
queathed to the other children, Cornell
fus, Jr., as the future head of the most
powerful family in the country, will
probably inherit in the neighborhood OF
800, 600, 900.
Thus the Wilson's, father and mother.
planned marriage for their daughter
to a young man who promises to be the
ruling hgure in American finance for
years to come. Ogden Goelet, the hus-
band of the eldest daughter, is worth
$40,0O0 600, and every year or two some
fabulously rich relative dies and leaves
him few more millions. Moreover. the
bulk of his fortune is invested in real
estate In the heart of the business dis
trict OF the city and is increasing in value
right along. The second eldest daugh-
ter married the Hon. Michael Herbert.
VINO, as the secretary of the British le-
gatlon at Washington, was the great
oeau at the capital few years ago.
ANOTHER MATCH IN SIGHT
Thus the Wilson's are connected with
the Vanderbilts, the Astors, the Goelets.
the three most influential families in
New YORK. What is of Great interest to
the people of the swell set is rumor to
the erect that the only unmarried child
OF the Wilson's, Richard T. Wilson. jr..
Is TO marry Miss Gerry, a daughter of
Einrloge L. Gerry Commodore Gerry's
mother was a Miss Goelet and by mar
riage the Gerrys are already related to
the wilson's. Young Dick Wilson. as he
is called. Is mainly famous for his abil-
ity 10 lead cotillons. He is of medium
!nelsnt, very slender and typical dude
IN appearance. He speaks with a fash
napie nf a. arawl and is the exact opposite
OF MS rather as far as externals go
Many people from the south Who re-
!nemoer the Wilson's in ante-bellum
times wonder how they managed to ac
coInpllsh SO much in New York It can
easily ca De told In few words. Richard
wilson was born in Tennessee. and
WE VIII ne sou old enough to shift for him
sen ne went to Georgia. From clerk he
soon became the owner of a country
store. he supplied the planters with
proVender FOR their slaves and received
In exchange portions of their crons He
was tremendously shrewd young man.
and to this day stories can be heard in
Ine mioole Georgia district of the won
n
Wilson. eA
He was handsome man, a perfect
giant in build, standing six feet four
inches, and with breadth of shouIder
that was astonishing. Today he is one
Of the handsomest men in New York. He
has thick, snow white hair, a full white
beard and his colossal frame shoulders
his 20 years with ease. He met and mar
ried Miss Johnson of Macon, Ga,
A WAR TIME START
When the war hroks ont the confed-