The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-13
MIR. vANDERBILT's CAREER.
He Began business Life as a Messen-
ger for a New York Bank.


He Began business Life as a Messen-
gee. for n New York Bank.
Cornelius Vanderbilt was born on Staten
island Nov o. 1s43. William III. Vanderbilt,
his father was at that time a farmer and
Cornelius, at the age of sixteen. left school
and secured a place as messenger in the
Shoe and Leather Bank. his grandfather,
the commodore learning this, sent for him
and asked why he had not applied TO him
for place.
Because / did not want to ask you for
anything" was the reply.
This pleased the commodore and 1t is said
he made a codicil to his will few days
later leaving 81 100000 to his grandson. Cor
nelius left the Shoe and Leather Bank to
go into the employ of Nissan Bros, bank
ers but later his grandfather asked him to
enter the railroad service. The young man
was making $50 a month and declined to
leave his place unless he got more money.
He was given $65 and accepted He was
then about twenty-one years old. The first
place he was given was that Of assistant
treasurer of the New York G. Harlem Rail-
road. His rise was rapid and he succeeded
his father as head of the Vanderbilt sys-
tenn.
AT the time of his death Mr.. Vanderbilt
was president of the Canada Southern Rail-
way, vice president and director of the
Beach Creek Railroad, president of the De-
troit & Bay City Railroad, director of the
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & st. Louis
Railroad, director of the Detroit & Chicago
Railroad, director of the Dunkirk, Allie
gheny Valley & Pittsburg Railroad. director
of the Hudson River Bridge Company, pres
ident of the Joliet & Northern Indiana COM
pany, president of the bennington & ST.
Clair River Railroad, president of the New
York & Harlem Railroad. president of the
Niagara River Bridge Company, president
of the Spuyten Duyvil g. Port Morris Rail-
| road. director of the Palace Car Company.
director of the West Shore Railroad direc-
tor of the West Shore & Ontario Terminal
Company, director of the Cleveland, Cana
dian Southern G. Detroit Railroad Company,
director of the New York Central.& Hudson
River and a dozen affiliated roads.
Mr.. Vanderbilt's active career was prac-
tically closed when he suffered a paralytic
stroke in 1896. After the stroke Mr.. Van
derbilt leased a residence in Washington,
d. c., and upon advice of his physicians
lived there for three months, refraning
from entertaining, however. and living very
quietly. His sojourn in Washington was of
evident benefit, and upon his return to his
residence in this city in April, 1897 he ap-
peared to many of his friends to be nearly
strong and as well as he ever had been.
Plans were made for trip to Europe in
the following month.
In the months following his departure his
friends were delighted by letters which de-
scribed his health steadily growing firm
er and said that his physicians had con-
scented to his returning home in the autumn,
but with the proviso that he must for an
indefinite time content himself with a very
general supervision of the Vanderbilt rail-
way systems, and relinquish entirely the
detail work which he had previously taken
| upon himself His promised return at this
time did not take place. however Either
inclination or change Of opinion on the
| part of his physicians, of whom the cele-
| brated Partisan scientist, DR.. Charcot, was
| one, prolonged his stay abroad He re-
| manned in Paris most of the time until
| December. when he went to Marseilles. and
| there went aboard his yacht for a leisure
| ly winter cruise across the Mediterranean
| to Algerian and North African ports after
| wards proceeding up the Nile On the Jour-
| ney he was accompanied by Dr. Charcot
| and he was not then expected to return to
| the United States until the summer of 1893
Despite his enormous business interests
| Mr.. Vanderbilt found time to devote to
| church and Sunday-school work, which he
| began early in life. He gave freely to the
railroad branch of the Y. NJ. c. A and to
| the work of st. Bartholomew p E. Church
| in this city. Mr.. Vanderbilt devoted much
| time and a share of his wealth to the adj
| vancement of the interests of his employees.
| by whom he was held in the greatest affec-
| ton. He was a director in more than thirty
railway companies and officially connected
, with some fifteen church and charitable or
| CARNATIONS. He was a member of the
Metropolitan, Union League. City, Union,
| Knickerbocker. Century, st. Nicholas, Play
| ers', Tuxedo, Grolier, Law, Down Town As
ISOLATION, Country, Riding, Racquet and the
| New York Yacht Clubs Mr.. Vanderbilt
| left an estate valued all the way from
500 OO.OO0 to s2OoOoo.Ooo. In 1885 he inherited
over So, 0OO, oO0 and this amount has been
| probably trebled. William H. Vanderbilt
died in 1885, having increased the family for
tune nearly to $500 100000. The fortune was
distributed by the will among his eight chill
| dren, as follows:
| Absolutely. For Life Total
Cornelius $o6.6 $4,000 S. 10000 So 500 900
4 IA. n 4.