The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-13

Bank to go into the employ of Nissan
Bros, bankers, but later his grand
father 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 il. He was
then about p years old. The first place
he was given was that of assistant
treasurer of the New York and Harlem
railroad
His grandfather died in 1877, leaving
the bulk Of the greatest fortune in
America to William H, the father OF
Cornelius the second. The estimated
sum was over $4,000. 600, and it was
carefully husbanded and largely in
creased, so that when William H. died
in 1885, he left s10,000,000 to each Of his
eight children, TO Cornelius $4,000. 00(
more, 100000 to Cornelius eldest son
(who died), 81 900, 600 TO benevolent OBJ
jects and the balance to Cornelius and
William K. in equal shares, subject &c
an annuity of 5000, 900 per annum to be
paid their mother during her life. This
balance has been said to have been
$50, 100000 to SS0.004000 for each of the
sons.
Cornelius had then been for a number
Of years in the offices of the New York
Central railway, and in 1888, on his
fathers retirement from the presidency
of the New York Central and Michigan
Central railroads, had been elected
chairman of the boards Of directors
He had been treasurer of the New York
and Harlem railway from 1867 to -S77
vice-president from 1877 to 1886. and
president afteward. In 1888 he also be
came president of the Canada South
ern, and was, until recently, on 2
boards of directors of railroads and
kindred corporations
NJ. Vanderbilts active career was
practically closed when he suffered the
para.ytic stroke in 1896.
Despite his enormous business inter
ests, he found time to devote to church
and Sunday school work, which he be-
gan early in life. He gave freely f
the railroad branch of the Y NJ c. A.
and to the work of ST. Bartholomew {
P, E church in New York
Mr.. Vanderbilt's great business cares
made his life necessarily methodieal
and he was noted for his punctuality.
He went TO Europe last spring and
CAM home on June "A, accompanied By
Mrs. Vanderbilt and Miss Gladys Van
derbilt, his daughter. They went Ia
Newport the same day and Mr.. Wander
DIT improved constantly in health Or
Aug. he gave a house party at his
home, the Breakers. The last social
affairs in the Breakers were upon tins
departure of Alfred Vanderbilt for Z
rouRd-the-world trip. He left on july
20 accompanied by Williams Proudfit
Burden, Ernest Iselin and Douglas H
Cochran. II is said that he has beer
recalled and that the trip will be aban-
doned.
LatteFly he had withdrawn from ac
tive and even from nominal interest il
many railroads, being substituted by
trusted agents. His eldest son, Cor
nelius, has been in the New York Cen.
trial ofIlcas for several years. undergo
ing the same training he received, witt
the yieH. Of succeeding him in activ,
charge Of all the offices he had retained
His wealth was estimated to be owe
SlO0.ec0,0O0 His business ventures haI
Invariably been profitable, although
NJ 81 projected Oh gigantic lines. H,
never speculated, but pushed his busi
ness industriously along the estab
nShed line OF money breeding money
lie had been the financial agent of hi.
brother, William K, and managed tn
Investments Of his sisters, Mrs. Ellio
y. Shepard. Mrs. Hamilton Mex
Twonbiy, Mrs. Seward Webb and Mrs
William D. Sloane. He had been looked
upon not only as the head Of the house
but as its financier.
In 1870 he married Miss Alice Gwynne
He was already a worker in the cans
Of the Episcopal Church, and with III,
growth of his fortune gave more anc
more literally to religious and char
liable work.
His liberality was not confined t,
church matters. He subscribed largely
to the Metropolitan Museum Of eth,
American Museum of Natural HistorI
anc many other educational institu
tions. He was a lavish entertainer.
His magnificent home at Fifty-sev
enth street and Fifth avenue is r,rob
ably the finest house in this country