The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-21

When william was past forty the
commodore discovered that he had
made a mistake-that his neglected son
was really good for something. He
called him to New York and as a
starter made him vice president of thu
Harlem. Before the old mans death
William was practically the head OF
the system, and his father made
amends for his early neglect by leav-
ing him S90.000,0o0 and the richest
man in America. Within five years
thereafter the new Vanderbilt had in
creased this sum to $150,000,000. He
was undoubtedly the most competent
railroad manager the world had ever
seen. Less speculative even than his
father, he had a positive genius for
development, and under his control the
system hourished wonderfully He lost
millions in the fight with the Gould
cohorts, but he recovered it all and
added to it by skillful management OF
the properties. At his death he di-
vided $4,000 600 between his sons Cor
nelius and William K. and gave $10.-
100000 to each of his other six children
two boys and four girls-besides
20.00O,0 900 in additional requests.
William HIS sons-Cornelius william
K, Frederick ". and George Ware
all living except Cornelius, who died OF
four daughters became Mrs. Elliot F.
Shepard, Mrs. W. Seward Webb, Mrs.
H. Mckay Twombley and Mrs. w. D.
Sloane. OF the four sons-in-law Mr..
Sloane was the only one who was
wealthy, his father having been rich
| carpet manufacturer. Although the
father left Cornelius and William K,
| the older boys, the bulk of his estate di-
vided into two equal portions, he stipu-
lated that Cornelius, the Oldest. should
be regarded as the head of the family.
Both sons married young-Cornelius
Miss Alice Gwynne of Ohio, and VIII
liam K. Miss Alva Smith of Alabama.
At their fathers death both Of the sons
! developed into good business men, and
their families became prominent in the
social world. In 1896 William K. and
his wife were divorced and nine years
/ later he married Mrs. Rutherfurd, sis
ter Of Oliver Hartman. IT. His for
mer wife became Mrs. Oliver H. P. Bel
mont.
Frederick W. the third son. now
| rty-eight, has been the least con-
! spicuous of the family and spends most
of his time at Hyde Park, his beautiful
estate on the Hudson. George w, the
youngest, forty-two years of age. is a
man of marked scholarly tastes. He
married Edith Stuyvesant Dresser, and
/ they spend much of the time at BiIt-
more, their princely North Carolina
estate. They have one child, little
/ girl named Cornelia. It is related of
this Vanderbilt that he used to spend
1 5000 a year on himself and $500, 600
in charity.
/ Seven children were born to Corne-
Illus Vanderbilt 2d-four sons and three
/ daughters. Both the eldest son and
the eldest daughter are dead. Those
/ living are Cornelius Sd, Gertrude, now
Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney; Alfred
Gwynne, Reginald Claypool, and Gladys.
William ks children by his former
wife are Consuelo, duchess of Marl-
borough; William Nissan, Jr.. and
Harold Sterling The marriage of Cor
nelius Sd to Miss Grace Wilson was
the cause of rupture between the
young man and his father, and Alfred
oswynne. the next son. was made the
heir.
Among all the living descendants of
the commodore Cornelius Sd is the
/ only one who bears any resemblance
/ to the founder of the family. His man
/ " determination to be the arbiter of
/ his own fortune and to wed the wo-
man Of his choice, followed by his disin-
/ heritance and subsequent heroic ac-
! ceptance of the situation, gave him
warm place in the affections of the
American people. Alfred and Reginald
( are leading opponents of the fashion,
able set and are both married. VIII
/ liam K. Vanderbilt, Jr.. who married
4 Virginia Fair. daughter of a famous
! Bonanza king. is reputed to have
! business turn of mind. His younger
/ brother, Harold, is still in college
ALVIN TOWNSEND.