New-York tribune., 1908-10-31
MRS. ASTOR'S LONG LIFE
HER SOCIAL LEADERSHIP.
Was Married Nearly Sifty Years
Ago in This City.

Although for the last two years Mrs Astor had
been living in great retirement owing to the break
down OF her health in 1906. yet the news OF her
death yesterday at No S42 Fifth avenue her
home in this city. serves TO recall that TOT
nearly half a century she was one Of the
most conspicuous figures and powers in New
York society. sharing the leadership with her
sister-in-law. hte late Mrs. John JACOB As'oi-
Mrs Maturfn Livingston. the late Mrs Ham
nton Fish. mother of Stuyvesant and Hamilton
Fish; the venerable Mrs. John jay. and Mrs Au-
gust Belmont, mother OF August. Perry ara lAe
late Oliver n. P Belmont. Indeed. she may be san
to have played the most influential part owing to
the and activity which she displayed IN the
fuIfIment Of her duties matriarCh OF the New
York world of fashion. HeF rule extended IN many
respects beyond that of her contemporaries, only
few of whom survive. and il is for this reason that
her name more closely associated than theirs
IN the minds OF the present generation with the
leadership Of society in the Empire City
During the thirty years extending from 1876 to
1908 no stranger Of mark may b said to have Visit
ed New York without being entertained by Mrs
Astor among those who enjoyed her hospitality
having been the late Emperor and Empress OF
Brazil. well scions Of nearly every royal and
imperial house in Europe. She received them as
matter Of duty TO society, Of which she regarded
herself as one of the leading representatives. and
sentiments of the same character led her to give
besides many dinners. and informal dances
throughout the season. grand ball each winter,
at which successive generations Of well known
women have made their debut. Mrs Astor had
great personal dignity and her influence was al
ways exerted for the maintenance of a refined So
CiaI order and against eccentric frivOties and ex-
travaganCes
Mrs. AstOr the daughter Of Abraham Scher-
merhorn. who was able to trace his ancestry back
20 Jacob Jansen Schermerhorn. who settled on
Manhattan Island in 1886. She was granddaughter
of Henry White. who married Miss Ann Van COrt-
landt and born in Brooklyn. she spent her girl
hood in the neighborhOod of Bowling Green, which
then the fashionable district Of New York
She made her debut society nearly sixty years
ago, and shortly afterward married William Astor,
who took his bride to live in Lafayette Place. and
later in West 2d Afterward they migrated to
No. $50 Fifth avenue. where many years were spent
and that house the scene of some OF the great
est social triumphs of Mrs Ast0rS Some ten or
twelve years ago Mrs. Astor. who had meanwhile
become widow. transferred her abode to the large
marble house in upper Fifth avenue. north OF 65th
street. facing Central Park, which is to all intents
and purposes a twin residence, the northern part
having been occupied by the late Mrs. Astor and
the southern moiety by her SON. Colonel John Jacob
Astor with his wife and children. A large arched
double doorway usually concealed by heavy tapes
tries serves communication between the entrance
halls Of the two houses, and when these doors are
swung open, they used to be whenever Mrs
Astor gave her annual balls. both houses were con-
verted into a single mansion. Among the principal
features Of the joint house Is the great picture gal
lery, which likewise has served ballroom. the
walls and the ceiling being adorned with the paint
ings OF many celebrated Old World masters.
July. August and September Mrs. AstOr wont
TO spend Newport. where throughout quarter
of century she continued each summer at her
villa Beechwood. the hospitalites which she had
been dispensing in town during the previous winter
The spring Mrs Astor was accustomed TO pass in
Paris. where she maintained a handsome residence
in the Champs EIysees becoming in course Of time
almost well known in the best Partisan society
in that of New York.
Five children were born Of her marriage With the
late William AstOr who died in 1892 Colonel John
Jacob AstOr. married to Miss AIva Willing, Of
Philadelphia is the only of the union. He has
two children, William Vincent and Alva Alice
MurieI.
Of Mrs Astor's four daughters. the eldest, Miss
Emily AstOr, was married to James j. Van Allen
at Grace Church in 1876 and died in 1851 Her chill
dren Miss May Van Allen, who now lives abroad
with her father: Miss Sarah Van Allen. married TO
Robert J. F. Collier and James Lawrence Van
Allen. who married Miss Margaret Post. niece Of
Mrs. Frederick W. Vanderbilt
Mrs Astor's second daughter Helen. married
to J. r Roosevelt in 1876 and died in 1898 leaving
two children, James Roosevelt Roosevelt jr.. and
Miss Helen Roosevelt. married 10 Theodore Douglas
Robinson, il.
Charlotte. the third daughter Of Mrs. Astor was
married first 10 J. Coleman Drayton. in Grace
Church. IN 1879, and afterward LonGoQ to the
late George Oglvte Haig. BY her first marriage
she had four chdren-Henry Coleman Drayton.
who married Miss Constance Knower and di-
vorced from her; Miss Caroline Astor Drayton,
William Astor Drayton and the late Miss Aida
! Drayton-
Mrs. AstOr's fourth daughter. Caroline. mar
ried Marshall Orme Wilson In 1884 and has two
| sons-Marshau Orme Wilson jr., and Richard
Thornton Wilson.
| Mrs, Astor's husband inherited about $4,000 900
! from his father William BackhOuse Astor Will
lam B. Astor had three sons and three daughters.
namely, the late John Jacob Astor. father of Will
! lam Waldorf AstOr; William AstOr, husband Of the
Mrs. Astor whose death has just taken place Henry
AstOT. who lives at COpake, y. Y, Miss Elizabeth
Astor, married TO Samuel Ward: Miss Mary Astor,
married John Cary. and Miss Laura Astor mar
/ rted 10 Franklin H. DelanO- Mrs. Ward had one
/ child. Margaret. who married Winthrop
ChanIer, father of the present Lieutenant Governor
/ of New York. Mrs Cary had three children. one
! being Margaret, who was married to NJ de Steurs.
/ Dutch envoy at Paris, later becoming the wife of
/ the late Elliot Zborowskt