The sun., 1917-07-15
HENRY ASTOR,
LONGOBSCURE,
PROVED RICH
Revealed at 85 as Life Own
er of Large Parcels Along
Broadway.
OLD TRUST FORGOTTEN
Father Disinherited Him
for Marrying Daughter
of a Gardener.
FARMS AT WEST C0PECK
Trustees Ask Approval of
Stewardship and Notify
Prospective Heirs.
OLD TRUST FORGOTTEN
FARMS AT WEST COPECK

Prospective Heirs.
Henry Astor. who might we'll be called
the forgotten Astor, was brought back
to the recollection Of New York yester-
day through a bit of routine court pro-
eedure.
Trustees OF a trust created In 1894 by
william b. Astor fled an application In
the Supreme Court for approval Of their
guardianship of the properties. the in
Ensued a great searching of newspaper
files and court records and racking OF
memories of old Inhabitants. Thus Henry
emerged from the long obscurity during
which he has been growing long white
beard on his farm near West Copeck.
NY.
Those who remembered him at all re-
called that he was disinherited by his
father for marrying the daughter of
william BIS gardener. None OF them
apparently knew that long before the
marriage-when Henry was years old
IN fact-a trust had been created for
him.
Has a Large Income.
He is now IS, so for more than four
score years he has enjoyed the income
OF such bits Of property as the Astor
and Gaiety theatres and the rest Of the
city block bounded by Broadway,
Eighth avenue, Forty-fifth and Forty
sixth streets. together with 100 parcels
on the middle West Side.
Moreover, when he dies he can split
II all up as he wishes among his rela-
uves, even IL he can't will 1t outside
the family. He has no children Of his
own.
Henry Astor was no romantic youth
when he defied his father and sacrificed
millions which subsequently ysnt TO tho
Astor Library. He was then As years
old, q man of energy and good educa-
ton, but who preferred the humdrum
life of a gentleman farmer to coming
10 New York and being entered in the
Social Register.
When he solemnized his marriage
with Malvina w. Astor in the little coun-
try church in West Copeck, with but few
Of the country people present. some
called him mad. for he was apparently
throwing away the ransom OF a nation.
Few knew that years before William b.
Astor his father, John Jacob Astor Sd
and Charles +. Southmayd had created
the trust which 0nakes him one Of the
wealthiest land owners in the city.
Trust Reamrmed I'm 1860.
The original deed OF trust was exc
cutcd in 1894. but later reexecuted and
affirmed by Henry Astor on February
10, 1859 There have been various sets
of trustees since the first making of the
deed until yesterday when Henry Lewis
Morris, Charles A. Peabody and Lewis
Spencer Morris appeared together as the
trustees OF the fund and filed the petit
lion for the approval of their steward
ship. which is in reality a friendly liti-
cation. as Henry Astor and his heirs
have entered notices OF appearance by
counsel.
The extent OF the wealth of the benefi-
eiary of the trust fund Is not given in
figures. but probably II will develop
court approves the accounts of the trus-
tees. The petition contained thirty
tpewritten pages citing properties, In
cluded in the fund.- from which Henry
Astor has been drawing income since
1884.
some of 1t was formerly part of the
COusine farm, which lay in the district
now part of the upper Tenderloin. The
trust fund also made Henry Astor one
third owner Of the site of the old Astor
House. By an agreement reached be-
tween the Astor heirs, he sold his share
Other lots on West Forty-fifth street
we're sold in the same manner. The
records show that the trustees OF the
fund have purchased some property on
West Forty-ninth street, between Ninth
and tenth avenues.
Few Recall the RecIuse.
Little or nothing Is known Of Henry
Astor's life or his personality. One man
~ IaauW ~
remembered having seen him some years
ago. when he came TO New York to ap-
pear In some litigation. He was described
as being typical of a well to do up State
farmer, quiet-even homely in his dress
and with a long white beard.
When William Astor, his brother, died
some years ago. he carried out tht
wishes OF the father who disinherttec
Henry. and left him nothing. Henry wai
told that he had an excellent opportunity
under the law to contest the will. Hi
answer was typical OF his whole life
lie said. II have no interest In my
brothers. estate"
One OF the most interesting phases o.
the trust fund provisions is one which
allows Henry Astor, should he die with
issue, the right to discriminate how
the estate should be divided. In thu
event that he leaves no children he Il
likewise permitted TO exercise this dis
elimination among the brothers and sis
t"rs and their heirs. II ne feels disin
cned to make this discrimination tn,
properties shall be distributed equally
among the brothers. sisters and thei
h0irR
Under the Aerms OF the fund all tn,
heirs Of his brothers and sisters are 4
receive shares in the property afte
Henry Astor's death. subject to a one
third interest for Malvlna w, Astor. hi
wife, for her lifetime should she surviv
him. This provision was made when tn
trust fund was created.
Trust to BE Continued.
''ter the death OF his brothers an,
tsterA the property included in tn