William Backhouse Astor Jr.

William Backhouse Astor Jr. (July 12, 1829 – April 25, 1892)[1] was an American businessman, racehorse owner/breeder, and yachtsman who was a member of the prominent Astor family. His elder brother, financier and philanthropist John Jacob Astor III, became head of the British line of Astors in England. William Jr. was head of the American line of Astors, while his wife, Caroline Schermerhorn, served as the leader of New York society's "Four Hundred" during the Gilded Age.

William Backhouse Astor Jr.
Born
William Backhouse Astor Jr.

(1829-07-12)July 12, 1829
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 25, 1892(1892-04-25) (aged 62)
Paris, France
Resting placeTrinity Church Cemetery
EducationColumbia College
Net worth US $72 million (equivalent to approximately $2.05 billion in 2019 dollars)
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1853; his death 1892)​
ChildrenEmily, Helen, Charlotte, Caroline, and John
Parent(s)William Backhouse Astor Sr.
Margaret Rebecca Armstrong
RelativesSee Astor family

Early years
William B. Astor, Jr. from New York State's Prominent and Progressive Men, 1900.

William Backhouse Astor Jr. was born on July 12, 1829, in New York City, New York. He was the middle son of real estate businessman William Backhouse Astor Sr. (1792–1875) and Margaret Rebecca (née Armstrong) Astor (1800–1872). His siblings included elder brother John Jacob Astor III, who married Charlotte Augusta Gibbes;[lower-alpha 1] Emily Astor, who married Samuel Cutler Ward;[lower-alpha 2] Laura Eugenia Astor, who married Franklin Hughes Delano;[lower-alpha 3] Mary Alida Astor, who married John Carey; Henry Astor, who married Malvina Dinehart;[5] and Sarah Astor, who died in infancy.

Astor's paternal grandparents were fur-trader John Jacob Astor and Sarah Cox (née Todd) Astor.[6] His maternal grandparents were U.S. Senator John Armstrong Jr. and Alida (née Livingston) Armstrong of the Livingston family.[6]

A well-liked man, Astor graduated from Columbia College in 1849.

Subsequent activity

He supported the abolition of slavery before the American Civil War, and during the war, he personally bore the cost to equip an entire Union Army regiment.

Unlike his business-oriented father, William Jr. did not aggressively pursue an expansion of his inherited fortune. Instead, he preferred life aboard the Ambassadress, at that time the biggest private yacht in the world, or horseback riding at Ferncliff, the large estate he had built on the Hudson River. Astor's horse "Vagrant" won the 1876 running of the Kentucky Derby.[7]

Florida involvement

William Jr. often spent winters aboard his yacht in Jacksonville, Florida, and he was responsible for the construction of a number of prominent buildings in the city. He and sixteen other businessmen founded the Florida Yacht Club in Jacksonville in 1877, although he was the only person in Florida to actually own a yacht. The club is now the oldest social club in Jacksonville and one of the oldest yacht clubs in the United States. Liking the area, in 1874, he purchased a land tract of around 80,000 acres (320 km2) along the St. Johns River north of Orlando, Florida, in an area now called Lake County, Florida. There he and two partners used 12,000 acres (49 km2) to build an entire town that he named Manhattan but was later changed to Astor in his honor.[8][9]

His project, which would come to include several hotels, began with the construction of wharves on the river to accommodate steamboats. These steamboats attracted a steamship agency that could bring in the necessary materials and supplies. Astor enjoyed his development and purchased a railroad that connected the town to the "Great Lakes Region" of Florida. He donated the town's first church and the land for the local non-denominational cemetery, and he also helped build a schoolhouse, both of which are still standing today. In 1875, one of the many nearby lakes was named Lake Schermerhorn after his wife, Lina Schermerhorn.[8]

The town of Manhattan, Florida, boomed, and Astor, with an eye on the large New York market, expanded his interests to a grapefruit grove, a fruit that at the time was only available on a very limited basis in other parts of the United States. He did not live long enough to see the orchard grow to production. Following his death on April 25, 1892, the property fell to his son Jack. By then though, rapid changes were taking place throughout Florida. New railroads had been built in 1885 through the central and western part of the state, and in the late 1890s, Henry Flagler built a railroad line running down Florida's east coast from Daytona Beach. All this expansion left the town of Astor isolated and it was all but abandoned after train service to Astor was discontinued.[8]

Personal life
Ferncliff, the Astor family's country estate in Rhinebeck, New York
Beechwood, the Astors' summer home in Newport, Rhode Island
The Mrs. William B. Astor House at 841 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, 1895

On September 23, 1853, he married the socially ambitious Caroline Webster "Lina" Schermerhorn (1830–1908)[10] at Trinity Church in Manhattan.[11] Her parents were Abraham Schermerhorn, a wealthy New York City merchant, and Helen Van Courtlandt (née White) Schermerhorn.[12] Lina would go on to reign over New York and Newport society known simply as "the Mrs. Astor."[13] William Jr. had little interest in society parties, and reportedly, Lina would try to keep him at his club late to prevent him coming home and sending the orchestra out and his children to bed.

Together, William Jr. and Lina had five children:

William Backhouse Astor Jr. died of an aneurysm at the Hotel Liverpool in Paris, France.[1] Astor, an Episcopalian, was buried in Trinity Church Cemetery in New York City, New York.[27] He is one of several responsible for opening up the tourist trade in Florida. His widow died years later in 1908.[10][28]

References
Notes
  1. His older brother John Jacob Astor III (1822–1890) was the father of William Waldorf Astor (1848–1919), who later moved to England and became the 1st Viscount Astor.[2]
  2. Samuel Cutler Ward, a banker with Prime, Ward & King, was a son of Samuel Ward and a brother of poet Julia Ward Howe.[3]
  3. Franklin Hughes Delano was the great-uncle and namesake of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.[4]
Sources
  1. "William Astor Is Dead; Stricken Suddenly at the Hotel Liverpool, Paris. He Leaves a Fortune of Many Mill- Ions -- John Jacob Astor Will Inherit It -- the Body Will Be Brought Home for Burial". The New York Times. 27 April 1892. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  2. "Viscount Astor Died Suddenly of Heart Disease. Stricken Saturday Morning, After Having Passed Part of Preceding Day Outdoors. Body Will Be Cremated and the Ashes Placed in Private Chapel at Cliveden. Peerage Came as Reward for War Gifts. Realty Holdings Here Valued at $60,000,000. Little Known to British Public. Estate Will Pay a Heavy Tax. His Pursuit of Title Evoked Bitter Criticism. Became a British Subject in 1899. Peerage Followed War Gifts". New York Times. October 20, 1919. Retrieved 2008-08-01. Viscount Astor died yesterday morning. His death, which was from heart disease, was unexpected.
  3. "A Famous Lobbyist Dead; Sam Ward Dies in Italy in His Seventy-First Year. a Man Who Enjoyed Himself in Making Others Happy--Prince of Good Fellows and Friend of Great Men". The New York Times. 20 May 1884. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  4. "Franklin H. Delano" (PDF). The New York Times. 25 December 1893. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  5. "ASTOR WHO MARRIED POOR GIRL NO PAUPER; Gave Up $30,000,000 for Love of Gardener's Daughter, but Still Has Princely Income. IN RETIREMENT 50 YEARS Holds Trust Right In 125 Rich Parcels of Manhattan Realty Now Worth Millions". The New York Times. 15 July 1917. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  6. Gavan, Terrence. 'The Barons of Newport: A Guide to the Gilded Age'. Newport: Pineapple Publications, 1998. pp. 25-8. ISBN 0-929249-06-2
  7. "Out-Door Sports.; the Kentucky Races. Spring Meeting of the Louisville Jockey Club Contest Between the East and the West the Derby Won by Vagrant Parole Nowhere. Pools on to-Day's Races". The New York Times. 16 May 1876. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  8. Wass de Czege, Albert (1982). The History of Astor on the St. Johns, Astor Park, and the Surrounding Area (PDF) (Third, Extended ed.). Astor, Fla.: Danubian Press. ISBN 0879340266. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  9. Wass de Czege, A.: "The History of Astor on the St. Johns, Astor Park, and the Surrounding Area", Third, Extended ed., page 28. Danubian Press, 1996
  10. "MRS. ASTOR DIES AT HER CITY HOME; Only Her Daughter, Mrs. M. Orme Wilson, with Her When the End Came Early Last Night. HEART TROUBLE KILLED HER Col. Astor and His Wife Had Left His Mother When the Last Sinking Spell Set In -- Her Notable Career". The New York Times. 31 October 1908. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  11. Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York (1905). The Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York: History, Customs, Record of Events, Constitution, Certain Genealogies, and Other Matters of Interest. V. 1-. p. 138. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  12. James, Edward T.; James, Janet Wilson; Boyer, Paul S.; College, Radcliffe (1971-01-01). Notable American Women, 1607–1950: A Biographical Dictionary. Harvard University Press. p. 62. ISBN 9780674627345.
  13. "Astor, Caroline Schermerhorn (1830–1908) - Dictionary definition of Astor, Caroline Schermerhorn (1830–1908)". www.encyclopedia.com. Gale Research Inc. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  14. "James J. Van Alen". University of Virginia. Retrieved 2009-08-04. James J. Van Alen (1846-1923) was a sportsman, politician, and member of an old-monied New York railroad family. Van Alen solidified his status as a member of upper-class society by marrying Emily Astor, daughter of society matron Caroline Schermerhorn Astor and William Backhouse Astor Jr.
  15. Times-, Special Cable To The Xew Tohk (14 July 1923). "JAMES J. VAN ALEN DEAD IN LONDON; | New York Society Leader Was Sometimes Called "American Prince of Wales." | A LAVISH NEWPORT HOST | He Had Lived Abroad Since Prohibition, Which He Disapproved as "Our Lack of Liberty."". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  16. "MRS. ROOSEVELT DEAD. And Her Mother, Mrs. William Astor, Has Just Sailed for England". The New York Times. 13 November 1893. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  17. "J. R. ROOSEVELT, 73, DIES AT HYDE PARK; Philanthropist and Trustee of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. VICTIM OF BRONCHITIS Brother-in-Law of Late Col. J. J. Astor and Half Brother of Franklin D. Roosevelt". The New York Times. 8 May 1927. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  18. "MRS. GEORGE O. HAIG DIES AT NEUILLY; Former Charlotte Astor Expires, with Her Sister, Mrs. M. Orme Wilson, at Bedside. ONCE MRS. J.C. DRAYTON Disinherited by Her Father, William Astor, Her Brother, Colonel J.J. Astor, Gave Her $1,000,000". The New York Times. 31 July 1920. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  19. "J. C. DRAYTON DEAD; RETIRED BANKER, 82; Newport Resident for Several Years Was. Son-in-Law of the Late William Astors. AN EXPERT PIGEON SHOT Issued Challenge to Hallett A. Borrows to Duel, Which Never Took Place". The New York Times. 12 November 1934. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  20. "DIED. HAIG". The New York Times. 28 December 1905. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  21. "MRS. WILSON DEAD; LEADER IN SOCIETY | Great-Granddaughter of John J. Astor, Founder of Noted Family, Widow of Banker | KNOWN FOR LARGE PARTIES | Last of William's Children Aided Welfare Groups in City--Her Mother 'The' Mrs. Astor". The New York Times. 14 September 1948. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  22. "DIED. WILSON". The New York Times. 4 April 1926. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  23. "Mrs. Wilson Rites at Trinity Church". The New York Times. 16 September 1948. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  24. "Lady Ribblesdale Dead. First Wife of John Jacob Astor IV. Mother of Vincent Astor". The New York Times. June 11, 1958. Retrieved 2008-08-11. Ava Willing Ribblesdale, she took up residence here. She continued to be listed in the telephone directory as Lady Ribblesdale.....
  25. "MRS. FIERMONTE DEAD IN FLORIDA; Former Madeleine Force Was Married to Col. Astor, W.K. Dick and Italian Boxer SURVIVOR OF THE TITANIC Gave Up Fortune to Marry Again, Then Got Divorce to Wed Pugilist". The New York Times. 28 March 1940. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  26. "Noted Men On The Lost Titanic. Col. Jacob Astor, with His Wife. Isidor Straus and Wife, and Benj. Guggenheim Aboard". The New York Times. April 16, 1912. Retrieved 2013-12-10. Following are sketches of a few of the well-known persons among the 1,300 passengers on the lost Titanic. The fate of most of them at this time is, of course, not known. Col. John Jacob Astor and Mrs. Astor, Isidor Straus and Mrs. Straus, J. Bruce Ismay, Managing Director of the White Star Line: Benjamin Guggenheim, and Frank D. Millet, the artist, are perhaps the most widely known of the passengers.....
  27. "William Astor at Rest; Buried Without Ostentation in Trinity Church Cemetery. Brief and Simple Services in the Presence of Many Friends -- a Small Company at the Grave -- Some of Those Present". The New York Times. 13 May 1892. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  28. "MRS. ASTOR'S ESTATE HERE IS $1,726,187; Late Society Leader Divided Her Property in Equal Parts Between Her Two Daughters. GAVE JEWELS TO HER SON Father Provided for Him, She Says, In Leaving Property to Daughters -- Large Holdings Out of the State". The New York Times. 18 December 1909. Retrieved 12 March 2018.

Further reading
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