John Jacob Astor's Home and Family

John Jacob Astor's start in business for himself in Queen Street, as has been seen, was the sequel to his marriage to Miss Sarah Todd, the daughter of Mrs. Sarah Todd, a short time previous. Miss Todd brought her husband not only a good social connection, as a relative of the Brevoort family, and a dowry of three hundred dollars, but also a mind equal to the intricacies of his advancing business, and a perception and indefatigable industry, which were a great assistance to him in its details. Mrs. Astor, though possessed of great amiability, was a decided character, and was intensely interested in her husband's enterprises. John Jacob Astor said of his wife at a later period, that she was the most perfect judge of furs in his business, learning to know them in the early years of her married life, as he had himself, by personally handling and caring for them.

She had been living in New York during the Revolutionary War, and had known much of this trying period. She also remembered some of the momentous incidents that took place in the birth of a nation. Among these were the withdrawal of the British garrison, and General Washington's arrival in New York on his famous white charger, accompanied by Governor Clinton. The Continentals entered the city with their banners flying, and bands playing "Yankee Doodle,"— triumphant,—though they showed the ravaging effects of a seven years' war. The line of march was through the Bowery and Pearl Street, so passing the Todd residence, but the conquering army of the young nation held too large a place in the hearts of the loyal citizens of New York, including the women and children, for them to patiently await their coming. Eagerly, they went some distance out of town to meet and welcome their heroes, and a portion of the Todd family was a part of this welcoming host.

The early domestic life of the young couple was simple, as befitted young people with their way to make in the world. Their first child, Magdalen Astor, and their second child, were probably born in the Queen Street home, with a grandmother, as well as a mother, to surround them with loving care. There were burdens and trials of many kinds in the home during these first years, and the life of so adventurous a man as her husband, was likely to bring Mrs. Astor many anxieties, as well as days of rejoicing and elation. Through them all she proved a loyal and loving helpmeet. The mother of this family was an earnest Christian woman, and reared her children with reverence and respect for religious ideals. The husband and wife were as one in these cardinal sentiments, and their marriage was a peculiarly happy one.

One of Mr. Astor's earliest business advertisements appeared in the "New York Packet" under date of May 22nd, 1786.

"Jacob Astor, No. 81 Queen Street, Two doors from the Friends' Meeting House, has just imported from London an elegant assortment of musical instruments, such as Piano Fortes, spinnets, guitars; the best of violins, German Flutes, clarinets, hautboys, fifes; the best Roman Violin strings and all other kinds of strings; music books and paper, and every other article in the musical line, which he will dispose of on very low terms for cash."

By January 10th, 1789, the following advertisement still offered musical instruments, but the fur business was brought more prominently forward.

"John Jacob Astor,
At No. 81 Queen Street,
Next door but one to the Friends' Meeting House,
Has for sale an assortment of
Piano Fortes of the Newest Construction,
made by the best makers in London, which
he will sell at reasonable terms.
He gives cash for all kinds of Furs
and has for sale a quantity of Canada
Beavers and Beavering coating. Raccoon Skins,
and Raccoon Blankets, Muskrat Skins, etc., etc."

For several years after this Mr. Astor continued to sell musical instruments, till at last, having found the fur business more profitable than music, he turned his musical instruments over to Michael Paff, who succeeded him in this branch of his business.

Mr. Astor's business continued to prosper, he himself superintending all parts of it to the minutest detail. One of his mottoes was: "If you wish a thing done, get some one to do it for you; but if you wish it done well, do it yourself."

In 1789 Mr. Astor made his first purchase in real estate, two lots on the Bowery Lane, for which he paid "two hundred and fifty pounds (about six hundred and twenty-five dollars) current money of the State of New York." It was a cash purchase, and the deed was signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of his brother Henry.

In less than a year he made a second purchase, this time of a dwelling house and lot on Little Dock Street (now a part of Water Street). In 1790 he appeared in the city Directory as—"Astor, J. J., Fur Trader, 40 Little Dock Street."—Already the fur business was taking precedence of the musical instruments.

Though England had agreed in the treaty in 1783 to evacuate all the fortified places within the boundaries of the United States, British garrisons still held Detroit, Mackinaw, Oswego, Ogdensburg, Niagara, Iron Point and Dutchman's Point on Lake Champlain, keeping open the natural highways between Canada and the United States. The fur trade was consequently in the hands of the men who had access to these posts, and while they held the posts, John Jacob Astor could only carry back to the city, such furs as he had secured by tramping the Eastern half of the State of New York, and the skins, collected from the friendly part of the Six Nations.

Even in these narrow boundaries, however, his business was growing, though both the fur trader and Captain Cooper, the father of Peter Cooper, who had a small hat factory in the same street, and purchased many a beaver skin from Astor, would have bought their skins cheaper, could Astor have ranged freely over the western country. Peter Cooper, who was just about a head taller than an ordinary table at this time, assisted in the hat-making by pulling the hairs out of rabbit skins.

Henry Astor had continued to prosper. His "corner on cattle," which greatly displeased his fellow butchers, to a certain degree controlled the New York market. He had a stall at this time in the Fly Market, a position of considerable importance and pecuniary advantage.

John Jacob Astor did not always have an easy time in money matters, while carrying on his business ventures. He often had to pay Nathaniel Prime, in Wall Street, very large interest, and "a large commission in getting long paper discounted,"

During his years of striving, he often called upon his older brother for a loan or an endorsement. Henry Astor was not fond of borrowing, or lending to anybody. On one occasion John Jacob needed two hundred dollars very badly, and went to his brother and asked him to loan him that sum. Henry told him he would give him one hundred dollars, if he would promise never to trouble him in that way again. The younger brother needed more money at once, and was likely to many another time, and if John Jacob Astor made a promise, he kept it. He balanced the gift in his mind, with the prospect of unwilling loans, and decided to take the one hundred dollars and keep to the agreement.

During the next three years, two children, a girl and a boy were added to the Astor family, Eliza and William Backhouse, both probably being born in the house in Little Dock Street. The boy was named for a prominent merchant of the city, who had befriended John Jacob Astor during his early years in America.

After this increase in his family, in the early nineties, Mr. Astor moved his home and his business to 149 Broadway. During these years he held the office of trustee in the German Reformed Church, and the Consistory met at various times in his house.