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Show The First John Jacob Astor, Born in Germany, Came to New York in 1783 By MRS. JOHN KING VAN RENSSELAER, in "The Social Ladder." There are some names that appear in the society sections of the press chiefly through the persistent publicity methods of the "society leaders" themselves. There are many others who are cited frequently in print, whether they wish it or not, because of their wealth, their achievements, or their connection with the economic, financial, or political life of the city. Keadcrs come to regard those persons most frequently featured by the press as belonging to "old Knickerbocker families." In nine cases out of ten their judgment is wrong. Prominent today in published accounts of New York social events are the Vandcrbilts, the Astors, the Morgans, the Davidsons, the Bel-monts. Bel-monts. the Lamonts, the Vanderlips, the Villards, the Goulds. Only one of these families has enjoyed social recognition in Xew York as far back as Civil war times. This was the Astors. Not a single one of the names cited above runs back in the annals of society to the Revolutionary era. The first John Jacob Astor, born in Walldorf, Germany, came to New York in 1783 as a piano merchant. |