wife bore him thirteen children, twelve of whom she had brought up to
maturity. A woman of almost rustic simplicity of mind and of habits,
she became obediently meek under the iron discipline he administered.
Croffut says of her that she was "acquiescent and patient under the
sway of his dominant will, and in the presence of his trying moods."
He goes on: "The fact that she lived harmoniously with such an
obstinate man bears strong testimony to her character." [Footnote:
"The Vanderbilts": 113.]

If we are to place credibility in current reports, she was forced
time and time again to undergo the most violent scenes in interceding
for one of their sons, Cornelius Jeremiah. For the nervous
disposition and general bad health of this son the father had not
much sympathy; but the inexcusable crime to him was that Cornelius
showed neither inclination nor capacity to engage in a business
career. If Cornelius had gambled on the stock exchange his father
would have set him down as an exceedingly enterprising, respectable
and promising man. But he preferred to gamble at cards. This
rebellious lack of interest in business, joined with dissipation, so
enraged the old man that he drove Cornelius from the house and only
allowed him access during nearly a score of years at such rare times
as the mother succeeded in her tears and pleadings. Worn out with her
long life of drudgery, Vanderbilt's wife died in 1868; about a year
later the old magnate eloped with a young cousin, Frank A. Crawford,
and returning from Canada, announced his marriage, to the unbounded
surprise and utter disfavor of his children.


THE OLD MAGNATE'S DEATH.