OF ATE W  YORK CITY.                   4I8
 

CHAPTER XLV.

Those who pass down Broadway in 1862, and admire
the solid-looking building called the " Astor," extend¬
ing the whole front of a "block," can have very little
idea of the events that have transpired, and the names
that have figured in the city history, who resided where
the hotel now stands.

Among the most eminent, of course, was John Jacob
Astor. He lived at No. 223 Broadway, in a large
double house. He lived in the house a great portion o£
his life — certainly commenced to live there as early as
1802. I think Rufus King, the founder of the King
family of this city, built the house and sold It to Mr.
Astor.

When Mr. Astor started in this city he resided at
No. 40 Little Dock Street (now Water). He then
moved to 149 Broadway. He kept his store at 71 Lib¬
erty street.

In 1802 he moved his residence to 223 Broadway,
and there he lived as late as 1826, when he gave up that
house to his son William B.

His neighbors who occupied houses facing upon Broad¬
way, where the Astor House now stands, were all proir
inent men.    I think the numbers wero 213 to 227.    Mi
Astor, as I have said, lived at 223 — north of him, on
the corner of Barclay, was 227.    That house was own-