Chapter II

Emmerich and Astor Meeting Aboard the Ship
and the Unwritten Chapter About Astor's Life

As soon as young Astor boarded the ship, a strong storm broke loose and raged from one side of the Atlantic to the other. The storm raged for months, the ship turned, the bad weather threw and drew the waves, so that the ship hardly could advance on its course. For all of those who were not used to travel the High Seas, it was an upsetting adventure. The storms howled, blue waves at one moment tossed the ship high up into the air, and next into another wave and down, thundering and lightning with all its fury - this was the experience for John Jacob Astor and his co-passengers - during the first journey across the ocean.

The fearful, friendless, young Astor was overwhelmed, of course, upset and confused about the hardships of his journey. He asked himself whether he might have taken the wrong steps. Should he have stayed in London? And then, what was he to do after coming ashore? First of all, he should go to his brother in New York City to ask for help, but what in case he could not find any help there, what then? This new country, which he approached, how would it look? As it perhaps the land he envisioned?

Had he learned the English language well enough to become one of the "new peoples"?  While John Jacob Astor asked himself those questions, he became acquainted with another German aboard the ship, his name was John Nicholas Emerick. Since until then he more or less kept to himself because of his inability to communicate freely with others, he was more than happy to have met Emerick. Not only was he a man he spoke fluently German as well as English, but he had come from the same country as he was, from Germany. Astor opened up to his new friend, told him what he was up to do, and why he had come to America. They discussed their social past, they talked about the old and the new world.

John Nicholas Emerick, however, was not a stranger to America. For 14 years already, he had arranged his life here, and he had settled down in the Fur Trading Business.  Astor got more interested in his newfound acquaintance. This journey was a trip back from the London Market, where he had sold fur. He was ten years older than Astor, and he could tell him about the country that was to become his future. This awakened a new interest in him and freed him from his depression and quiet way, despite his stressful situation. He became to find new hope, and now the journey became joyful, despite storms and high waves.

The storm raged on and on, that was the fate of the ship. Finally, it seemed that they were to reach the hoped for land. But all of the passengers were to be deeply disappointed. When they reached the Chesapeake Bay in 1784, they faced strong, cold weather, and the water in the bay was frozen. They tried to find the protective harbor, but whatever they tried, the ice blocked the ship.

This was a great disappointment, for they were held here for another 24 hours, after already being 3 months late for their arrival. And here their ship was now firmly stuck in the ice.

Even though this was an appointment for others, this fact proved to be the most valuable and fortunate event in Astor's life. During those cold wintry days, aboard the ship, this is where Emerick and Astor became true friends. Now Emerick was the teacher and showed in detail to Astor what the fur trading business was all about. He showed him the possibilities of such a well-operating business, and how he got to be involved, the gains he had made through it, how to get into trading with the Indians, he also talked about how a young man without much money could have a future in this. He further told him how he had started his business, and he advised Astor to take up this type of business for himself. Astor listened eagerly, asked questions, and was so interested and so impressed by this man, so that in fact he started aboard the ship to learn the fur trading business.. When Astor left London, he had no ideas, nor any inkling about a business, but when he arrived in New York he knew exactly what he was going to do. For two months they were stuck in the Bay, they talked everything over, which for the young immigrant was of the utmost importance.

Now the question surfaces: Who in the world was this Emerick?
If he had such an influence on Astor's life, why was he not talked about? The fact is, he drew our attention to such a degree, his identity had been hidden by all biographers in such a careful manner, that it took a hundred years to discover this controversy. No source could provide a complete and satisfying biography about Astor's success without involving his life with the "stranger", the "German", "Astor's friend," his companion at sea," and his partner.

John Nicholas Emerick came, in contrast to Astor, from a well-to-do family; the history of the Emerick's dates back to the 15th century. Wide and near this family was known. Even in our time, there is a town Emmerich and the founding of this town leads back to this family. As fate has its way, we can see John Jacob Astor walk through the streets of Emmerich on his way to London. When he passed this beautiful town, he had no idea that it was founded by the forefathers of his future business partner. Just the same, John Emerick, his grandfather who died in 1772, was a well known innkeeper in Darmstadt, which then was under the reign of the Grand Duke of Hessen, and which was the residence of the Grand Duke Louis I. This inn was so well known and so perfectly situated, so that counts and barons of all parts of Germany met there and held great feasts. For generations, this old known house was one of the historical sights of Darmstadt.

One of John Emerick's (the innkeeper's) children was John Daniel who was John Nicholas' (the fur trader's) father. The family of John Daniel was blessed with four children, three boys and a girl: John Nicholas, born April 3, 1749, John Christopher, born October 5, 1751, John Valentine, born March 7, 1753, and Marie Mary, born February 15, 1755.

It is interesting to compare the younger years and point out their differences between John Nicholas and John Jacob Astor. John Nicholas was the first son of John Daniel and his wife, while Astor was the youngest child. Certainly the lifestyles in their families were different as well. Although the Emerick family was not one of the richest, but nevertheless well to do, there was no lack of money. John Nicholas was blessed with one of the finest mothers, any boy could ever call his own. A mother which influenced him with such a fine religious heritage, so that he could express it still later in his life. Even around the time of his death the fruits of his mother's love and leading by his mother in the Lutheran faith must have still been part of this man's life, for in this recently discovered suitcase (1936) they found his will and other documents, and such books as the family and "Angelic Harp", yes also one of the first hymns by John Wesley. (Those two probably had met, that was the time when John Wesley roamed the country on horseback and preached all over the place.)

But just like Astor, he and his brothers were not spared the blows of fate. He was six years old when his mother died during the birth of her daughter Marie Mary. There hovered a dark cloud over the family, which filled each family member with a deep sorrow. John Daniel was so shocked by this sudden disaster, that he almost lost his faith in the future. He was in a desperate position: here was a man with four small children, the oldest just had turned 6, and now no more mother! He only saw one possibility; so he soon remarried. To "forget" the death of his first wife, he moved to Hannover. This is where the three young boys grew up.

At this time, Hannover. was the capital of the province of Hannover. This was an independent kingdom in Germany which surrounded 14,000 miles (4 quadrat miles). Hannover was one of the richest provinces in Germany, and was under British rule for about 123 years. Also, at the time John Daniel moved to Hannover with his family it was under British reign, and almost solely traded with

England and America. Therefore it can be well understood why John Nicholas yearned for the New country when he was 21 years old. Besides neither he nor his brothers cared much about the stepmother. The on going talk about democracy gave him new hope, and in 1770 we find John Nicholas on his way to America. It was at the same time while John Jacob Astor still strolled through the streets of Walldorf.

When he had got established, he realized that his hopes were not unfounded. Here was a land that offered everything to a young man - adventure, romantic, and possibilities for success. from three of the leading branches of employment, industry, woodwork, fishing, and fur trading, he chose the latter. So it came to pass that John Nicholas Emerick became one of the pioneers in fur trading. He traveled a lot, and took a lot of furs bought from the Indians, to England. Once again he had brought furs to the English Market and made a great profit, when he boarded the ship on which Astor had entrusted his future.

John Nicholas Emerick is not an unknown person to Astor's biographers. But for some reason his name never appears. The authors mention him as "the friend," "the associate," the "teacher" and "fur trader" incognito. Why these biographers practice such piety in reference of his name, whereas they proclaim his deeds, is unknown. This seems strange, even in reference to a dead man. If he could reappear and was able to read what some authors said about him, and how they failed to include his name in their reports, it most likely would be a big surprise to him. His story was not told. It compares to the Sun behind a shadow, a fire which cannot be seen due to heat. A person's name remains secretly hidden in the biography of John Jacob Astor. It is like a monument without the inscriptions. In order to do justice to John Nicholas Emerick as well as to history, one would have to give his name a place alongside John Jacob Astor. Parton wrote a chapter in his "Life of John Jacob Astor" and Gebhard mentions him in a very descriptive way, and his deeds are mentioned in encyclopedias as well.

Parton writes the following in Chapter VI, pages 30 and 31:

America showed the young immigrant a cold welcome. The winter of 1783/1784 was a very severe one on both sides of the ocean. The stormy blows of the wind during November and December, really raging around the ship, caused its delay, so that it got to be January before they reached Chesapeake Bay. Everywhere, there were pieces of floating ice, and the storm in January really pressed the ship into these masses of ice, and the ship was actually being endangered of breaking apart. When the ship had approached the harbor, still with a distance of one day's journey, the wind stopped, it got colder, and the next morning, the ship was blocked in an icy ocean. Two full months passed, and it was impossible for the ship to move on its own. The food supplies diminished. The passengers felt a relief at first when they saw that the ice went all the way to the coast. And as far as they were in physically good shape, they could try to connect with other ships. Some passengers made their way by foot to the coast, and then traveled inland towards home. Our young adventurer could not do such a thing, so he had no choice but to remain on the ship.

    Luck is an unpredictable fury which supports the strong but overlooks the weak. Just those most terrible days during those two months were the cause to help the young Astor to his fortune in the shortest and easiest way that America had to offer the poor man. Amongst his companions was a German. He got acquainted with him during the journey, and he stuck with him as long as the winter weather continued. They told one another of their past, they exchanged their present plans, they discussed their hopes for the future. The stranger described how he emigrated to America, that at the time he had no friends and no money. Then he told that he soon began to do business with the Indians which was with the fur trade, and he was told by boaters about the settlements along the rivers which went to New York.

    In time, he had all his money invested in skins and furs, and he took them again to England. There they could be sold with great gain, and for the trip back he invested in toys and cheap trinkets of jewelry, to continue his business in the wilderness. He urged Astor to follow his example. He even informed him about the prices he asked for his merchandise. With the likable ways of a German, he told him all the secrets of his trade, showed him where to buy, how to pack, how the transport follows and how to treat the hides. He told him the names of the big trading houses in New York, Montreal and London. And he also reported at what time of the year the furs were plentiful. To say it briefly, when John Jacob Astor arrived in New York, he hurried not to lose any time in trying his hand in such a profitable business.

"In March the ice broke. The ship traveled to Baltimore, and both friends traveled together to New York. The long unanticipated stay on the ice, and now the journey to New York took almost all of Astor's means. He came into the city, where now his goods amount to about 40 million dollars, with hardly more than his flutes from Germany and his long German head full of gained knowledge, and with a determination. Right away he went to his brother Henry, a jovial and friendly soul. He received a real brotherly and hearty welcome just as did his traveling companion."

On page 34 he says:

"The next day he and his brother and his friend went on the way to the warehouse of Robert Bowne, an old and generous Quaker, who had been familiar with the buying, treating and the export of furs for some time. And just perchance he was looking for a helper in his business."

This is a lively description, how the two men found each other and how the journey to America took place. It contains the dramatic side, which was mentioned. Gebhard, who also wrote a biography about Astor, knew to tell about another fact which Parton did not mention. Nobody knew better about the circumstances of the journey which brought these two men together and which proved to have such an influence on their future.

Gebhard writes on page 47:

"He learned his trade amidst an icy bay. The ship captured in ice was the classroom, and his teacher was a travel companion acquainted with him by circumstance.

Then he continues:

"A little notebook, where he jotted down notes which his traveling companion gave him, and this is still in possession of the Astor family."

Britannica Encyclopedia writes about Astor:

"He emigrated to America in 1783 and settled down in New York. During the journey he became acquainted with another passenger and fur trader, upon whose advice he got into the same business."

These authors give a lively description of the journey and the circumstances of these two men. However, they do not say who the other passenger and Astor's friend was, they do not mention this, nor do they seem to know. John Nicholas Emerick does not dwell on the dramatic side of his experience in his report. But he gives the fact which the other writers dramatize.

He writes:

"A journey overseas in 1783 with a cargo of furs, landed in Chesapeake Bay in January 1784, am bringing the book along during the journey. March 19, 1874, John Emerick."

The book mentioned here is the family bible. He must have visited his relatives during the journey and gotten the book, because it is a German bible from the year 1735, and it contains family dates in the German language. On one of the leaves of the book is a description of the journey. He writes that he traveled to London with a cargo of furs, and on the way book he encountered stormy weather. Because they had to stay in the bay for two months, and could not get on land until March 19, 1784.

Another report in a book which is called the family book (a religious book, published by Philipp Dodderidge) reads:

"January 1784. I am bringing John Jacob Astor, we were trapped in ice for two months. In March, I am taking him to New York, he has no money, 7 flutes, I am teaching him the fur trade, took him to Bowne." John N. Emerick

In his way of giving a short report, he tells the whole history which Parton and Gebhard told in their descriptive ways. He said that he brought John Jacob Astor to America in January 1784, and that they were blocked in the ice for two months, in March he took him along to New York, without any money, only with seven flutes. He taught him the trade, as well as buying, packaging, transportation and the working of the hides. He shared with him how much the furs sold for, also the markets and seasons of the year when the furs could best be gotten. No newcomer could have done that. It took years to find out this knowledge about the trade and to get really familiar with the material. He spoke from his own experience without which nobody could have taught him the trade, as Parton calls it. Gebhard says he attended a school while being in the bay, and he made Astor to Astor before he even put his foot on American soil. When he left the ship, he had a head full of knowledge.

These authors described Astor's life and gave a portrait of his life. They paid justice to the friend by saying that he taught the youngster the trade so well, and they give him the honor by saying that he led him to the journey of his luck.  But when the journey at sea had ended, Emerick disappears from view, and the friend is mentioned just once. This friend and his ideas were suppressed and hidden from view. With the interest in the great man described, he was totally ignored. When they left England, the young Astor knew nothing about the country he was going to. He had no idea of what he was going to do there. He had no job in mind, waiting for him. He had no idea of any possibilities; he looked at America as the land of hope, and he was willing to take his chances there rather than in London, or even in his little home town. In this situation, he met the friend, and on the cloud, a rainbow appeared. If hitting such luck would not evoke the best in him, he could not have done anything else. He could not feel lost in the New World, could not be afraid to get caught up with strangers, or to leave his life to chance.

The door for great possibilities opened the future for him. Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford or Edison did not have these chances in their younger years. They were forced to come up with their own ideas, and then to plan their way to success. It was totally different with Astor. In the dark clouds, he could see the silver lining, with a pot full of gold at the end.
Young people are looking for such an opportunity, and after finding one, they take up the courage, and this helps their desire. Under such circumstances they will not fail their goal. Without this, their talents could be lost. America was a land of freedom which people were longing for, to flee from the old welt of oppression,  caste feeling and the military system; besides it was land of possibilities. The first immigrants looked for a place where they could practice their faith with their own conscience. They were looking for freedom in spirit and soul. Material riches did not attract them. They built churches, started schools and stood for free administration in their communities. They were the sowers of freedom in the life of the settlers, which led to the Boston Tea Party, to the Revolutionary War. Historical landmarks in the move for freedom in North America. Emerick had arrived when this spirit indwelled the immigrants. These people were not so much interested in the riches of the new country, they just wanted to be free people.

This was no longer the case when Astor arrived in America. A new day had dawned. The fight for freedom had already been carried out, and it was won. The echo of the victory still sounded in the ears of the people on the streets, the town of 25000 residents, which from now on should be their new home. A new flag waved from the buildings and proclaimed to all people that a new people had taken its place among all the nations of the earth. The British had pulled their flag back and moved back across the ocean to their old home. This is probably how Emerick explained these facts to Astor. There was enough time during their journey at sea. America was the land of unlimited opportunities. Such a future appealed to young Astor to give him the desire and courage for his life. Henry (Astor's brother) was in America: he had arrived with the Hessians and remained after the end of the war. All he knew was the butcher trade he had acquired at his father's house in Walldorf. So he opened a store in New York.

He had just started his business and could not offer his brother anything upon his arrival. Can you imagine Astor's start under such circumstances in America without Emerick, and you see the picture which Parton had drawn. Henry knew nothing about the fur trade. Emerick and John went to Henry's home to talk about their future. Emerick explained the fur trade to both youngsters. He suggested to look up Mr. Bowne, an old fur expert whom he knew in town, to ask for a job for John Jacob. After a few days this goal was reached. Bowne said he could use a helper but he could not pay more than two dollars a week, but he was willing to provide free food and lodging. Astor was thrilled to take the offer. It meant making a livelihood, and an opportunity to really master the trade, of which Emerick had so urgingly spoken. Emerick not only influenced him during the journey, he also in addition helped him to obtain his first job in America.

The land and its opportunities had impressed John Nicholas Emerick tremendously. After he was in America for only a short time, he wrote to his brothers that they should come to him. In 1771 he wrote to his father: "My wealth is so great, and it would grow greater if Christoph would come. He told him he had a friend named Matherson. He would come in the spring, and he would like Christoph to emigrate with him. And again in 1772 he wrote "Matherson writes to me that Christoph will come next year with Uncle Conrad and his son Andreas. I could use him now but I am willing to wait." Christoph arrived that year and wrote to Valentine that he should follow him as well. "I am happy that you will be coming. Our brother John Nicholas does good business with the fur trade, and has been on the go for four months." It is not known what these brothers did in America, but the spent their whole life in the new land to which they had immigrated. In 1785 Valentine wrote to his father :Brother Nicholas has arranged everything with John Astor, and we do not hear from him." It is obvious that they did not participate in their brother's business. Later on Ann Emerick came and settled in Philadelphia. We shall hear more from her later.
When we hear more about these two men, they are already partners .