Marshall Orme Wilson, Sr.

Rick Hutto: The Wilsons’ only son, Orme, found himself on top of society when he married Carrie Astor, daughter of “the” Mrs. Astor, when the groom’s father put up a half-million dowry to match the bride’s. The young couple left for England on the family yacht taking her sister, Belle, with them. She enchanted the Prince of Wales, was outfitted at Worth’s in Paris, then married a popular diplomat, Sir Michael Herbert, who was a grandson of the Earl of Pembroke. When Belle’s husband was appointed Ambassador to the United States in 1902, she returned to Washington in triumph. The youngest Wilson sister, Grace, was dating the eldest Vanderbilt son, Bill, who died when he was only twenty. Grace courted disapproval when she transferred her attention to his younger brother, Cornelius Vanderbilt III. They were married and young Cornelius eventually inherited his parents’ palatial mansion on Fifth Avenue where Grace Wilson Vanderbilt famously reigned as the undisputed queen of society. Having achieved both a forty million dollar fortune and undisputed social success, the “Marrying Wilsons” – all nieces and nephews of the Macon Johnstons - became internationally famous. As the New York Journal wrote, “No financier in the world controls as much money as Mrs. Wilson and her sons and daughters. No American matron has ever approached her record as a matchmaker. Only Queen Victoria and the Queen of Denmark can compete with her.” In fact, several wags suggested that Mrs. Wilson’s ultimate contribution should be to die so that her husband would be free to marry the long-widowed Queen Victoria.

Orme would marry Caroline "Carrie" Schermerhorn Astor, daughter of Mr. William Backhouse Astor and Caroline Webster Schermerhorn-Astor. "The Mrs Astor", was New York City's leading socialite.

It's rumored that Carries father, Mr Astor disapproved of the marriage at first, possibly because Orme was not from "Old Money" but soon warmed up to Orme, and as it ended up Orme and Caroline were married nearly 42 years at his death. Carrie lived abt 27 years after Orme's died and never re-married. She died in 1948.

Marshall Orem Wilson was appointed an Ambassadorship "Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary" to Haiti. His wife Carrie's brother, John Jacob Astor IV, would perished in the Titanic disaster of April 1912.

In in Nov of 1884 Orme married Caroline "Carrie" Schermerhorn Astor 1861 – 1948

New York Nov 18, 1884 The wedding of Marshall Orme Wilson and Caroline Schermerhorn Astor the youngest and unmarried daughter of Mr. and Mrs William Backhouse Astor too place today at the residence of the bride's parents. The bridesmaids and ushers received gifts of diamonds from the bride and groom. The parents to the bride included a house from Mr. Astor, it's estimated the presents are worth $200,000. The reception lasted four hours, when a banquet was served.

Many at Funeral of Marshall Orme Wilson

Bishop Manning and Dr's Stetson and Sutton Officiate burial in Woodlawn Cemetery.

The funeral services of Marshall Orme Wilson, who died on Thursday at his home, 3 East Sixty-fourth Street, were held yesterday morning in the Trinity Chapel. Twenty-fifth Street West of Broadway. Bishop William T. Manning officiated. Assisted by the Rev. Dr Caleb R Stetson rector of Trinity parish, and Dr. I. Wilson Sutton, vicar of the chapel. The vested choir of Trinity Church sang the hymns "Nearer My God to Thee," "on the Resurrection Morning" and "Savior, Blessed Savior." and the anthem "I Heard a Voice From Heaven." Besides the widow and his son Mr. and Mrs Marshall Orme Wilson III of Washington relatives and friends present included Mrs. Ogden Goelet, Mr. and Mrs. Richard T Wilson Jr. Miss Marion M. Wilson, Brig General Cornelius Vanderbilt, Miss Grace Vanderbilt. Mrs. Corneilius Vanderbilt Jr. Mrs. Van Rensselaer Kennedy, Justice and Mr F.K. Pendleton, Mr.and Mrs. William Starr Miller. Vincent Astor, E.J. Berwind, Mrs. W.W. Hoffman, General and Mrs Charles H Sherrill, Mrs. Caleb R. Stetson, Mr. and Mrs. H.F. Webster. Miss Louise H. Kean, Henry White, William Rhindlander Stewart, Ford Huntington, Ogden Mills and Mr and Mrs J J Chapman. Also Mrs. Whitney Warren, Mrs Newbold Morrison, Miss Hattie Wells, Miss Steward, Henry Whitehouse, Dr. Austin Flint, Mr. and Mrs Richard Aldrich, Mr and Mrs H.P. Robbins, Mr.and Mrs George Post, Mr and Mrs Nelson Borland, Mr. and Mrs. Edmund L. Baylia, F.H. Allen, E. Coster Wilmerding, Eugene Gallatin, Charles B. Alexander and Lawrence Smith Butler. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York.

Marshal Orme Wilson is the Father of:

Marshall Orme Wilson Jr 1885 – 1966 Richard Thornton Wilson III 1886 – 1977