Life Without Mr.Vanderbilt
Edith and Cornelia Vanderbilt
Regardless of the community’s expectations, Edith, though grieving the loss of her dear husband, returned to the Biltmore to continue life as normal as possible. Edith persistently worked in the community by assisting in the building of a new local hospital and she became the very first female president of the state agricultural society. Despite her efforts, Edith could not handle the administration of such a large estate and decided to sell several portions of the family’s estate. She began with the 87,000 acres of the forest, which she sold to the U.S. Government. This became the Pisgah National Forest and was America’s first national forest. In 1917, Edith decided to sell “Biltmore Estate Industries”, the trade apprentice program and then in 1921, she sold the “Biltmore Village."(Carley & Rennicke, 2000).
Cornelia's Marriage to John Francis Amherst Cecil
Edith remarried Senator Peter G. Gerry in 1925 and Cornelia, who still resided at the Biltmore, had married John Francis Amherst Cecil in 1924 in Biltmore village. Cornelia and John welcomed two sons while living at the Biltmore, George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil in 1925 and William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil in 1928 (Carley & Rennicke, 2000). In 1932, Cornelia and John were divorced and the boys moved with her to Europe while John Francis Amherst Cecil was left to manage the estate. The estate was put into a trust for the boys and they remained in Europe until they were done with their schooling (Grizzle, 2005).