John Gottlieb Wendel (1835-1914)
John G. Wendel, Reclusive Eccentric, of 442 Fifth Avenue, New York
He lived in his mansion on Fifth Avenue (see images) with his five sisters and insisted on gas for lighting instead of electricity and no modern conveniences of any kind. When he died in 1914 his estate was valued at $80-million and his Will was contested by some 1,800 alleged heirs.
