The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-01-23
The Springer Estate.
PEOPLE WHO CLAIM THE CITY OF
WILMINGTON.
"Who owns Wilmington ?"

"Who owns Wilmington"
This is a question which not few inhab
itants ofthe Diamond State are asking them
selves. Recently there was a meeting in St.
Louis of some seven hundred heirs, OF their
representatives, who claim that the ground
upon which the city is built belongs to them
by right Of heritage. This will be the last
OF 4 Spri4s of conferences between the heirs.
That this movement has more iniluen-
tal backing than some of the associations
formed for the purpose of recovering lost
property may be Inferred from glance at
the list OF claimants. Among these are Reu-
ben E. Springer, the noted Cincinnati philan-
thropist, Congressman Springer, of Him
oi,; Hon. w. A. Springer, Washington, and
Rev. J. n. w. Springer, popular preach
L, Springer, has trans ferred all his right and
title ia the property to his brothers named
above, but has, at the same time, expressed
his Willingness to do the needfu in the shape
the proposed legal proceedings. Many of
the claimants are wealthy people, and are
prepared to sink some of thciI spare finan.
ceS in the present undertaking.
To state the case Of the heirs needs a ref
erence back to tie days Of 1899 At that
time there lived in Stockholm, Sweden, one
Baron Charles Christopher Springer. Royal
blood coursed through his veins, and he was
accounted one of the first noblemen of the
land. He was the owner Of an immense and
valuable esta which enabledihim to live in
splendor, while his followers could be num-
bered by the thousand. In process of time he
married lady of birth equal to his own,
and who, moreover, brought him fortune
almost as large as that he possessed in his
bachelorhood. So fabulous, says the his
torian, were the united fortunes of the twain
that it was well nigh impossible to correctly
estimate it,
But the Baron was one OF those men who
never know when they are satisfied His
resources were immense, but he wanted to
increase them. He was continually ill at
ease, and in shis mind he revolved one
SSutluC dllVl pl WHICH HIS WthlLu
might be enlarged. Finally he received
tdings of the opportunities open to men of
wealth in the New World. After but little
deliberation he formed colony of his
countrymen, fitted out an expedition of half
dozen ships, and finally, after tempestu-
Gus voyage, landed at Philadelphia. His
first move was to buy tract of 800 acres
of land and establish his colony upon it.
These acres are now the site of the city of
Wilmington, Del. Subsequently he leased
the land for period of ninety years, ,and
LATER gave up the ghost. OF his three sons
two survived him, and these were not to be
found when the lease had expired. The
Springers sbefore mentioned are the decen-
dents of his sons Charles and Christopher.
The latter had nine children, one of whom,
Abraham, had in turn six children. One of
his grand children, ,inow livingiin Illinois, has
six children more. From this some idea
can be gathered of the extensive genealogy
of the family. There ara heirs who can trace
back to the old Baron now living in Penn
sylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Mississippi, Kan
sas and Colorado.
Besides the Wilmington estate, the Spring.
ers also lay claim on some very valuable
property at Stockholm, Sweden, which was
lett by the Baron when he cha nged his loca.
ton to these shores. 1t is intended how
ever, to go in for the American prize first
and if the suit is successful, the proceed ings
will be transferred across the water. The
value of the property in dispute aggregates
several millions of dollars.