Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-08-07
Two MILLION DOLLARS
Believed to Have Been Bequeathsd
a wheeling Family.
The Sheridans, Of Seventeenth Street, Proba-
bic Heirs to an immense Fortune
From an English
Aunt.

James Sheridan, foreman at Jacob Sny'
der's iron establishment, lives with his fam
lily at No. IS Seventeenth street Unless
some untoward circumstance prevents, he
will be one of four to divide an estate val
ued at 100000, bequeathed by an aunt
in Ireland. Mrs. Sheridan, his mother, lives
in the Fifth ward and her family consists Of
James and John and two daughters. II
their golden dream is realized, they will
each get the snug little sum Of half mil
lion of money. A REGISTER reporters at
tention was directed to the case by the fol
lowing, in Pittsburg paper Of yesterday
morning:
HEx-Councilman John Sheridan, Of the
Ninth ward until yesterday puddler in
Shoenberger's mill, leaves for Wheeling
this morning where his brother and two
sisters reside. The object Of his trip is to
arrange for taking the proper steps towards
securing an estate valued at 100000,
which was bequeathed to them BY an aunt
in England. The news Of this unexpected
good fortune was received on Monday, and
and as can be imagined, proved to be a
great surprise. Mr.. Sheridan is well known
in this city, where he has resided for the
past ten years. He has qeen in comfort,
able circumstances and has q wide circle
offriends who will receive the news of his
extraordinary luck with genuine pleasure.
He was born in Wheeling and will 90 from
there to England in few days"
Last etening a REGISTER commissioner
called at No. So Seventeenth street and had
a pleasant chat with James Sheridan. The
article quoted above was mentioned and his
smile betrayed that he knew something Of
the case, though he had not seen his broth
er and did not know he was in the city.
"Yes," Mr.. Sheridan said, I'VE are GER
tainly making an effort to get that money.
We have q lawyer here in Wheeling and
one in New York and they are engaged in
working up our claim.
What are the particulars of the case?
Mr. Sheridan then gave the following out
line of the story connected with this rare
stroke of fortune: His father, now de-
ceased, had one sister living at
Dublin, who was the sole sur
viving member of the family.
She married Mr.. Welsh, in Dublin, who
was engaged in the newsdealer business and
who early left her a childless widow. She
then met Col. Blake, Of the British Army,
and became his affianced bride. The fam.
lily Of Col. Blake opposed the union, bat it
was consummated. nevertheless and cold
ness grew up which resulted in Col Blake S
making a will, leaving his entire fortune to
his wife This fortune was not entailed
and consisted entirely of securities, such Us
Consols, East Indian stock and other bonds.
Col Blake died childless and was recently
followed to the grave By his wife, the aunt
of the Sheridans, who del intestate. The
estate, which is estimated at $4,000, 600,
consequently descends to the heirs.
The Sheridans of this city were not mott
fed of their inheritance, as her heirs were
not known, but they learned of it through
efforts made by attorneys to find heirs
They had retained and carefully preserved
their fathers papers and all the family
records and documents and are well pre-
pared to substantiate their claim. In such
cases the valne of an estate is generally
oyer-estimated, but this one, if not $4,000
900, is evidently sufficient to make each of
the heirs opulent. They are determined to
spare no effort 10 secure it, and wishing
them all success, the REGISTER envoy took
his leave.