Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-05-29
Fortunate Discovery of Philadelphia We
man Who Keeps FlOWerstand.
One of the mOst familiar faces on Chest

One Of the most familiar faces on Chest
nut street Philadelphia is that of Mrs.
Susannah Emerich, a spruce little woman
who has fiower-stand at the corner of
that thoroughfare and Twelfth street.
She is never absent except on the bleak
est of Winter days, and drives quite a 'Iu-
crative business from the sale of nose
gays, being patrOnized by all classes. To-
day somewhat romantic story was
brought to light about the little flower
seller, which, if properly verified will
soon lift her and her family out of the
ranks of comparative obscurity to that of
social and other prominence that vast
wealth brings. Mrs. Emerich is said to-
be an heiress to millions, and it is said
that there will be no difficulty in estab-
fishing the necessary relationship in or
der to secure the money that now awaits
an owner. Mrs. Emerich, who lives with
her son, William B. Emerich, at No. ], 1925
Federal street, claims to be one of the
heirs of John Nicholas Emerich, who
died, as is supposed, without a will,
about 135 years ago. He was native OF
! Hesse-Darmstardt and amassed his
wealth in the oceantrade. His partners
were Stephen Girard and John Aston.
He died on one of his own vessels at sea
while on his. way to- Philadelphia, and
his remains were brought to this city
and buried in the old German Lutheran
cemetery, the present site of FIFTH and
Cherry streets. At his death Emerich's
estate was worth several million dollars
but it has increased since, and is today
worth $25000000. This includes $4,000
| 900 on deposit in the Bank of England
large sums deposited elsewhere, and val.
liable property in this city, New York
and Germany.
During the present century persons
claiming to be the rightful heirs have
several times set up claims, but no settle
ment was ever reached. The present agi-
tation grows out of an application made
by Mrs John Boss, of Pittsburg, to Max
Schamberg, the Austrian Counsul, to Sc
cure a distribution of Emerich's estate
She claims to be one of the heirs, and
that Emerich was her maternal grand
uncle. She recently received from Ger
many a paper giving a brief account OF
the finding of will in an old book in a
PHILADELPHIA church. The matter was
not mentioned for the reason that Nicho-
las Emerich, was not remembered by
even the oldest members of the church,
and also because it was evident the pa
per had never been admitted to probate
Mrs. Boss at once reported the discovery
to John Kessler, her son-in-laW, and
ed from relatives in Germany and the
matter placed in Consul Schamberg's
hands. Mrs. Emerich, the fower-woman
here, will join with Mrs. Boss. She says
she will have no difficulty in proving hel
claim. She has in her possession fami
ly bible containing the records Of births
and deaths of her husbands ancestors
which traces them back directly to the
dead millionaire. She says there were
} two brothers, John Nicholas and Boltus
Emerich, both of whom were very rich
They were born and raised in Hesse
Dsrmstadt, where Mrs. Emerich's hus
band and his ancestors were raised. He
husband was Daniel Emerich, a grand
son of Benjamin Emerich, who was
nephew of the rich brother. Boltus die
! in Philadelphia and disposed of his prop
erty by will. Mrs. Emerich has, in addition
} to her bible record, number of paper
proving her husbands ancestry. Their
are probably half dozen other claiment
in Philadelphia. Counsel has been con
suited, and steps viii be taken at an eal
" day to secure a redistribution of tn
: estate and establish the validity of th
claims of Mrs. Emerich and others.