Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-10-27
GlLKS CLAIM THE TOWN.
Folk They Want tue Earth as Usual.
Springers and Petersons.

They are Few in Number. But Being Ohio
Folk They Want tue Earth as Usual.
springers and Petersons.
The Springers, the Petersons and a
dozen other families have conspired for
years to disturb real estate titles in VIII
mington, but all their efforts have
been in vain But now even they are
in danger even if they should be sue
cessful IN turning out into the cold world
the greater portion Of Whining
tons inhabitants, of being di
rectly called upon to defend their
acquisition against a new claimant. The
new coveters of Wilmington have the
papers, and they are after what is known
as the Gilks OF Jilks estate. They claim
for their particular portion of the uni
verse, all that part of Wilmington be-
tween Poplar and Washington streets and
extending from the Christiana to the
Brandywine, and north of
line running about through Fifth
street. The first of the Gilks on jilks the
name being spelt both ways, in Delaware
was Edward, he having received a patent
from King George the Second, for the
track of land mentioned Edward Gilks
remained on his tract, ii seems, but a
short time and after a few years he made
lease Of it for ninety nine years to one
William Verhoff lie then joined band
of early western pioneers that was bound
for Ohio. The family forget about their
lands ia Delaware
The descendants Of the Gilks family
now live in Toledo Ohio Recently in
looking over some old papers a member
of the family discovered the old lease for
this tract Of land. Investigation was at
once commenced and it was soon found
that the lease had been allowed to run
out and those who had been benefited BY
1t Still continued TO hold the land as if il
had come to them in fee simple.
meeting Of the heirs
was called and of the old family there
We're only left few descendants. It was
decided to make an effort to obtain pos
/ session again Of the property Of
| their ancestor Messrs Struble and
Stiger, prominent attorneys of To
ledo, were engaged to prosecute the claim
| The legal firm at once wrote to Recorder
Holcomb, but received no satisfaction
from him He was not able to find the
lease on the record SO they engaged the
services of George Lodge Esq, Of this
city, Mr.. Lodge at once commenced al
I
to feel convinced that his clients have 8
most excellent case. Suits of disposses
sion, he SAYS, will be commenced Just as
soon as all the papers in the case can b'
arranged and got together
The JOURNAL reporter interviewed Mr.
Lodge in relation to the claim this morn
ing, but that gentleman was exceedingly
reticent about the facts Of the case II,
holds that it would be very iniudiciou:
to furnish his facts to the public unit
the proper time arrives, that is when tia
case is in the courts. The business mel
and citizens residing ON the tract of LAM
can feel secure, however, for some time
to come, as it will take quite long tim
for the parties to arrange thei
case so that it can b.
properly presented. There will be anothe
difficulty in the way in the necessity o
{ the Toledo people to prove that they ar
the legitimate descendants of the orig
nal Edward Gilks OF this there is som
doubt. The records of the early grant
Of land in Ohio show that Edward Gilk
received a large grant there, but his nam
Z disappears from the records and ii is
! long period before it again comes
! light. The possession Of the lease, how
ever, will be strong evidence in favor
the claimants, they think
A real estate owner has estimated IL
tact of land which is claimed at about 81
600, 000 As there are enly a few heirs the
: will be a couple of millions a piece. m
Springer and Peterson families are nj
merous enough to people a town like Wi
, mington, and if they should have bee
: successful in their designs there won
have beend only a few thousand dolla
apiece to be distributed. The IJoURNA
building is located on the properi
claimed by the Gilks, but President Ply
of the JOURNAL Printing Company HI
as yet made no arrangements with N
Dodge to secure the Gawthrop BuildiI
for the future publication Of the pape