The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-30
MRS. KINasBuRY's MONEY.
An Old House Running Over With
Wealth.
From the Ne'o York Sun.

From the Neto York Sun.
LYME, CONN.,, Jan 24.-About a mile
due east from here on the Blackhall road
there stands a big. rambling house sur
rounded by many acres of grounds over
looking the sound. Here for many years
lived Mrs. Jane Kingsbury. She died
week ago yesterday, having been cut down
by grip at the age of SO. She was buried
from the house two days later.
She had lived rather solitary life. She
was supposed to be moderately we'll off and
to be living upon an annuity left her by
her husband, the late Maj. julius Kings
bury of the regular army.
Yesterday this quiet little village was
astonished by the announcement that $780,
900 in cash, and securities TO the amo unit of
$50, 900 more, had been found hidden in the
house which Mrs. Kingsbury occupied.
AS far back as lifelong residents can re-
member Mrs. Kingsbury had spent more or
less of her time in Lyme. Her sister Adeline
married Capt. Champlin, one of the most
popular masters connected with the New
York and London line of sailing packets in
the good old days, and came to Lyme to
live. Capt. Champlin died soon after. His
widow then married Thomas Cunning
ham, wealthy retired New York broker,
who also took up his residence here. Mrs
Kingsbury visited her sister great deal
She is remembered as a very pretty little
girl, with very gracious manner.
Upon one Of theSe visits she met Mai
Kingsoury OF the regular army. He was a
native Of Waterbury. They fell in love aud
were married That was In the early 40s.
When they were married Mrs Kingsbury
always accompanied her husband. In lS4o
he was sent to California. He got the gold
fever and did little prospecting on his
own hook. Before he had had any luck at
this, however, be was ordered to proceed to
Chicago,
The Windy City was bowling wilder
ness then, but showing a disposition to
grow. Maj. Kingsbury bought large
block of land very cheap, and almost before
he knew it he was a wealthy man. He held
| his possession, but not his post. Again he
was changed. This time the government
sent him to Florida to help subdue the Semi
noles.
From then until just before the outbreak
Of the war of the rebellion Maj. Kingsbury
| was kept on the move. His wife always ac-
| companied him. They had two children
born to them, son and daughter. The
| former followed in the footsteps OF his
father and entered the army.
He was colonel Of the Eleventh ConnectiS
cut regiment, and was killed at the battle
of Antietam. The daughter married Gen.
Simon B. Buckner of Kentucky. Just be-
fore the war began Gen. Kingsbury died.
He was a very wealthy man. He died in
testRte.
This led to series of lawsuits, which
were upon the court calendars for more
than dozen years. No one up here seems
to know just what it was all about. The
lawsuits were not brought until after Col.
Henry klngsbury, the son Of the major,
was killed.
Upon the death Of Maj. Kingsbury his
widow came to Lyme to live with her sis
ter, Mrs. Cunningham. She was popular
at first. She exchanged calls with all the
nelghbors In late years, however, she
rarely went out, except on Sunday, when
she was to be seen in her pew in the First
Congregational church.
About six years ago Mrs. Cunningham
died. Her husband died few years before
About this time it was noticed that Mrs.
Kingsburv was getting "close." She dis
posed of the horses and carriages, She also
discharged all the help about the place ex-
cept one woman servant. These two lived
all alone in the big, rambling house until
Mrs. Kingsbury's death. But Mrs. Kings
bury did not take her companion into her
confidence by any means. She was Just as
ignorant of the womans hidden wealth as
anybody else until it was discovered.
After the death of Mrs. Kingsburys sis
ter she made a will She sent for Judge
GrlSwold and told him she wanted her prop
erty equally divided between her grand
daughter, Mrs Lily Belknap of Louisville,
a daughter of Gen. Buokner, and her grand
son, Henry W. Kingsbury. a son OF Col.
Henry Kingsbury. But she named no sum
and none was mentioned ia the will. The
executors OF the document were Judge Girls
void aud Louis Cunningham, a nephew of
her dead sister.
When Mrs. Kipgsbury was taken with
the grip several weeks ago she sent word to
her granddaughter, Mrs. Belknap, that she
would like TO see her. But before Mrs Bel
KNAPP could arrive Mrs. Kingsbury fell upon
a stove in her room and cut her head badly.
She bled profusely, and sank almost in
stantly IN a stete of unconsciousness, IN
which condition she remained for four days,
wnen she died. Mrs. Belkaap, accompanied
by her husband, who is a merchant in Louis
vile, arrived the day after this accident