The morning times., 1896-02-13
(oEBsfIlRsH
0lObG2 F 81
tThe WIT. rniIdIaga
WILD DREAMS OF WEALTH
Some Hagerstown Citizens Among
the Claimants to $l60,0O0,000.
Land in Several States and an Old
French Estate Involved in This
Maryland Romance.
tsneciaI to The Times. J

Hagerstown, Md, Feb. I2.-A large num-
ber OF heirs living in Maryland, Ohio,
Illinois and Virginia are making strenuous
efforts 10 recover a vast fortune amount
ing to fully $50 900 ,0Ce0.
Among the heirs a re Samuel keefer, Chris
tian Keefer, Mrs. Frederick Forthnan,
Hagcrstown, and Mrs. David Long, four
miles south of Hagerstown, who is a
cousin of the keefers. Besides the Aneri-
can heirs there are heirs in France, who
are not only looking up the American part
of ths fortune, but are also ferreting out
the title TO an estate in France, nearly
double the aggregate OF the property, being
estimated at about $50. 600, 900.
The American estate is located in ST.
Louis, Mo-, Kings county, and in Illinois,
but the heirs are widely scattered.
The story of the fortune is exceedingly
interesting, for il savors of tie Older times
when FrenchnIen were plentiful IN America.
There is a touch of The Old royalty of
France about il, too. Tie story opens amid
the turbulent times OF The French revoiu-
ton. when Louis XIV was experiencing
much difficulty 10 retain his throne. The
wealthy Marquis Royer was one of the
noblenlen OF France TO become involved
10 the existing politica! troubles. He had
three promising sons who shared his sym
pathy and wealth.
When the change OF fortune came, these
America. They were Jean, Count OF
Roger, Ardelle, and Marquis Jacques
Royer, the youngest son. The three settled
In America. 1t was not long, however,
until lfrdelle died, leaving no heir save his
twObrOthers. Jean, the eCountofRoyer, mar
ried an American heireSS soon after com.
ing TO America, thereby increasing the
fortune which he rad already inherited
from his father. Then, endowed with
plenty OF money, the two surviving brothers
purchased large tracts of land in Missouri
Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
IN I79s Jacques Royer. the younger broth
er. died in st. Louis Mo-, leaving larg.
estate in that city. i'm Union, Mo-. in King
county. n. Y, and in Illinois, besides his
share OF the estate in Paris. France. Th'
st. Louis claim is proabaIy the largest anC
consists OF a Spanish grant south o
Chauteau avenue, between Manchestel
road and the river
The estate in this county as mentioned is
valued at $50 600 900 and nearly doubl,
that amount i'm Fra nee where the famil!
originally resided.
The descendants of Jean. the Count o.
Roger. now reside in Ohio, Illinois, Vir
ginia and Maryland. Among the heirs ar,
the following: John Paulding. Franl
Paulding and others. Martinsburg, w. Va.
Samuel Keefer. Christian Keefer and Mrs
FrederickFrothman, Bagerstown; Charles
Chauteau, George Chauteau and Paul Lucas
st. Louis, No; DR.. Royer, Sterling, i'll.
j. 2. Roger, Rockford, ILL.,; and the Obi,
heirs. The prominence of the familie
then and the prominence of the heirs of tn
Royer house has caused considera BILE interes
TO be taken I'm the proceedings towar
claiming the vast fortune.
Hon. John ID. DeGolley, Mt. Gilead, O.
is in correspondence with large numbe
OF heirs whose names have not been men
toned and is putting forth great effort
In order TO consunmate early settleme mt o
the claims Of the Royer heirs to the estate
He is also preparing genealogical tree. !
jealous effort is being made to get all tn
heirs together as soon as possible