Reuben was born on November 16, 1800 in Frankfort, Kentucky, United States, to Charles and Catherine (Runyan) Springer. His father, a farmer, fought under General Wayne at the battle of Maumee (1794) and was for many years postmaster of Frankfort.
Springer was educated in the local schools and at thirteen entered the post office as a clerk, succeeding his father as postmaster upon the latter's death in 1816.
After serving a clerk, he secured a position as clerk on the George Madison, a river boat that ran between Louisville and New Orleans; later, he held a similar position on the George Washington, a boat owned by Kilgour, Taylor & Company, the largest wholesale grocery house in Cincinnati.
In 1840 he retired from active business on account of ill health. Two years later he went to Europe, and again in 1844-45, 1849, and 1851. During his travels abroad he spent much time in visiting the art centers and in collecting valuable works of art. As a result of prudent investments in real estate and railroads, he accumulated a fortune.
In connection with music, he was largely responsible for providing Cincinnati with a music hall and a college of music. The music festivals held in 1873 and 1875 created great enthusiasm and suggested the establishment of a permanent institution devoted to music.
In May 1875 Springer addressed a letter to John Shillito offering to donate $125, 000 for the purpose of building a music hall, on two conditions: first, that the lot on Elm and Fourteenth streets be secured from the city at a nominal rental and free from taxation for the perpetual use of a society formed for the purpose; and second, that a further sum of not less than $125, 000 be donated by the citizens. The offer was received with much acclaim but subscriptions came in slowly. Many felt that preference was being extended to the music hall at the expense of the exposition building.
He died in 1884.
Reuben Runyan Springer is remembered as one of Cincinnati's greatest benefactors. He was a large stockholder and a director of the Little Miami and the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroads, and a director in numerous banks and insurance companies. He was one of the incorporators in 1881 of the Cincinnati Museum Association, and left $20, 000 to the Art School of Cincinnati. He also secured a lot and advanced funds for the erection of a suitable building for the College of Music; gave the institution a permanent endowment; provided for the construction of the Odeon - an adjunct to the college, for recitals and student concerts; and established a fund of $5, 000 for gold medals to be awarded to pupils of superior merit. His donations to the college amounted in all to $200, 000.
Springer is best remembered as a liberal donor to the Catholic Church, of which he was a devoted member. He interested himself particularly in the education of young men for the priesthood.
Quotations: "We are a mechanical people, not a race of fiddlers".
He was a member of the Cincinnati Museum Association.
He was in person tall and erect, with dark eyes, and dignified and quiet in manner, and impressed the casual observer as one of the highest type of gentlemen.
A quiet, unostentatious, modest man, he refused to have the Music Hall or the College of Music named after him.
On January 30, 1830, he married Jane Kilgour, the daughter of the senior member of this firm. Springer was soon admitted to partnership in the concern and for the next ten years was engaged in mercantile pursuits. He had no children.
