The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-03-03
SISSON'S MILLIONS
Since 1874 His Heirs Have
Been Waiting for a
Division of His
Estate.
A MILLION DOLLARS In TRUST
Held Till His Youngest Grandchild
is Twenty-One-A Yankees
Marriage and Eecen-
tricities.
A MILLION DOLLARS IN TRUST

There is on file in Surrogate O'Neirs
Office at the Court House will, around
which is woven peculiar and interesting
story, involving at rough estimate about
four millions of dollars. Its provisions dis
close the history of a family well known in
this community. This will has for one-fifth
of century, just twenty years on the 18th
day of last February, tied up this princely
fortune and deprived the direct heirs of the
maker of the will of the use of the money.
The will in question is that of Charles G..
Sisson 1t was filed with Surrogate Nc
Cague on the 18th day Of February, 1874.
The fortune tied up on that day is now
ready to be released. The beneficiaries are
but few, the impartial hand of death having
fallen upon a number. Under the will of
Mr.. Charles G Sisson three executors were
appointed. Of the three but one remains to
apportion the fortune. He is John Hull
Browning, President of the Northern Rail
road of New Jersev He has an office at No.
lS7 West street, New York The executors
who have departed this life are Lansing w.
Zabriskie, who in 1874 was wealthy
banker, and Augustus A. Hardenbergh, at
the tlIno OF MS appointment as 6AecutOI,
cashier of Jersey City and subsequently q
member of the Board of Finance and Presi-
dent of the Hudson County National Bank.
Althou gh Mr. Sisson caused his will to be
filed in February, 1874, he did not die until
August of that year. One of his chief aims
at the time of the execution of his will was
to perpetuate the name of Sisson, and to per-
petuate the Sisson millions. There appears
also to have been desire to deprive GER
tain heir of any benefit of his money. To
accomplish. these ends, Mr.. SisSon made the
will referred to.
His first act was to bequeath to his heirs,
four in number, one million dollars in trust.
He directed that his four heirs receive the
revenue from his handsome beQueSt, but he
hopelessly tied up the principal. This will
not be distributed until such time as the last
issue of his children shall reach the
age of twenty-one years. Exclusive
Of this bequest of 81, 100000 there remained
an estate estimated to be worth one and a
halt millions. Again he showed a peculiar
spirit in the care OF his heirs, as ne directed
that the residue of his estate be invested
and reinvested, principal and interest, for q
period of twenty years, thus entailing it as
far as the law governing the perpetuity of
wealth permitted.
LIFE OF Mr.. SISSON.
The life of Charles G.. Sisson was one of
great ACTIVITY He -was q. Yankee of the
ing and money saving proclivities that that
implies. Some fifty odd years ago Charles
G. Sisson left Mystic, little hamlet of Con
necticut in compano with the father Of John
Hull Browning, both being friends. Mr..
Browning remained in New York and at his
death left his neirs princely fortune. As
fortunate as was Mr. Browning, Mr.. Sisson
was more so. 1t is said that the latter was
penurious. At any rate he engaged in the
business of buying and selling horses and
mules Everything he touched, it is de-
clared by those who knew him, turned into
money. His gains were invested rapidly at
per cent never less than Z, s, 9, and often
IL Finally, in the midst of his prosperity
he married. His wife lived but six weeks.
He longed for companionship and subse-
auently married the second time By this
union he was blessed with one son, Elias H.,
and that gentleman now resides at TenaHy
in a palatial home.
Around the life of this son hangs many in
teresting facts and some, which, 1t is said,
led to old man Sisson's tying up his mil
lions. Elias, arriving at the age OF twenty
one or Whereabouts, wooed young lady
named Miss Della Cox. For some reason,
never explained by old Mr.. Sisson, he form
ed a violent dislike for the woman OF his
sons choice. Some people say it was because
she was not pleasant to him, others that it
was because her family was not too well
married this young lady. who has proven to
him a most estimable wife and a loving
mother to their children. After his marriage
Elias left his fathers home
About this time Mrs. Sisson No. 2 died.
The old gentleman wanted a wife and he
started out to find young one, one en-
doyyed with wealth He found her in the
person of Miss Elizabeth Garrabrant. 1t is
said that Mr.. Sisson entered into an agree
ment with Miss Garrabrant's mother, the
girl was but thirteen years old, and still in
school to marry the child, monetary con-
sideration being alleged. He married Miss
Garrabrant, and but short time elapsed
after their marriage when 1T de-
veloped that the girl wife had fallen
dollars, left to her and her sister, by bach
elor uncle The estate comprised a greater
part of what is now Grand street, Wood
ward street, and big portion of Lafayette.
THE THIRD wIFES ESTATE.
The property was rich in building sand,
add old Mr.. Sisson, it is said. realized a
small fortune on SITS sale alone. His union
with Miss Garrabrant was productive of an
issue of three children, Eva B., Charles q.
Jr., and Elizabeth B.
There was happiness in the Sisson house
hold for years, and then came disruption.
His young wife secured a separation from
him Subsequently she died and her estate
was placed in the hands of Jacob Weart,
father of City Attorney Spencer Weart, for
settlement. A settlement was affected
about one year ago, after much difficulty,
and the money divided equally amongst her
three children and their issue.
Prior to the death of his young wife, Mr..
Sisson, it is said, consummated the deal
which lead to the construction of the North
ern Railroad of New Jersey. OF the 10000
shares of the stoc this road issued, Mr..
Sisson secured session of 1000, and
since that time John Hull Browning has Sc
cured sufficient number more to have the
controlling interest in the road. While Mr..
Sisson was accommodating this fortune, his
son, Charles e., married He was of q
sickly nature, and he died at an early age,
dissipation Fastening the end.
Eva B. Sisson peculiarly enough was
won by the son of her fathers friend, John
Hull Browning, who is the only surviving
executor of the estate of old Mr.. Sisson.
Mrs. Browning, although delicate when
Young, is now living with her husband in
New York enjoying excellent health. They
have a magnificent summer home at Engle-
wood.
Elizabeth B. Sisson married James Viii
kinson of New York. She was robust girl.
hut in later wears her health failed and last
year she died. All of Mr. Sissons children
married to please him save his son Elias, the
issue of his second wife
HIS VAULT BUILT DURING LIFE.
Seeing his children married and quite
comfortably settled, the old man abandoned
business pursuits as far as possible and took
up a residence at Tenafiy. While there he
realized that death was but matter OF q
few years, and conceiving the idea that he
would like his remains inferred in magnlh-