New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-04
"QUEEN ELIZABETH ILL.
CAREER OF A REMARKABLE WOMAN
IN WILLIAMSBRIDGE
MRS. ELIZABETH HEILMAN SIAS. WHO
HELPED TO BUILD Up THE VILLAGES
IN THE ANNEXED DISTRICT AND
WAS A POWER IN BUSINESS

IN THE ANNEXED DISTRICT AND
WAS A POWER IN BUSINESS
AND IN POLITICS
Mrs. Elizabeth Holman Sias, who Is dangerously
I'll at her home, in willamsbrdge is a wel-known
promoter OF progress in the Annexed District Mrs
Sias, owing to her prominence in public affairs and
success In politics is known throughout the Bor-
ough OF The Bronx and Westchester County as
Queen Elizabeth" She helped to build up the
villages OF Wiamsbridge Wakefield and West
Chester before they annexed to the city be-
ginning with scarcely any capital and in ten years
accommodating fortune estimated TO be nearly
100000 In her political she was known as
successful lobbyist at Albany and before the
Mayor and Aldermen Of New-York and in her own
village her friends used to say that no man could
hope TO be nominated elected without her as
sent. In fact II Is said that many men now 2rom-
nent IN politics owe their success in the beginning
to this woman. once the wife OF country tavern
keeper
Mrs sias was before her marriages Miss Eliza
peth hnewltz She was born Berlin Ger
many. nifty years When she was two years
old her parents. who were peasants migrated 10
this city and settled in Thrty-eghth-st then in
the suburbs Of the city. Mrs sias was married
TO Frederick Herman, who went to Wlamsbridgo
about twenty-five years ago. and. after conducting
a meat market for a short time. opened the Jerome
Hotel. a roadhouse In White Plains-ave near the
left her a small amount OF property valued at
only few hundred do lars. The widow with
her young daughter. who has since died then ran
the hotel until her affairs grew TO be so extensive
that tavern keeping was no longer worthy OF her
attention. Just dt this time property in the An
nexed District. which had been selling poorly for
many years. began to bring better price. and 1t
by taking advantage Of this boom and skill
fully helping II along that Mrs. Slas laid the
foundation OF her fortune. She assisted by a
peculiar state OF affairs that existed at the time
In 1856 number OF realostate spectators led by
Daniel owen. had cut most Of the town MP in
one-quarter-acre lots and by working up boom
had sold them TO New-York business men. The
boom collapsed. and after few years many Of the
owners forgot about their investments and many
OF the lots were sold and resold for taxes. There
was at that time a peculiar law in operation IN
Westminster County whereby all purchasers OF
land became only lessees from the county for a
period Of one thousand years.
HERE WAS HER CHANCE.
As soon as property began bring better prices.
in 1890 Mrs. Sias her chance. BY going 10 the
Supervisor and paying y per cent OF the tax on
forfeited property she would get the assignment
from the town OF the towns lease. Lawyers were
employed to search the titles. Then Mrs
Sias the owners many OF whom had for
gotten that they owned lots In Williamsoridge or
the Annexed District. and confronted them with
the leases Il will either sell you my lease said
she. "or will buy your propirty The lot-o"ners'
anxious 10 part with ny pope y uhder tnese oUo
ditons, let IT go much cheaper than ever and some
OF them said TO have sold as low as so ana
800. and at the time thought that they rad made !
a good bargain.
ouired she cut up lots. Each OF the quar-
ter-acre lots made four twcntyhve-foot town lots
which Mrs Slas sold for as mucn as NS~ eacn; .
and became recognized explolter or lanos IN me ,
Annexed District Her office was always In her /
home She employed women as agents on commits |
sion in many parts of Westchester County ana (
New-York. and the business proved so fascinating |
to them that some OF them are engaged IN ye,
XXm06S these Is MIS- mary 'F'''e'
Mrs sias kept small law library in her parlor.
and was a subscriber TO The Law Journal Every |
morning she scanned the columns OF the faly |
papers for points that would assist her IN her ousi.
Court House in White Plains and 1t is said tnat
she could search title or draft mortgage or deed
as well as any lawyer. To the real estate business
Mrs Sias soon added a building and loan depart
ment which she conducted herself. lending money /
mortsages on the property BY this mortgage sys-
tenn she created demand for property IN VIII
the favorable terms offered TO homeseekers by her
As nearly every one was her debtor Mrs Sas
wanted TO he village president. It is said he had
to Queen Elizabeth; II Is sald tnar sne
Sheriff OF Westchester County. ms
gave her prestige In the county, ana she 'ooA
AZ one time when DR. Duncomb president
OF the village portion Of Mrs Sass properiy
fhat the portion which assessed was about 40
per cent lower than the adjoining property. sew
n p Mhrphy through David Hunt. their attorney.
brought an action 10 set ASIDE Ne Tag 89;,,e;S
slipped out OF town The next heard OF her was
from Albany. where she had Dill introduced ana
advanced TO its third leading 20 i1rbt r. he
fore the committees Of the Legislature ana en-
poyed counsel. Even indignation meetings were
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