The Mueller-Harder Family

On our way back home from New York City, Karen and I went by way of the village of Grand View-on-Hudson. We were specifically hoping to see the house that my grandfather — and that his father, too — lived in briefly during their childhoods. I believe that my grandfather’s grandfather lived there with his wife for many years.

The alert reader will notice that I have not yet given any of the ancestors a name; I will now. All three, as well as my grandfather’s grandfather’s father, were named “William Cook Disbrow.” At one point, they were named relatively logically “Sr.,” “Jr.,” “III,” and “IV.” However, at some point, “Jr.” became “Sr.,” “III” became “Jr.,” and “IV” became “III.” My mother maintained that it was because only royalty have “retired numbers,” and that after the second William Cook Disbrow died, the third should then have become “Sr.” and the fourth should then have become “Jr.” This never happened, and neither did the next logical step; so, my grandfather, the fourth William Cook Disbrow, grew up as “IV,” changed to “III,” and remained “III” throughout his life. It’s probably fortunate for the sanity of future genealogists, therefore, that my grandfather had two daughters and no sons. The “William Cook Disbrow” line was gone, at least in name. On this site, I will consistently refer to them by their chronological suffixes: “Sr.,” “Jr.,” “III,” and “IV.”

We know that the Disbrow’s house was on the uphill (west) side of Piermont Avenue, right in Grand View-on-Hudson. Unfortunately, we didn’t really have any extra time to do research, and we weren’t able to positively identify the house visually. Here’s a picture of it, though, which we believe to be from the 1920s, as well as one of the second William Cook Disbrow and his wife Elizabeth. I know we have more, probably better photos. I’ll try to post one when I’ve unearthed them.

Well, now, that didn’t take too long — I found them, all right! I’m posting this twice, because we have two hand-painted post cards; because they’re hand-painted, they look a little different. There’s no identification other than the printing on the front, “River Road looking South, Nyack, N.Y.” On the back, it says it’s “Printed in Germany” and that it requires one cent for domestic postage, two cents for foreign. This doesn’t help too much with dating the card: domestic postage for postcards remained at one penny through 1951! I cannot find a rate history for postcards sent internationally from the U.S., though I suspect that two cents was probably the going rate for most of the same time.

[December 1965 or January 1966, given the elves perched about the place]
[Marshfield Hills, Massachusetts]

Bill and Jean Disbrow playing Yahtzee with their friends and neighbors, Bill (not shown) and Ruth Wayman. Note the interesting angle of the fireplace and mantle, and the mosaic tiles not only around the fireplace but on the extended left side of the hearth. All designed by Bill Disbrow, probably with Jean’s help.

[Sometime in the 1960s]
[Upward Wing, Marshfield Hills, Massachusetts]

[Probably the 12th or 19th of November, 1933]
[The Cole’s house in Interbay, Florida]

Jan with her “mother and daddy,” as she grew up to call them.

Jan and her mother (Jean Cooper Disbrow), grandmother (Rachel Cole Cooper), and great-grandmother (Ella Bowman Cole).

Jan with an unknown person whom I had thought was my great-grandfather (Francis Wayland Cole) — certainly they look alike. It cannot be, however, because Mr. Cole died no more than a couple of days before 15 September, 1933. So, who is this gentleman, anyway?

Tuesday Nite
[Detroit, Michigan]

Dearest,

Well, I got here and settled without any trouble at all. After I wrote you yesterday I went out and found my street and caught a bus that took me within two blocks of the factory. Nablo was out of town until this morning, so I had to get acquainted with everybody without him. Everyone was glad to see me and took me right in. They are, without exception, as nice a bunch of people as you will find anywhere.

I spent the day wandering around finding out where everything is and talking to everybody to find out just what he does, so that I know whom to ask what questions.

One of the men, he might be termed “practical engineer at large” as he makes a good engine out of what they have when the other departments get through with their new designs, — as I was going to say — has a large house and they, the Richmonds by name, take an occasional roomer, so I am staying here with them. They are awfully nice and friendly people — and you have no conception of what a clean house is.

This morning I met Nablo and had a nice talk with him. I never saw a man in a worse condition — mental or physical. He is so nervous and has so many things on his mind at once that he doesn’t know what it is all about.

I spent most of the day in the testing room and talking with Carr. Carr is an almost exact composite of Joe Flower and Arthur Brown. He is 37 and a high pressure salesman and I like him, tho’ my father couldn’t stand him five minutes.

Oh — oh, — your family are not the only ones who snore!

Tonight I went out to dinner and to the Ford Exposition (Ford’s own automobile show) and to the movies to see Mae West with one of the young fellows in the office — of course at Gray’s expense. I got one of the restaurant’s mat[???] folder’s — engraved.

I hope I hear from you tomorrow; I thought maybe I would today.

Gosh, I hope Jan has been good to you and that all the difficulties have been smoothed out. I keep myself happy thinking of you just having to do enough for her to enjoy her, as it should be. Does she know you yet, and has she changed much yet?

Darling, don’t feel bad about my being away a little while. Please keep happy. The only way I can ever be happy is to know you are, you know.

Here it is almost one o’clock! If you aren’t asleep now I am going to give you a good spanking the first thing!

I didn’t think I had to go away from you to know how much I didn’t want to, but it is even worse than I thought it was going to be. Oh I love you so much, my Jean.

Goodnight, sweet darling,

I love you.

your Bill.

[Probably 22 October, 1933, judging from the Sunday clothes; photos marked “3 weeks,” which would be 25 October]
[The Cole’s house, Interbay, Florida]

Jan Disbrow with her proud and happy parents, Jean and Bill Disbrow. The Disbrows were living with Jean’s grandparents, Francis and Ella Cole — as well as also, I believe, her parents, Frank and Rachel Cooper — at 6220 South Main Avenue, Interbay (Tampa), Florida.

[10 October, 1933]
[Salem, Oregon]

Dearest Jean,

How proud you sound! If you knew how cocked up we are to be a nuncle and a naunt, you’d think we’d had the baby. I’m so glad she’s here and that everything’s all right. What does she look like, aside from being the most beautiful and marvellous infant in existence? If I remember, you were very red and unattractive for a long time after your arrival — is she? Now, maybe you’ll tell me what I can send! I’ve been chewing my fingernails out here, waiting to hear some kind of suggestions as to what the well-dressed baby will wear for months! What does she, or do you, need? Or would you rather I sent sillies? I’d love to, but I’d felt rather guilty when I knew how strapped we all were. You better say, or I’ll be sending her pantie dresses and bathing suits!

And now as to names. Lew is having fits for fear you will have named her before he gets his perfectly wonderful suggestion in. We couldn’t quite tell from Bill’s letter whether you had or not. He, Lew, thinks that the young lady should be named Betty Lou. Not because he’s conceited, oh, no, a far better reason than that. You see, he hopes to have a boat some day — made by Bill, of course, or at least designed by him — and wants to name it the Betty Lew, but he’s afraid that that would sound odd, naming a boat after ourselves, and so he wants a nice little niece to name it after. Complimentary to the niece, you see, and a grand name for both boat and niece. Don’t you think that’s a brilliant idea? Or are you naming her after her grandmothers? We had a letter from Mother just exploding because we were uncle and aunt, but never once commenting on the fact that she is a grandmother! Does she like the honor? And as for Grandma being a great — hevings!

Mother’s letter came to the school and so we told everyone and they were all so interested and pleased to know the lady was here and you were all right. You’d think they knew you — but then they do know your picture and have heard Mother and me talk about you a lot. You’ll have to bring her out here on a trip some day — sort of a second honeymoon or something like that. Just think what a lot of geography she’d learn! Are you going to hurry up and have a boy now to keep her company and teach her to be a good sport? They say that while you’re having ’em you might as well do the job up brown.

I’d like to talk about our dog and our cat, who are both very superior animals, even if the cat has gone off somewhere and may be lost, but in the face of a real live baby girls, I don’t spose I dare mention ’em. Anyway, they’re almost housebroke, and I bet she isn’t!

I hope you’re strong enough to write us soon, though we enjoyed the letter from Bill — first real one we’d ever had — and will tell us all about her. I’m so very glad for you, dear, and know she’ll be just the nicest baby ever. Let us hear all the things she does and looks like, and most of all, what you want for her.

Much love from Uncle Lewis and Aunt Betty!!

Betty