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JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
During all the years since the death of his favorite
son, old Capt. John had been aging, if not mellowing, in
the big house at the bottom of Maiden Lane. The two
little Disbrow girls, Lou's girls he calls them in these
letters, loved to visit their grandfather and grandmoth-
er. When they first entered the house they would peer
at the rack behind the front door and if a pair of shiny
handcuffs were hanging there, they knew he was home.
But Mother tells it so much better than I could hope
to reconstruct of it.
"Memories of my grandparents' home stand out clearly
in my mind - the lovely flower garden in front, with beds
which had been laid out in geometrical designs by my own
father and lovingly cared for by his mother, my grand-
mother Disbrow. Hospitality and plenty seemed always a-
bout. Their eight grown-up children with their families
and friends were always welcome - and in any numbers it
seemed. A neice, Maggie, and her two sons - and Aunt
Mary with her son Eddie - had a permanent home there;
the others all came and went at will.
My sister and I loved to go there, especially on
Saturday afternoons and on Sunday after Sunday School,
where always the large dining room table, spread with a
red-checkered table cloth, held a large bowl of apples
whose smell pervaded the room; and one of cracked black
walnuts for all of us to partake at will.
At Christmastime many came home. During this week
there was always a large tree in the corner of that same
room, a tree trimmed by Aunt Mary with Garlands of pop-
corn and cranberries, and ornaments made of gilt and sil-
ver paper; and for everyone a home-made gift, all made by
herself in her mysterious bedroom upstairs. That dining
room with itss bountiful table, the large stove with isin-
glass windows through which the coals glowed redly, the
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JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
bay window filled with tiers of blooming potted plants,
and the candle-lighted tree, made a picture that is very
bright in our memories.
Sunday afternoons too were pleasant to remember,
for Meggie would read aloud from our Sunday school books,
or the "Youth's Companion," or Louisa Alcott's books, to
us children sitting close about her.
I can remember other times when my grandfather,
constable and Sergeant-at-Arms, driving home the eleven
miles from Freehold daily when Court was in session,
would come into the yard and back to the barn with his
horse and buggy, throwing the reins over the dash-board,
calling the while to Pony or Morgan to unhitch and stable
the horse, and would then stagger in to the house crazed
with his neuralgia. Hanging his broad-brimmed hat and
his handcuffs behind the door, he would lower himself
painfully into his chair while someone dashed out for Dr.
Shackleton and his indespensible relief-giving hypoderm-
ic."
It was here, in this gracious house in these last
years of his life that Cap'n John wrote the series of
letters which follows to his oldest remaining son Morgan
who, since the death of Edwin Forrest, had, at least to
some extent, taken his place as the head of the family or
at least its younger generation, and the center of the
old man's hopes.
At this time the surviving children were, in order
of their age, as follows -
Mary Angeline ("Aunt Mary" upstairs)
William Wallace
George Aeneas
Elizabeth ("Lib")
Anna Mirium
Morgan Vanderhoef
Rutus Vanemburg ("Pony")
As in the case of the previous generation, and to
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JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
clarify somewhat what might otherwise be puzzling in these
letters, I shall here jot down the briefest possible
notes on these children.
Mary Angelina married an Edward Johnston. It was
not long before she came back with her bright but asthma-
tic boy Eddie to live in the big house with her father.
Captain John thought of this boy as one of his own and
always referred to him as "The Colonel."
William Wallace is of note only because he accident-
ally killed his wife while cleaning his shot gun. However
an ancient Matawanite told me years ago that William's
parents and many neighbors thought it no accident.
Morgan Vanderhoef, to whom these letters are all
addressed, appears to have profited by the advice his fa-
ther showered upon him. At least he succeeded in a mat-
erial way, married well, and eventually died childless
and comparatively wealthy. I remember him vaguely visit-
ing us in his Franklin car. Eventually he had a heart
attack and died behind the wheel of this same car, or one
of its successors. For years they lived on the Crystal
Brook Farm just north of Eatontown which, after his death,
became a Chicken-In-A-Basket restaurant but it burned
in the 40's and was replaced by a modern structure called
The Crystal Brook Inn so that today all that remain of
the original buildings are the stables and the windmill.
Rutus, known to the day of his death as "Pony" or
"Pone" because he was the smallest, was, from the time it
started operating in 1875, a brakeman on the N.Y. & L.B.R.R.
After marrying, he settled in Manasquan. His only son
is your cousin Edwin who married Florence Sprague. You
know them as Uncle Ed and Aunt Florence.
But to return to Capt. John and his letters to his
son Morgan. Mother can still picture him as he sat in the
big mahogany desk that had been Nicholas Morgan's (Ed has
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JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
it now in his Flemington home) looking out through the
"Sitting Room" window across the open fields and the or-
chards while he wrote. "He was a very short, energetic
little man" she wrote, "and we all jumped when he spoke."
* * *
Matawan, N.J.
Sunday, July 23rd, '76.
My Son:
I received your note all right and at your request
now answer. I have been and am quite sick this week but
much better today. The Family is all well except your
Mother and she is better today and has to be as we have
a family of 16 to do for as follows: Mrs. Louisa Conk-
lin and Daughter, Mr. Willicott of Brooklyn been here
three days (I only hope the above will leave in the Morn-
ing), Lib, Ed, Johnny, Harry, Mary, Eddy, Annie, Pony,
Meg, Charley, Frank, Mother and me.
Well, I dont care much, it cant always last. I will
try and make it comfortable for all a little while yet.
I have wrote Bill. Norah will come home on Saturday
and Bill on Sunday - he has leave of absence for 2 or 3
days and is coming home to spend the time. I am glad for
it may be the last summer he may have a Father's Home to
come to - be that as it may it will be all right whether
I am here after this summer or not. I am satisfied that
some of my Children will conduct themselves in such a way
as to be a pattern for many. I have this request to make
to you - that you will not get yourself entangled with
any Woman for I look to you in case I am called away, to
look after your Mother especially; also your unfortunate
Sister Mary and her Boy. The rest, I suppose, think they
can take care of themselves. Watch Rutus's Habits and
associations - he wants much care and oversight. Bill is
kind hearted but Heady. He thinks more of himself than
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JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
he does of anyone else.
Annie, I suppose, will make a fool of herself and
cast her lot with my Cousins: that is her business.
One more thing I ask of you (and this note is all
private while I live). It is this. That you will al-
ways treat Meggy with the greatest respect, and regard
her almost as a Sister for she has always been so kind
to me. She has been with us so long that she seems as
near to me (almost) as though she was my child.
To change the subject some. Your Uncle Bill has
left the station last Thursday and is out of employment.
I hope you will retain your situation. Be careful, my
Son, to be always ready to render a good account of your-
self. I am glad your employerss think so well of you and
hope you will always continue to conduct yourself in such
a way as to merit the approbation of any and all with
whom you may have any business transactions. The Best
advice I can give you is to be Sober, Honest, Prompt,
Truthful & Industrious. This is my Legacy to you. If
you apply it, you will get through this world all right
and make a Mark that many others will try to profit by
your example, and there may be inscribed on your Tomb
"A Man Ever Faithful."
My paper is nearly full and I will close this by
saying - be very careful of your associations; hold up
your Head and be a MAn.
All join in love to you, I suppose, if they knew
I was writing you but you must take the will for the deed.
I close, my Son, affectionately
John N. Disbrow.
Monday Morn -
I have opened this letter to ask you what
you know about Henry D. Gordon. His father says he (Hen-
ry) has been to see you and is in correspondence with you.
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JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
Is either true? If so, I want to know it. Is he coming
Home this Summer? - if so, what time about? I want the
Seducer, the Renegade, the Perjurer, the Villain who
would ruin a confiding girl of whose thrown away old
Shoes he is not worthy to carry, whose Name is above re-
proach till the Villain, the Spoiler came who has fled
from Justice and is now a Wanderer on the face of the
Earth with as Black a Mark on him as Cain, and I think a
worse Scoundrel. How I want him and hope, if you know
anything of the Base Deceiver, you will notify me of his
movements and his intentions about coming Home etc. I
mean to have him if possible. What is he to you that
you should associate with such a Scoundrel? I think any-
one having the Soul of a man and guilty of what he is
would Murder a bosom friend. I tell you, my Son, Shun
him; he is a dangerous Villain; but only let me know
when he is likely to be Home and I will ne on the Lay.
If I can only secure him at the Red House at Trenton, I
will have the satisfaction of knowing I have been the
means of ridding the community of a Great Scoundrel, a
Crime punished, and an injured Family have the gratifi-
cation of knowing that Justice will be done.
As Ever
Father.
P.S.
Pony has got my son's watch. Good.
* * *
Sunday Eve.,
November 26th, 1876.
My Son:
While sitting here alone, the folks at Church, I
thought I would grant your request by answering yours re-
ceived a week ago - I must here say I was highly grati-
fied to think I had one Son who could render to me so go
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JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
good an account of himself. I am very much pleased to
hear from your own hand you have always been temperate
as to the Fatal Fowl and Hope you may always maintain
your integrity in that particular. Tippling does ruin
many of the brightest talent of the Country; be careful
of all association that would tend to lead from the Path
of Total Abstinence. Look around you and see how Many
have been ruined by merely taking a glass of Cider or
Lager just for Company ssake. Dont, my Son, for the sake
of your future happiness be induced by any persuasion of
any pretended friend to partake of any Alcoholic Drink,
`For at the last it biteth like a Serpent and stingeth
like an Adder.' Remember your Dear Brother, what an ex-
ample he set by his Manly course and Determination to
leave a Name behind him that was above reproach. How
many congratulated me in having such a Son and I now
feel there is another that may fill his place if he will
be a "Man Ever Faithful."
I feel it my Duty to caution you further in regard
to Night Associations. That is another Snare set for the
Youth and the Toung Men of the present Generation. Dont
run around evening but store your Mind with useful read-
ing, and study to be a Rare Man that bears the name of
Disbrow. Look up to the Best Society and be well inform-
ed on the leading topics of the Day. Be not satisfied
alone in doing your duty to your employers but let all
your energies be employed to make your "Mark" in the World.
It is in you and you can be more than a mere laborer for
your daily wages. By making the effort you can perform
Wonders and, in after years if you live, you will be
greatly surprised to notice what you have done by integ-
rity, industry, and perseverance. I have no fear of you
nor have I had since you started from Home to try and do
for yourself for I always thought you could be a Rare
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JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
Disbrow if you Tried. As the saying is, `Try is a hard
one to Beat.' When I look back and see how I have fought
through the World and reared a large Family by persever-
ence since I quit Tippling, it does really seem Wonderful,
and fully satisfied am I that the only way to be safe
from the Demon Drink is Total Abstinence. It is now 34*
years since I tasted Wine, Beer, Cider, or any other Al-
cohol as a Beveradge, nor any other way except last Win-
ter when I was so sick as you know, and then only when
the Doctor told me nothing else would bring me out.
Why my sheet is full! When I commenced to write I
did not think I could say anything that would benefit you,
but I find,, if you will treasure these plain remarks,
the will benefit you and you will be able by your example
probably to induce someone more weak-minded to follow in
your footsteps. Then you will have accomplished Two
great and good things - Benefitted yourself, and someone
beside.
I must now stop for the Folks are Home and all too
bed but Mary and me. The Colonel is behind me with his
asthma, poor Boy, how he suffers and how patient he is
with it. He is a fine fellow and bound to be a Rare Man
I think, if he lives. I wish he was clear of that ter-
rible Didease, but it is incurable. If anything should
happen to me before he grows up, I want you to look after
him carefully for I think much of him, but his Villain-
ous Father - how I would like to get him in N.J. I would
teach him a lesson he would never forget; but that cannot
be so let him go - he is not worth looking after.
I am just through attending Court after a term of
30 days and feel relieved, but wish it was all the time
for I would rather wear out than rust out.
Why, my paper is almost full again and I must stop
so Good Night. May God protect you from all the Snares
[Continued on page 103]
102a
JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
* This obscure reference to earlier debaucheries (34
years earlier would be 1842 when my grandfather was one
year old) brings to mind the story of my great-grand-
father's relationship with Edwin Forrest. Family legend
has it that the famous actor used to charter the Disbrow
sloop for a week-end of fishing and heavy drinking with a
few of his friends. They would pull away from the dock
immediately after the Saturday night performance and, by
morning, would be trolling for blues or what-not off Long
Branch, Sandy Hook, or Long Island.
Returning from such a trip one Monday morning, as
they approached the Narrows, Forrest suggested that they
shave before they docked. Since none of the guests had
brought their razors, he offered to lend them his. He
said it would make things more interesting if he shaved
half his face and then each would do the same until it
was his turn again. Forrest was giving the party so no
one raised any objections and that is what they did.
While the others were dutifully shaving only half their
faces, our star of London and New York was parading up
and down the deck, turning first his shaven side to his
captive audience while spouting the lines of Hamlet or
Romeo and then, with his still bearded side toward them,
declaimed from the other appropriate roles.
When all had half-shaved and it was again his turn,
he completed his toilet and then began very couteously
to strop the razor for the next man. Suddenly he let out
and oath and his horrified companions saw the razor fly
through the air and splash into the waters of the Upper
Bay. Forrest assured his friends with tears in his eyes
that the razor had slipped by the purest accident. My
great-grandfather said nothing as he beat up toward low-
er Manhatten through the crowded water traffic off the
Battery. He had his own shaving kit down below.
This is the story. The only actual facts to in-
dicate a rather close connection between the two men at
one time is that, while my great-grandfather's letters
indicate no enthusiasm for nor even any awareness of the
Thespian art, he nevertheless named his first-born Edwin
Forrest and, as mentioned on page 79, Forrest not only
gave young Ed a private interview but also gave him the
"namesake" autographed picture which I saw several times
before it disappeared from Ma's attic.
102b
JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
and Temptations with which you are surrounded is the wish
of your Father
John N. DISBROW
* * *
Sunday, March 4th, 1877.
My Son:
I find it necessary for you to be home on Tuesday,
March 13th to the Town Meeting or Election, for Dave Mea-
lis is a candidate against me and is making a Mighty Ef-
fort and I am afraid he will be Elected if I leave any
Stone unturned - not that you can vote, but to assist me
the night before Election to go to every House in the
Township. So you had better, if you can, come with the
11:45 train on Monday, but do not endanger your situa-
tion by coming; if your employers are not perfectly will-
ing, dont come,, for I would rather he would be elected
than that you should give reason for your employers to
be dissatisfied, or jeopardize your situation.
I would send for Bill but he is too hasty. We must
be cool and Determined to Defeat him by all fair and Hon-
orable Means. I will not stoop to the Dirty things that
him and Levi & Nort W. & John Cottrel & John Farry and
others are doing to Elect him. They cannot defeat me but
if he is elected it divides the business.
We are all well. As usual your Mother and Anna are
on a visit to Oldbridge since last Tuesday; I expect they
will come back in time for Election. Everything moves in
the usual order of things. Poney caught a Skunk last
night for Bill's Boss, Mr. Sherwood. I rather expect he
will go and take it up tomorrow & come (back), I suppose
with the Boat.
Let me hear from (you) as ever your Father
John N. Disbrow.
* * *
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JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
September 25th, 1878.
My Son:
You wrote me to see Mr. Havriman about a situation.
I could not see him but wrote to him a week ago here-
with is his answer. He appears to want to do something
for you but the World is Deceptive. He may want to give
you a situation at good pay, and will not offer you a
place at low wages on my account. He has put on a good
many Men from around Waycake to Labor on the Works at
Laborer's Wages.
All well. Nothing new - Politics, Red Hot. Hopper
works in the Factory, Drunk every night. Poor Devil, he
is going fast, the sooner the better for his Mother and
Sister.
Be careful of your Company is the advice of
Your Father
J.N. Disbrow
* * *
July 15th, 1879.
Morgan:
Louisa wishes to sell my Son's Watch and wants me
to buy it. As I told her if she ever parted with it to
let me know, but I am now too Poor and I do not want it
to go out of the Family. You have no burdens to bear,
no one depending on you but yourself, and I think you
very Dear to me. I want you to buy his Watch and wear
it so I may know, while I live, that I have one who not
only cherishes his Memory but will make sacrifices to
Gratify my wishes. I do not say this out of any dis-
respect to any of the others, but you are differently
situated from the rest. You have, I hear, a good situ-
ation and are saving something from your earnings by
this time and I hope you will be willing to make such a
104
JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
sacrifice as to accomplish so good an object.
You know, I think, How I loved Him, as you have fol-
lowed his Steps in many things. I think if you follow
his Steps more closely, you will be respected as much as
he was and your Memory cherished by all Good Men. This
note carries my Dearest Wishes to You. I hope you will
bear them in mind and put these requests in practice and
let me feel you desire to carry out my wishes.
Finally, my Son, Be Honest, be Sober, be Industrious,
be Truthful, look well to the Interest of your employer,
be an Example to all that bear the name, so that you too
may have inscribed on your Tomb
"A Man Ever Faithful".
From your Father
J.N. Disbrow
P.S.
All well. My business very Dull.
* * *
Sunday, April 17th, 1881.
My Son:
It being Easter (or Paus) I tho't I would answer
yours of the 27th March. Your Mother has gone to Brook-
lyn on Friday last with Betsy to spend a few days with
the Girls to try and recruit up some. She is much better
than she has been but in poor health yet, but think when
we give some fine Spring weather, we will both be better.
I am suffering considerable yet with Neuralgia but
manage to do what little I have to do.
In your Note to me you spoke of going down to Miss-
ouri, but never since heard how you succeeded. Why dont
you tell us if you are selling any Pumps, etc. It seems
strange you should be so far from us but only hope it may
be for your Benefit hereafter.
It is very gratifying to me that you can look back
on your past life and can boast of your Temperance Habits,
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JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
and I do only hope your further course, in other Evils
which surround us, you may be able to overcome them and,
in after life when I am gone, you can boast that you also
have overcome them and stand a Man above all the allure-
ments which you and all Young Men are surrounded. Be
very careful, my Son, of your associations; it wont hurt
you to look with suspicion on any and all who appraoch
you under the garb of Friendship and offer you such ad-
vice as may lead you to be or associate with such persons
as will cause your face to burn.
Jennie and Lulu have just come in. Jennie says she
has just written you.
No more Lid Anns nor Ednies nor such Stock forever.
Dont be offended. I say it for your own credit. Curse
the Trash! Be above such Stock. The Suydam boys are do-
ing nothing, Jerry and best ditto, Hopper making cans and
keeping sober. Things Generally are moving along here as
usual - dull, very dull.
Lizzie's Husband is Dead. He Died in Florida last
week. Poor Girl, she has got a hard road to travel; she
is expected home soon with his body.
As to the Bray girl, the poor unfortunate, the re-
port is too true. So much for her indiscretion, a last-
ing disgrace while she lives. As to Pony, I hope you
will continue to give him good advice. I have no fault
to find with him, for he is so situated that I cannot
keep the run of him, but hope your advice may keep him
in the narrow path and by your example and Kind Advice,
help him to be an Honor to me when I am here no more,
and to the Name he bears. I look to you for to help him
in this ungrateful World. He has many good traits which
I hope to live to see manifested by his after life, but
there is many a Snare surrounding him and he needs care
and good advice, and I think you capable of doing more
106
JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
than I can do for him in that respect. how I was mort-
ified at Freehold Friday to have Lib Yetman come up to
me and ask me how Pony was. I told him of it today and
he laughed it off.
I write this thinking maybe it may be the last, for
Life is uncertain. Sometimes, when the Neuralgia takes
me so severely, that Death is preferable to suffering -
but dont worry about it, it cant come but once. But this
I want if you get a Despatch of your Mother's of my
Death. I want you to come Home immediately. I hope not,
but still it may be so.
Clarence has just come in and is Jogging along as
usual. Uncle Bill, ditto; he is eventually to go to the
Wall, I fear. His associates are not the thing. He has
gone to Old Bridge today to see Jackson. Uncle Pete
hangs on as usual but it looks to me as if there would be
a winding up there.
Have you written your Uncle Jack? If not you had
better do so. Britton has left his situation in N.Y.
and gone to Newark in the Clothing Biz with another
House. He shifts around so much. Frank is with William
yet; he dont amount to much. I suppose you get the
"Journal" which will keep you posted on the Gen'l news.
As to the Colonel, I want you to impress on him the
necessity of his being a Good Boy, as he is, in order
that he may be a Good Man, to be Kind and Respectful to
his Mother and Grandmother, to attend to his studies, and
be an Honor to our Name. You write to Mary occasionally;
she would prize a letter highly from you.
What kind of Boarding place have you? If you are
taken sick, is there anyone to care for you? Finally, I
may say again, my Son, be careful of your associations
107
JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
for in this much depends on your success.
So, Good Bye, my Son. May God protect you is the
wish of your Father
John N. Disbrow.
* * *
Sunday, May 1st, 1881.
My Son:
Two weeks ago today (Easter), I wrote and Prompt-
ly received an answer from you and in your letter to the
Colonel was part of the particulars I asked for, but No-
thing about your Home, how you would fare in case of sick-
ness, etc. - but I suppose you are careful to look out
for that and other matters for your own comfort - if you
do not and suffer, it is your own fault.
I do not know what to write to interest you more
than to say we are in our usual health. Your Mother
works every day in the Garden (except today) and it looks
well. The Meadows begin to Green up, the Wheat Fields
beautiful. Everything moves along here in the same old
Ruts.
The Suydam boys have gone to work, I think. Rod is
hanging around here yet with the Roan. I go to Court
Tuesday with the prospect of a very short Court (say a-
bout ten days, when it used to be thirty).
Your Mother has about 100 chickens to feed you in
the Fall after you come Home. By the way, Joe Clark &
Maggie was here the other day and they told me St. Louis
was now their Home, their Folks all lived there, their
Brother was Clerk of the Court; the name is, I think,
Zapp. Would it not be as well to see them and introduce
yourself? It may be some benefit and tell them all
about yourself, who you are, and of your acquaintences &
relationship etc. etc. with Joe and Maggie.
108
JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
Do you get the Journal regular so as to be posted?
Lizzie and her 2 Babies is at Home at present but
think she is going to Newark to Keep House. Wm. and John
Allen is to settle up the Sch'r Business this week and
then there will be a Big Quarrel I expect. Wm's habits
are getting so I fear greatly what I intimated in my last
Note to you. He owes me about $500.00 for which Uncle
Jack holds his Note, outlawed at that - such is Life.
I have just written to Jackson about it; it may be
he will try and do something for me. I have just written
to Meggie also and I think I am about written out and
will leave one page blank unless some of the Family will
fill it. Pony and Eddie both wrote you in one letter and
you didn't answer. Let us hear from you often.
As ever, from
Father.
P.S. - Mary says she is writing you. (And on the back of
this letter - the "blank page") -
Dear Brother:
I write you these few lines in Father's let-
ter to let you know I am alive and well. I was just a-
round to Uncle Will's to see Lizzie. Sje is looking and
feeling quite well. Bill and I was to Aunt Betsy's Fri-
day night. She is quite well.
I am getting along quite well on the Road. (R.R.)
Business has commenced with us, travel is very heavy on
the Road. John Suydam is working with the man he was
with last year. We are all quite well.
From your Brother
Pony.
* * *
Sunday, June 26th, 1881.
My Son:
Once more I shall attempt to give you a synopsis
109
JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
of Matters hereabout. There is many things occur occas-
ionally that would interest you but I suppose the Colonel
(as he is the correspondent of this House) keeps you pos-
ted, with what others may write, and the "Journal" recei-
ved Weekly.
As you write in your last, I am glad to hear you
have sold "one" pump. I hoped you could, with your Zeal,
have sold one each week, but such it appears could not
be done. I know if anybody else could do it, you would.
Keep a Good Heart, My Son. You, with energy and prudence,
must succeed in Life. Look at Tom Scott, for example.
He was born in obscurity, of Poor Parents, and in a Coun-
ty Tavern - which you were not, Thank God - worked his
way through Life, and was the Greatest Man of his Day,
Respected and Feared by all. Died with Honor and worth
$200,000.00 by his own Energy. You are made of Material
that is 2nd to none and have the ability to make your Mark
in the World. Go on, my Son, avoid and shun as you have
always done, the accursed Cup and be very careful of your
associates. Hold your Head High and you will be an ex-
ample for many to follow. I have no Fears for you. Hop-
per and Elwood both Drunk last night in the Street - Muss-
es nearly every night at Farry's. (I let them alone in
their Glory).
Most every day somebody wants to know when we have
heard from you and I am glad to say to them - `Every few
days we hear from you and you are doing well.'
Pony is not Home today for the first Sunday in some
time, he having been changed yesterday to stop nights at
Point Pleasant. Mary is at Billy Miller's, his Wife hav-
ing presented him with another Boy. Nobody Home but your
Mother, the Colonel, Jack Hartly and me, so you see our
Family is dwindling away through the Affairs of Life.
We heard from Meggy last week. She too is worrying along
110
JOHN NICHOLAS DISBROW
and has a hard row to Hoe with us. Lib was Home last
Sunday and Jack stays with us for a while till his School
begins. Lou and the girls keep well. Your Mother and
Lib was to Uncle Jack's last Sunday.
The Wheat, Corn, and Rye and Potatoes look well,
also the Grass but Apples scarce - no Peaches. Straw-
berries have been very fine and planty, Cherries ditto.
Old "Black Betty" White was Buried today.
Oh! I said Lou's girls were well. I forgot Jennie
has the chicken pox - No Danger.
And on the blank back page, in another hand -
Dear Uncle:
We are all well and send our love. Grandpa
has told you everything and all I can tell you will be
about Grandma's chickens. She sent 40 chicks and 24¢
per lb. for 46 lbs., which came to $11.04. Taking commis-
sion and freight off, she got about $10.00 clear. How
was that for high?
Take care of yourself and write soon to
Eddie
* * *
A little more than a year after this last letter,
John Nicholas died in November 1882. Despite his dark
forbodings as to his imminent demise in all these letters,
"Mother" had already preceded him to the grave in April
of that same year.
But now let us return to the little family who liv-
ed over the Notions & Confectionery Shop at the corner
of Main and Fountain. [...in Belmar]
111
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Todd L. Sherman (genealogy at alachuaskywarn dot org)
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