DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS & MERCY (HOLBRIDGE) DISBROW, PART ONE © 1992 by Michael S. Disbrow ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Page 181 (2-2-10-4) GEORGE-6 DISBROW, son of Daniel-5 & Elizabeth B. (Morehouse) b. c1802-4 prob. Saratoga Co. or Greene Co., NY d. m. MARGARET ( ) b. c1807 NY d. poss. 1889 Gilboa, Schoharie Co., NY George was a farmer in Gilboa, Schoharie Co., NY. The 1850 census of Gilboa shows him as age 48, with Margaret 42, Phoebe A. 14, Amanda 9, William 7, Roxana 6 and "Lalelica" [as best as I can make it out] 1, all born in NY. He was listed just a few households away from his brother Orin. In 1860 Gilboa we find "George Disbroe", age 56, a farm laborer, with Margaret 53, Phoebe A. 23 (both domestics), William 17 (farm laborer), Charlotte 15 (cotton mill), and Jane 11 ("idiot") . Letters written by Abigail Disbrow, wife of Orin, to Orin's brother Hiram D., 31 Mar. and 12 May 1850, mention George and two of his children who were ill at that time [see (2-2-10-7) Orin Disbrow for text of letters]. Mention was also made of a "Franklin Disbro" who had died the previous fall. It appears, by implication, he was a son of George, but I have no other information on him. Margaret Disbro applied for a pension on her son William's service after he died in the Civil War. Date of the application was 28 Dec. 1866. She was probably the Margaret Disbrow of Gilboa listed in the Schoharie Co. index to estates, filed 1889. Children: (prob. all b. Schoharie Co.) (2-2-10-4-1) Franklin d. Fall 1849 "at his father's house" (see above) (2-2-10-4-2) Phoebe A. b. Nov. 1837; listed 1900 census Gilboa, NY, w/William Rose fam. (2-2-10-4-3) Amanda b. c1841 +(2-2-10-4-4) William O. b. c1843 (2-2-10-4-5) Roxana/Charlotte b. c1844 (2-2-10-4-6) Jane/"Lalelica" b. c1849 References: Johnson, Thomas Disbrow Sr. & His Desc., 31, 36-7; Index to Registers of Estates - Schoharie Co., NY [Cash Disbrow]; Census - 1840 Blenheim, 1850 '60 Gilboa, Schoharie Co., NY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Page 182 (2-2-10-7) ORIN-6 DISBROW, son of Daniel-5 & Elizabeth B. (Morehouse) b. 19 Apr. 1814 Greene Co., NY d. 1858 Moberly, Randolph Co., MO m. 6 Mar. 1833 ABIGAIL SMITH b. 4 May 1814 NY d. 24 Apr. 1881 Jacksonville, Morgan Co., IL Orin Disbrow was listed in the 1840 census of Roxbury, Delaware Co., NY, and in 1850 in Gilboa, Schoharie Co., near his brother George. Two letters written by Abigail and Orin in 1850 to his brother Hiram in Canadea, NY, have been preserved in the family [in 1970 they were in the possession of Lila Disbrow Moore of Ionia, MI], and offer an interesting perspective on life at that time [see below]. Most of the information on this family has been researched by Lewis B. and Bernice Disbrow of Warrensburg, IL. Bernice writes: "In 1853 Orin and Abigail migrated to McHenry Co., Illinois, where they appeared in Alden Twp. ... [Orin's second cousin (2-8-5) Asahel Disbrow was an early settler in Alden Twp.] Orin and Asahel had grown up in Greene Co., NY. It was only natural that Orin and Abigail joined relatives when they trekked west... After a few years, Orin went to Moberly, Missouri, where he died suddenly at work in 1858. Abigail, now a widow, eventually settled in Macon Co., IL." Bernice also relates that all of Abigail's sons enlisted and served in the Illinois volunteer regiments in the Civil War. Two letters Abigail wrote to her son Alonzo during the war are in the possession of Lewis B. Disbrow, and are reprinted below. The son Lewis Disbrow died during the war, but the other five sons returned home to Macon Co. after their discharges. Abigail and her son Alonzo purchased 95 acres in 1871 from the Illinois Central Railroad, located near Warrensburg in Macon Co. In 1874 Alonzo purchased the farm from Abigail, and eventually added to it. Lewis B. and Bernice Disbrow still live on part of this original Disbrow farm. Abigail died at the State Mental Hospital in Jacksonville, IL. Children: +(2-2-10-7-1) Lewis b. 7 Nov. 1833 NY (2-2-10-7-2) Margaret Adelia b. 1 Feb. 1835 Blenhiem, NY; d. 11 Apr. 1846 NY +(2-2-10-7-3) Charles b. 27 Jan. 1837 Schoharie Co. +(2-2-10-7-4) Robert Emmett b. 22 Jan. 1839 Schoharie Co. +(2-2-10-7-5) Thomas Jefferson b. 4 July 1841 Schoharie Co. +(2-2-10-7-6) Alonzo b. 7 Jan. 1843 Schoharie Co. +(2-2-10-7-7) James Erskin b. 6 Apr. 1845 Schoharie Co. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Page 183 (2-2-10-7) ORIN-6 DISBROW, cont'd Letters written by Orin and Abigail Disbrow to "Hiram Disbrow, Canadea Postoffice, Alagany County, New York": "Blenheim, March 31, 1850 Dear Brother and Sister: "We received your letter on the 30 of March. We were truly glad to hear from you as we supposed you had long forgotten us or did not want to hear anything from us. The letters that you wrote to our friends in this place has never been received. We have not heard from you but once since you was on a visit to Blenheim. Then we heard from John Miller five years ago last winter. We have heard nothing from you since that time until Orin was at John Millers this spring. We should have been willing to paid the postage of a letter to you if we had been sadisfied that you wanted to hear from us. We have long desired to hear from you and still feel anxious to hear as soon as you receive this. "We have had some trials and afflictions to pass through in the journey of our life, yet we have been enabled by the mercies and blessings of that God who has ever been our present helper in time of need to say the will of the Lord be done. "We have witnessed the death of many near relatives amongst the rest an only and a beloved little daughter who died in full assureance of a crown of never faiding Glory and a seat at Gods right hand. She dyed April the 11, 1846 aged 11 years. Her disease was inflamation of the brain. We have six sons living and well. The youngest is five years old. "We are well at present as usual. Orin had a hard fit of sickness five years ago and has never enjoyed good health since. We did not expect him to live. When you receive this we hope it will find you all enjoying good health and the presence of the Lord which we do humbly trust we enjoy dayly. "We do not know whether your letter was wrote before or after the death of father as it was not received and you did not mention the time when it was wrote. He dyed July the 20, 1847. "Franklin Disbro dyed last fall at his fathers house. He had been to Michigan for two years before his death. He had not been home but four days when he dyed. He did not leave that evidence behind that we desired although he left the evidence of being verry penitant. George still remains impenitent and hard hearted although he is often called to mourn. He has two children that is not well and probily will not live long. "The rest of the family is well. Mother lives with Hariet. We have not heard from her since last winter. They live in Middletown. They were well when we last heard from them. Dake Brown is also dead, he dyed last winter. Two of his girls live in Middletown. Hannah and Matilda both married. The letter that you desired us to get we do not know any thing about now but will try to find it if it is not destroyed. Dicksons family lives in Middletown and were well when we heard from them. Betsey is dead. "We have sold our place where we live and expect to leave next fall. Orin was as far west last fall as Corning but did not know that you lived any where in that country. He was in pursuit of a farm but did not find any. "Mary Seevens lives in a small house near the widow Nappleyea place and is well. She wrote a letter last season to you, she has received no answer. You did not mention any thing in your letter about Willard. We should like to hear from him. Tell the children that we want to hear from them all. Write as soon as you receive this from us and we shall be glad to pay the postage. We should be extremely glad to see you in this place once more if you could make it convenient to visit here. "Mother is now an old woman and cannot visit you. She would like to see you once more on the shores of time. We expect her to come up this spring from Middletown if her health is good enough. Life is uncertain and when we are separated we do not know that we shall ever meet again. Therefore let us be prepared to meet in that upper and better world where parting well never come. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Page 184 (2-2-10-7) ORIN-6 DISBROW, cont'd "We remain your affectionate and sister in the bonds of love. s/Orin Disbro s/Abigail Disbro" "Blenheim, May the 12th 1850 Dear Brother and Sister: "We received your letter the 28th of April. We have waited two weeks to hear from Middletown. We expected Mother but she did not come. Luther Bug has been up from there. They are all well. He did not know any thing about the letter you rote about but will find it if it is not destroyed and send it up in June when we look for some of them. Mother wants to come but has had no chance yet this spring. She will probibly be up in June. George thinks that she has the letter. We should like to know what you wanted of the letter if it is rite for us to know. "You wrote that you wanted Orin to come out there this season, which he would like to do if he could leave. He has not got much of his spring work done yet, the weather has been so cold, it snows today. We have had the hardest spring I ever new. "When we sold our place we thought to move to Ohio last fall, but after that we changed our minds and thought we would take a farm in this state. We are not able to buy at present a place as large as our family wants to work on. You wrote that there was planty of work on the canal for masons. He is not able to work at masons work nor digging canal. He wants to take a farm if he can find one that he can have a good lay on. He can work at farming better than any other work. By the childrens help he can work a large farm if not too rough. "When you write again about the country, tell us all about it. Tell us if the winters are as hard with you as they are in Blenheim and if the springs are any earlier than here. Tell us if the water is good and if the land is stony. If you know of any good chance to hire or take land in your country please tell us of it or if there is any good jobs. He cant leave home until after haying and harvest is over to go and look at a place. He thinks if you write favorable about your country that he would move with out coming to see it and if not he will look for a place after harvest. If you think it is a better country where you are and that we could do better than we could here or between here and there. Write just as you think and dont give the country any better recamend than it is deserving. We want to hear is just as it is. We expect to leave here this fall. I want you to write soon and tell us if there is any buisiness for this winter if we should move in that country. "Eliza has four girls married that I know of and perhaps more, Hannah to Stephen Halsted, Electa to Moses Brigs, Betsey to Levi Elis, Matilda to Charles Obrien. George's family is well at present except the two girls that I wrote about and they are much better. Mary Stephens family is well, Stephen has taken his miss to her friends but dont live with his family, the two youngest are with their mother. Eliza Ann works out, Lyman is gone to sea. "My children thinks that they should be verry much pleased to see their cousins and hope they will fulfil their promice in visiting us. Give my love to Elen and her family, to Philip and his family and to the rest of the children and reserve a share for yourselves. I remain your friend and sister, s/Abigail Disbro" [Same letter continued by Orin Disbrow] "Dear brother and sister: "I now have the opportunity to writ a few lines to you. Abigail wrote when I was gone to meeting. I am vary glad to hear from [you]. I hope these few lines will find you in good health and prosperity and love of God in your hearts. Seek first the kingdom of heaven and all things necessary shall be added thereunto. Let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. For my part I feel that I am an unprofitable servent but the Lord has been vary merciful to me. I think that I enjoy that peace in my heart that this world cannot afford. I feel the love of God in my heart while I write these lines and I hope when you read ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------