Duke City Roots

Tag: Isabel

Joseph Edward and Reba Browne

February 29th, 2024

Joseph Edward Browne (September 2, 1913-January 6, 2000) and Reba Maureen Newland Browne (June 26 1913-July 5, 2005) were both born in Texas – Joe in Houston and Reba in Groveton in Trinity County.

They married in Houston in 1930 and had two children, Joseph Edward Jr. (1931-2012), and Mary Ann (1943-)

Joe was the son of Joseph Edward Browne and Irene Rickert. His father died of appendicitis at the age of forty when young Joe was nearly two, and his mother remarried William McShan (who was in the grocery business) in 1920. His siblings were Emma, John T., Catherine, Irene, and Mickey (half-sister).

Joe entered into the pharmacy profession and started the Joe E. Browne Pharmacy in Albuquerque. He worked as a pharmacist his whole life – over 60 years. He enjoyed gardening and working in the yard as well.

Joe Browne, Mr. Miller, unknown, Don Roberson at Joe E. Browne Pharmacy in the 1950s.

Reba’s parents were Frank Newland (1892-1922) and Mary Belle Davis Newland (1896-1984). Reba’s father died on December 27, 1922, when she was only nine. His lumber truck went off the road, and it seems they tried to transport him to Houston on a freight train, but he was too badly injured and didn’t make it. Reba and her mother were on their own until her mother (Mary) married Herbert Bigham in 1928 when Reba was fifteen. Some of Reba’s memories of her childhood included everyone running for cover when an airplane would fly overhead for fear that it might be the “Kaiser.” (Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany). Also she remembered her family and the town being hit hard by the Spanish Flu.

Reba and Joe moved to Albuquerque in the 1930s and lived there for the rest of their lives, first at 610 Richmond, and later at 3104 Lykes.

Mary and Reba about 1948

They had nine grandchildren (Mary’s children – Melanie, Lisa, Michelle, Reba and John; and Joe’s children – Colleen, Suky, Buddy and Steve).

Reba was a gracious, kind person. When Joe’s older sister Emmy developed the disease ALS, Reba was the one who took care of her. She always dressed very fashionably, and had lots of high heels that her granddaughters liked to try on. They belonged to St. Charles Catholic Church and she was active in the women’s auxiliaries – always worked at the State Fair booth for example.

Reba and Joe about 1931

Granny Bigham (Mary), Colleen, Granny (Reba)

Colleen, Nick, Reba, Mary, Amy, Suky

Joe and Reba

grandparents

great grandparents

2nd great grandparents
Mabel Isabel Lee

January 18th, 2024

Mabel (July 2-1896-May 30, 1989) was born in Maxwell, New Mexico, a tiny little town in northern New Mexico where her father was a telegraph operator for the railroad. (It might have been bigger back then judging from the county fair flyer below). Her parents were Henry and Minnie Lee, and she was the fifth child born to them. Three had previously died, (Mamie, Harry and Carl) and when she was born she had a big brother, Henry Claude, who died at the age of ten, when she was two. She was followed by Grace, Blanche, and Harlan. Minnie wrote her name as “Ruby Mabel Isabelle Lee” in her journal when Mabel was born, but it seems like Mabel may have dropped the Ruby. Pappy and Blanche always called her Mae, and the grandkids called her Mamie (she sometimes signed her letters to them “Mae-Mae”)

Minnie’s journal entry

Mabel in 1896

Mabel in 1898

Mabel, 1900

They moved several times during her early childhood, to small towns near the railroad stations mostly in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. It seems like it may have been a a hard life for them, in rather makeshift living conditions.

Harlan, Blanche, Grace and Mabel Lee

They travelled to Timewell, Illinois periodically to visit their grandparents, Newton and Barbara Lucas.

Grace, Henry, Barbara (seated), Blanche, Minnie (seated), a friend, Mabel and Harlan

When she was a teenager, they moved to Trinidad, Colorado and eventually moved to 809 Tillotson, where they lived from then on.

Mabel, Grace and Blanche

She married Clyde Roper (1895-1968) in 1924. It’s not clear why Clyde moved to Trinidad from Arkansas but may have been because his brother Earl lived there.

Mabel is in the black hat in front, Clyde on the right, maybe?

It seems like they had a big group of friends in Trinidad, and would go mountain climbing together to Fisher’s Peak and other nearby spots.

Mabel is fourth from the right, and Clyde’s hand is on her shoulder. It’s possible this could be their wedding day. It seems like they may have had a small civil wedding.

Clyde and Mabel

Mabel and Clyde lived in Trinidad for the early years of their marriage and had two children, Edgar (1925-2014) and Joan (1930-2022). Mabel worked as a court stenographer in Trinidad and she always was good at numbers, accounting and office work, and enjoyed working.

When Clyde started working at Nebraska Salesbook Company, they moved to Council Bluffs, Lincoln, Denver, Houston, and then finally to Albuquerque. Mabel managed and kept the accounts for Clyde’s job. They joined Monte Vista Christian Church in Albuquerque and went there for years, where she was active in the Christian Women’s Fellowship, and did home visits to the elderly and homebound members, as well as some treasurer work for the church.

Mabel and Clyde had four grandchildren, Colleen, Suky, Buddy and Steve. They took care of them a good amount of the time – entertained them, fed them, watched them, took them on trips , drove them to school, and provided a second home for them and all their pets and paraphernalia. Their lives may have been upended by the arrival of the grandchildren, but they didn’t seem to bat an eye, and gave them such security and love. Mabel was a wonderful cook – her fried chicken, pork chops, spaghetti with pork, artichokes, black eyed peas and rice, okra with tomatoes, chili, enchilada casserole – all delicious. She had two tv shows she didn’t like to miss – Concentration and Jeopardy - the kids would usually watch with her and guess along.

Mabel and Blanchie at Monument Lake

She and Clyde often travelled to Trinidad to see her sister Blanche, to California to visit Grace, and to Timewell to see Aunt Ruth, Sadie and Jessie. She and Blanchie were very close. She wrote great letters to Blanchie and to her son, Edgar. Here’s a funny snippet from one to Edgar about Roy:

Roy, Blanche, Helen, Mabel, Clyde

Mabel Lee Roper

Grandmother

Great grandmother

Great great grandmother