G. Estabrook
Encyclopedia
G. Estabrook is the pen name used by composer and singer Caroline Augusta "Gussie" Clowry (b. October 23, 1845; d. April 18, 1897), whose opera The Joust was the first opera by an American woman to be published. With musical talent from an early age, "Gussie" had many songs published throughout her life, one of which "reached the extraordinary sale of over one million copies."
, she was the only daughter of General Experience Estabrook
and Caroline Augusta Maxwell. She had one brother, Henry Dodge, who was nine years younger. In January 1855, General Experience Estabrook moved with his family to Omaha, Nebraska
after being appointed United States Attorney by President Franklin Pierce
. In 1860, at the age of 15, she met Colonel Robert Charles Clowry (b. Sept. 8, 1838; d. Feb. 26, 1925) of Chicago, the superintendent of the Missouri and Western Union Telegraph Company. They were wed five years later, on August 29, 1865 in Omaha, Nebraska. By 1879, the couple had moved to St. Louis before settling in Chicago. In 1882, the first production of "The Joust" was performed in her home town of Omaha, with her mother and brother both performing major roles. In 1885, the Chicago Music Company published the complete opera, making it the first opera by an American woman to be published. The opera, however, was written 5 years earlier when "Gussie" held a local contest for a story she could base an opera upon. Her younger brother, Henry, submitted the story of The Joust and won. For the 1882 production, Henry reworked the plot and largely changed the libretto. The work is, therefore, a joint effort between the two siblings.
By 1896, her health was fading, and so she spent a summer abroad in Europe with her mother and friends in the hopes that her health would recover. Unfortunately, it did not and she died in Lincoln, Nebraska from apoplectic paralysis on April 18, 1897. She was survived by her husband, brother, and both parents.
Biography
Born on October 23, 1845 in Geneva, WisconsinGeneva, Wisconsin
Geneva is a town in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,099 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 30.8 square miles , of which, 29.3 square miles of it is land and 1.5 square miles of it ...
, she was the only daughter of General Experience Estabrook
Experience Estabrook
Experience Estabrook was an American attorney and legal administrator active in territorial Wisconsin and Nebraska....
and Caroline Augusta Maxwell. She had one brother, Henry Dodge, who was nine years younger. In January 1855, General Experience Estabrook moved with his family to Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
after being appointed United States Attorney by President Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
. In 1860, at the age of 15, she met Colonel Robert Charles Clowry (b. Sept. 8, 1838; d. Feb. 26, 1925) of Chicago, the superintendent of the Missouri and Western Union Telegraph Company. They were wed five years later, on August 29, 1865 in Omaha, Nebraska. By 1879, the couple had moved to St. Louis before settling in Chicago. In 1882, the first production of "The Joust" was performed in her home town of Omaha, with her mother and brother both performing major roles. In 1885, the Chicago Music Company published the complete opera, making it the first opera by an American woman to be published. The opera, however, was written 5 years earlier when "Gussie" held a local contest for a story she could base an opera upon. Her younger brother, Henry, submitted the story of The Joust and won. For the 1882 production, Henry reworked the plot and largely changed the libretto. The work is, therefore, a joint effort between the two siblings.
By 1896, her health was fading, and so she spent a summer abroad in Europe with her mother and friends in the hopes that her health would recover. Unfortunately, it did not and she died in Lincoln, Nebraska from apoplectic paralysis on April 18, 1897. She was survived by her husband, brother, and both parents.