"Josephine Gro" was the pen name of Josephine Barrelle Howard Grow, a celebrity songwriter during the 1890s. She was a versatile composer best known for piano pieces and light popular music. After visiting California in 1896, she wrote an unofficial state song, "Hail California" extolling the virtues of the Golden State.
Josephine Emily Barrelle was born in New York to British immigrants George Wilson Barrelle and Rachel Chapman. Her father was a miller and her mother worked as a dressmaker. Josephine had a younger sister, Eleanor, who married a prominent stage and screen actor, Robert Brower.
The Barrelle family originally lived in Eaton, N. Y., a town in Madison County in the central part of the state. They moved to Brooklyn sometime between 1865-1870. In the 1870 census, George (40), Rachel (37), Emily (12), and Ellen (10) "Barrill" were living in Brooklyn Ward 4 with Rebecca Chapman (67, England) who may have been Rachel's mother (Josephine's grandmother).
In Sept. 1877 at age 19, Josephine married James H. Howard in Chicago. They had two children: a son, Mark (b. 1879), who probably died young, and a daughter, Hazel "Helga" (1881-1969). Josephine was granted a divorce from James H. Howard in 1888 on grounds of desertion and drunkenness. (Chicago Tribune, Jan. 22, 1888, p.6.) Reportedly, Josephine was briefly married to a Mr. Grow and possibly widowed. [I am still searching for records of her 2nd marriage.] She relocated to Manhattan, New York City, by 1891.
According to a story later recounted by the journalist Olive Harper, "Mrs. Josephine Gro was almost an artist, but so nearly lost her sight as to be obliged to give up her art, and then she took to designing neckties while waiting for her music to bring her in money." (This article ran in newspapers around the country, such as the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, June 21, 1893, p.7.)
One of the earliest references to the songwriter "Josephine Grow" appears in the Globe (St. Paul, Minn.), Nov. 3, 1889, p.5, col. 7: "The Globe has received from W.J. Dyer & Bros., Nos. 148 and 150 Third street, two excellent pieces of music, viz: 'La Hazelle,' a schottische, by Josephine Grow, and 'Mother Song,' a lullaby, the words and music by Josephine Grow."
An item in the Clinton, Ill., Register, June 5, 1891 (p.4, col.7), reported, "Josephine Gro, the composer, who has in so short a time gained recognition by her songs, dances, and marches, is a pretty pink and white little woman with big grey eyes and a gentle, winning manner. She is clever with the brush as with the pen, and her fruit and still life studies are justly admired. She is quite a protege of Lillian Russell, who is very partial to her.—New York Letter."
Josephine Gro was prominently featured in an 1894 article about women composers that first appeared in the New York Herald. The article established her celebrity reputation. The reporter visited Josephine at her New York studio, called the "Den," a luxurious workshop filled with paintings, bric-a-brac, antiques, a piano and other musical instruments. "Among the women music-makers who have attained to more or less fame in New York, Mrs. Josephine Gro is named as taking first rank. One of her former instructors said: 'She is one of the coming successful composers of what may be termed light music.' In this the instructor is mistaken, for she is not coming; she has arrived, and is right in New York; and in proof of this, some of her music is heard somewhere every day,—at the concert, the theatre, from the bands, on the phonographs, or grinding forth from the humble hand-organ on the street." (Chicago Tribune, Jan. 27, 1894, p.16.)
Reporters of the day often paid as much attention to Josephine's clothing and figure as her music. She was described as "not very tall, but ... dainty and pretty, with sweet blue eyes, an exquisite complexion and most engaging manner." (The Macon Telegraph, June 18, 1893, p.5.) In May 1893, Josephine made a splash at the New York Press Club Fair dressed in a green silk gown with enormous green velvet sleeves; "through the center of the skirt ran a bar of music done in velvet, representing the treble clef." (Buffalo Courier, May 7, 1893).
In 1897, Josephine relocated to San Francisco where she was listed in the city directory as "Mrs. Josephine Grow, composer music" at 334 O'Farrell Street. She returned to New York City by 1900 and spent the next several years working as a correspondent for the theater magazine The Clipper under the name Josephine Gro.
Near the end of her life, Josephine went back to the name "Josephine Howard." On March 14, 1919, the Saratoga, Calif., Star reported that Josephine Howard, writer of the song "Hail, California," was visiting from New York City and intended to make her home in Oakland with her daughter. In the 1920 census of San Francisco, she is listed as Josephine Howard, author. The name Josephine Howard was also used in her obituaries and the Calif. Death Index.
At the time of her death, Josephine was collaborating with Mills College on a book of children's music. She was survived by her daughter, Helga Howard Rose of Los Angeles, and a sister, Eleanor Barrelle Brower, also of Los Angeles. (San Francisco Chronicle, Apr. 25, 1921, p.5; Oakland Tribune, Apr. 25, 1921, p.6.)
Josephine's daughter, Helga Howard, was a violin prodigy and Broadway actress. She married, and later divorced, an oil merchant, Robert L. Rose of Lynchburg, Virginia. They had two children, Robert and Virginia Rose. (San Francisco Chronicle, Nov 15, 1919, p.7.)
Josephine Emily Barrelle was born in New York to British immigrants George Wilson Barrelle and Rachel Chapman. Her father was a miller and her mother worked as a dressmaker. Josephine had a younger sister, Eleanor, who married a prominent stage and screen actor, Robert Brower.
The Barrelle family originally lived in Eaton, N. Y., a town in Madison County in the central part of the state. They moved to Brooklyn sometime between 1865-1870. In the 1870 census, George (40), Rachel (37), Emily (12), and Ellen (10) "Barrill" were living in Brooklyn Ward 4 with Rebecca Chapman (67, England) who may have been Rachel's mother (Josephine's grandmother).
In Sept. 1877 at age 19, Josephine married James H. Howard in Chicago. They had two children: a son, Mark (b. 1879), who probably died young, and a daughter, Hazel "Helga" (1881-1969). Josephine was granted a divorce from James H. Howard in 1888 on grounds of desertion and drunkenness. (Chicago Tribune, Jan. 22, 1888, p.6.) Reportedly, Josephine was briefly married to a Mr. Grow and possibly widowed. [I am still searching for records of her 2nd marriage.] She relocated to Manhattan, New York City, by 1891.
According to a story later recounted by the journalist Olive Harper, "Mrs. Josephine Gro was almost an artist, but so nearly lost her sight as to be obliged to give up her art, and then she took to designing neckties while waiting for her music to bring her in money." (This article ran in newspapers around the country, such as the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, June 21, 1893, p.7.)
One of the earliest references to the songwriter "Josephine Grow" appears in the Globe (St. Paul, Minn.), Nov. 3, 1889, p.5, col. 7: "The Globe has received from W.J. Dyer & Bros., Nos. 148 and 150 Third street, two excellent pieces of music, viz: 'La Hazelle,' a schottische, by Josephine Grow, and 'Mother Song,' a lullaby, the words and music by Josephine Grow."
An item in the Clinton, Ill., Register, June 5, 1891 (p.4, col.7), reported, "Josephine Gro, the composer, who has in so short a time gained recognition by her songs, dances, and marches, is a pretty pink and white little woman with big grey eyes and a gentle, winning manner. She is clever with the brush as with the pen, and her fruit and still life studies are justly admired. She is quite a protege of Lillian Russell, who is very partial to her.—New York Letter."
Josephine Gro was prominently featured in an 1894 article about women composers that first appeared in the New York Herald. The article established her celebrity reputation. The reporter visited Josephine at her New York studio, called the "Den," a luxurious workshop filled with paintings, bric-a-brac, antiques, a piano and other musical instruments. "Among the women music-makers who have attained to more or less fame in New York, Mrs. Josephine Gro is named as taking first rank. One of her former instructors said: 'She is one of the coming successful composers of what may be termed light music.' In this the instructor is mistaken, for she is not coming; she has arrived, and is right in New York; and in proof of this, some of her music is heard somewhere every day,—at the concert, the theatre, from the bands, on the phonographs, or grinding forth from the humble hand-organ on the street." (Chicago Tribune, Jan. 27, 1894, p.16.)
Reporters of the day often paid as much attention to Josephine's clothing and figure as her music. She was described as "not very tall, but ... dainty and pretty, with sweet blue eyes, an exquisite complexion and most engaging manner." (The Macon Telegraph, June 18, 1893, p.5.) In May 1893, Josephine made a splash at the New York Press Club Fair dressed in a green silk gown with enormous green velvet sleeves; "through the center of the skirt ran a bar of music done in velvet, representing the treble clef." (Buffalo Courier, May 7, 1893).
In 1897, Josephine relocated to San Francisco where she was listed in the city directory as "Mrs. Josephine Grow, composer music" at 334 O'Farrell Street. She returned to New York City by 1900 and spent the next several years working as a correspondent for the theater magazine The Clipper under the name Josephine Gro.
Near the end of her life, Josephine went back to the name "Josephine Howard." On March 14, 1919, the Saratoga, Calif., Star reported that Josephine Howard, writer of the song "Hail, California," was visiting from New York City and intended to make her home in Oakland with her daughter. In the 1920 census of San Francisco, she is listed as Josephine Howard, author. The name Josephine Howard was also used in her obituaries and the Calif. Death Index.
At the time of her death, Josephine was collaborating with Mills College on a book of children's music. She was survived by her daughter, Helga Howard Rose of Los Angeles, and a sister, Eleanor Barrelle Brower, also of Los Angeles. (San Francisco Chronicle, Apr. 25, 1921, p.5; Oakland Tribune, Apr. 25, 1921, p.6.)
Josephine's daughter, Helga Howard, was a violin prodigy and Broadway actress. She married, and later divorced, an oil merchant, Robert L. Rose of Lynchburg, Virginia. They had two children, Robert and Virginia Rose. (San Francisco Chronicle, Nov 15, 1919, p.7.)
"Josephine Gro" was the pen name of Josephine Barrelle Howard Grow, a celebrity songwriter during the 1890s. She was a versatile composer best known for piano pieces and light popular music. After visiting California in 1896, she wrote an unofficial state song, "Hail California" extolling the virtues of the Golden State.
Josephine Emily Barrelle was born in New York to British immigrants George Wilson Barrelle and Rachel Chapman. Her father was a miller and her mother worked as a dressmaker. Josephine had a younger sister, Eleanor, who married a prominent stage and screen actor, Robert Brower.
The Barrelle family originally lived in Eaton, N. Y., a town in Madison County in the central part of the state. They moved to Brooklyn sometime between 1865-1870. In the 1870 census, George (40), Rachel (37), Emily (12), and Ellen (10) "Barrill" were living in Brooklyn Ward 4 with Rebecca Chapman (67, England) who may have been Rachel's mother (Josephine's grandmother).
In Sept. 1877 at age 19, Josephine married James H. Howard in Chicago. They had two children: a son, Mark (b. 1879), who probably died young, and a daughter, Hazel "Helga" (1881-1969). Josephine was granted a divorce from James H. Howard in 1888 on grounds of desertion and drunkenness. (Chicago Tribune, Jan. 22, 1888, p.6.) Reportedly, Josephine was briefly married to a Mr. Grow and possibly widowed. [I am still searching for records of her 2nd marriage.] She relocated to Manhattan, New York City, by 1891.
According to a story later recounted by the journalist Olive Harper, "Mrs. Josephine Gro was almost an artist, but so nearly lost her sight as to be obliged to give up her art, and then she took to designing neckties while waiting for her music to bring her in money." (This article ran in newspapers around the country, such as the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, June 21, 1893, p.7.)
One of the earliest references to the songwriter "Josephine Grow" appears in the Globe (St. Paul, Minn.), Nov. 3, 1889, p.5, col. 7: "The Globe has received from W.J. Dyer & Bros., Nos. 148 and 150 Third street, two excellent pieces of music, viz: 'La Hazelle,' a schottische, by Josephine Grow, and 'Mother Song,' a lullaby, the words and music by Josephine Grow."
An item in the Clinton, Ill., Register, June 5, 1891 (p.4, col.7), reported, "Josephine Gro, the composer, who has in so short a time gained recognition by her songs, dances, and marches, is a pretty pink and white little woman with big grey eyes and a gentle, winning manner. She is clever with the brush as with the pen, and her fruit and still life studies are justly admired. She is quite a protege of Lillian Russell, who is very partial to her.—New York Letter."
Josephine Gro was prominently featured in an 1894 article about women composers that first appeared in the New York Herald. The article established her celebrity reputation. The reporter visited Josephine at her New York studio, called the "Den," a luxurious workshop filled with paintings, bric-a-brac, antiques, a piano and other musical instruments. "Among the women music-makers who have attained to more or less fame in New York, Mrs. Josephine Gro is named as taking first rank. One of her former instructors said: 'She is one of the coming successful composers of what may be termed light music.' In this the instructor is mistaken, for she is not coming; she has arrived, and is right in New York; and in proof of this, some of her music is heard somewhere every day,—at the concert, the theatre, from the bands, on the phonographs, or grinding forth from the humble hand-organ on the street." (Chicago Tribune, Jan. 27, 1894, p.16.)
Reporters of the day often paid as much attention to Josephine's clothing and figure as her music. She was described as "not very tall, but ... dainty and pretty, with sweet blue eyes, an exquisite complexion and most engaging manner." (The Macon Telegraph, June 18, 1893, p.5.) In May 1893, Josephine made a splash at the New York Press Club Fair dressed in a green silk gown with enormous green velvet sleeves; "through the center of the skirt ran a bar of music done in velvet, representing the treble clef." (Buffalo Courier, May 7, 1893).
In 1897, Josephine relocated to San Francisco where she was listed in the city directory as "Mrs. Josephine Grow, composer music" at 334 O'Farrell Street. She returned to New York City by 1900 and spent the next several years working as a correspondent for the theater magazine The Clipper under the name Josephine Gro.
Near the end of her life, Josephine went back to the name "Josephine Howard." On March 14, 1919, the Saratoga, Calif., Star reported that Josephine Howard, writer of the song "Hail, California," was visiting from New York City and intended to make her home in Oakland with her daughter. In the 1920 census of San Francisco, she is listed as Josephine Howard, author. The name Josephine Howard was also used in her obituaries and the Calif. Death Index.
At the time of her death, Josephine was collaborating with Mills College on a book of children's music. She was survived by her daughter, Helga Howard Rose of Los Angeles, and a sister, Eleanor Barrelle Brower, also of Los Angeles. (San Francisco Chronicle, Apr. 25, 1921, p.5; Oakland Tribune, Apr. 25, 1921, p.6.)
Josephine's daughter, Helga Howard, was a violin prodigy and Broadway actress. She married, and later divorced, an oil merchant, Robert L. Rose of Lynchburg, Virginia. They had two children, Robert and Virginia Rose. (San Francisco Chronicle, Nov 15, 1919, p.7.)
Josephine Emily Barrelle was born in New York to British immigrants George Wilson Barrelle and Rachel Chapman. Her father was a miller and her mother worked as a dressmaker. Josephine had a younger sister, Eleanor, who married a prominent stage and screen actor, Robert Brower.
The Barrelle family originally lived in Eaton, N. Y., a town in Madison County in the central part of the state. They moved to Brooklyn sometime between 1865-1870. In the 1870 census, George (40), Rachel (37), Emily (12), and Ellen (10) "Barrill" were living in Brooklyn Ward 4 with Rebecca Chapman (67, England) who may have been Rachel's mother (Josephine's grandmother).
In Sept. 1877 at age 19, Josephine married James H. Howard in Chicago. They had two children: a son, Mark (b. 1879), who probably died young, and a daughter, Hazel "Helga" (1881-1969). Josephine was granted a divorce from James H. Howard in 1888 on grounds of desertion and drunkenness. (Chicago Tribune, Jan. 22, 1888, p.6.) Reportedly, Josephine was briefly married to a Mr. Grow and possibly widowed. [I am still searching for records of her 2nd marriage.] She relocated to Manhattan, New York City, by 1891.
According to a story later recounted by the journalist Olive Harper, "Mrs. Josephine Gro was almost an artist, but so nearly lost her sight as to be obliged to give up her art, and then she took to designing neckties while waiting for her music to bring her in money." (This article ran in newspapers around the country, such as the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, June 21, 1893, p.7.)
One of the earliest references to the songwriter "Josephine Grow" appears in the Globe (St. Paul, Minn.), Nov. 3, 1889, p.5, col. 7: "The Globe has received from W.J. Dyer & Bros., Nos. 148 and 150 Third street, two excellent pieces of music, viz: 'La Hazelle,' a schottische, by Josephine Grow, and 'Mother Song,' a lullaby, the words and music by Josephine Grow."
An item in the Clinton, Ill., Register, June 5, 1891 (p.4, col.7), reported, "Josephine Gro, the composer, who has in so short a time gained recognition by her songs, dances, and marches, is a pretty pink and white little woman with big grey eyes and a gentle, winning manner. She is clever with the brush as with the pen, and her fruit and still life studies are justly admired. She is quite a protege of Lillian Russell, who is very partial to her.—New York Letter."
Josephine Gro was prominently featured in an 1894 article about women composers that first appeared in the New York Herald. The article established her celebrity reputation. The reporter visited Josephine at her New York studio, called the "Den," a luxurious workshop filled with paintings, bric-a-brac, antiques, a piano and other musical instruments. "Among the women music-makers who have attained to more or less fame in New York, Mrs. Josephine Gro is named as taking first rank. One of her former instructors said: 'She is one of the coming successful composers of what may be termed light music.' In this the instructor is mistaken, for she is not coming; she has arrived, and is right in New York; and in proof of this, some of her music is heard somewhere every day,—at the concert, the theatre, from the bands, on the phonographs, or grinding forth from the humble hand-organ on the street." (Chicago Tribune, Jan. 27, 1894, p.16.)
Reporters of the day often paid as much attention to Josephine's clothing and figure as her music. She was described as "not very tall, but ... dainty and pretty, with sweet blue eyes, an exquisite complexion and most engaging manner." (The Macon Telegraph, June 18, 1893, p.5.) In May 1893, Josephine made a splash at the New York Press Club Fair dressed in a green silk gown with enormous green velvet sleeves; "through the center of the skirt ran a bar of music done in velvet, representing the treble clef." (Buffalo Courier, May 7, 1893).
In 1897, Josephine relocated to San Francisco where she was listed in the city directory as "Mrs. Josephine Grow, composer music" at 334 O'Farrell Street. She returned to New York City by 1900 and spent the next several years working as a correspondent for the theater magazine The Clipper under the name Josephine Gro.
Near the end of her life, Josephine went back to the name "Josephine Howard." On March 14, 1919, the Saratoga, Calif., Star reported that Josephine Howard, writer of the song "Hail, California," was visiting from New York City and intended to make her home in Oakland with her daughter. In the 1920 census of San Francisco, she is listed as Josephine Howard, author. The name Josephine Howard was also used in her obituaries and the Calif. Death Index.
At the time of her death, Josephine was collaborating with Mills College on a book of children's music. She was survived by her daughter, Helga Howard Rose of Los Angeles, and a sister, Eleanor Barrelle Brower, also of Los Angeles. (San Francisco Chronicle, Apr. 25, 1921, p.5; Oakland Tribune, Apr. 25, 1921, p.6.)
Josephine's daughter, Helga Howard, was a violin prodigy and Broadway actress. She married, and later divorced, an oil merchant, Robert L. Rose of Lynchburg, Virginia. They had two children, Robert and Virginia Rose. (San Francisco Chronicle, Nov 15, 1919, p.7.)
Gravesite Details
Ref.: San Francisco Funeral Home Records (Familysearch.org)—cremation at Cypress Lawn. Ashes not interred at Cypress Lawn per the cemetery's online index.
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