Highball (St. Louis, 1888?)

[jdespres at MERRIAM-WEBSTER.COM]

No, your family isn't the only one to define highball in that way.
Interestingly, my paternal grandmother used to make exactly the
same drink, and call it by the same name.  She lived in Lawrence,
MA during my childhood, was born in Brooklyn, and grew up in
Danby, VT (which on my map looks to be about 30 miles east of
Glens Falls, NY) .