A. L. Bishop

BISHOP, SNYDER, DOWLER, RINEHART, HUDSON

Posted By: Treva Patterson (email)
Date: 3/22/2006 at 16:29:08

Winterset Madisonian
October 30, 1945

A. L. BISHOP DIED HERE ON TUESDAY

For 38 Years He Had Been Nationally Known in Circus World

A. L. Bishop, a life-long resident of Winterset, and at one time one of the most famous circus performers in the nation, died at his home in Winterset Tuesday morning after a brief illness. He had been stricken suddenly on Monday and died early the next morning. He was 78 years of age.

Mr. Bishop was born in Winterset Dec. 25, 1866, the son of William H. and Jane Bishop.

As a young man he and his brother, Cain Bishop, entered the circus profession as a team known as Bishop Brothers, acrobats and aerialists. For 38 years they were associated with some of the outstanding circus troupes of the country, as acrobats and aerialists.

Some of the circuses with which they performed were the Charles Taylor shows, Campbell Brothers, Yankee Robinson, World Brothers, and the Sells and 4-Pau circus. This latter show was one of the largest circuses on the road at that time, starting the season each year in Madison Square Garden in New York City. With this show he was featured performer, billed as the champion triple-sommerset artists of the world. He was offered a contract to show in London, England with this circus during the winter season.

Since retiring from the circus business many years ago, he had followed the trade of painter in Winterset.

Mr. Bishop was married Nov. 11, 1903 to Effie Snyder, who survives him. He also leaves two daughters, Mrs. Curtis Dowler of Decatur, Ill., and Mrs. Eva Rinehart of Blissfield, Mich.; one son, Robert Bishop of Springfield, Ill.; the brother, Cain Bishop of Winterset; and a sister, Mrs. Clara Hudson of Portland, Ore.

Funeral services will be held this Friday at 2:30 p.m. from the Ramsey-Richards funeral home in charge of the Rev. W. A. Samp of the Winterset Methodist church. Burial will be made in the Winterset cemetery.