Elcain "Cain" Bishop

BISHOP, RHODES, HARTMAN, MARTIN

Posted By: Treva Patterson (email)
Date: 3/23/2006 at 13:53:56

Winterset Madisonian
February 13, 1952

ELCAIN A. BISHOP DIES AT 88 YEARS

Winterset Man Ranked With Nation's Top Circus Stars Many Years

Elcain A. Bishop, formerly one of the top circus aerialists of the world, died at his home in Winterset Thursday, Feb. 7 at the age of 88 years. Death came to him during his sleep that night. He had been in failing health the last five years, and had suffered several strokes.

Mr. Bishop was a native of Madison county, and this had always been his home, although during his active years he traveled throughout the United States with the nation's leading circuses, as a member of the famous Bishop Brothers revolving ladder act.

He was born on Hoosier Prairie, southeast of Winterset, a son of William H. and Jane Bishop. As a young man, he was married to Winnefred Rhodes, who survives him. They were the parents of one daughter, now Mrs. Catherine Hartman of Wapakoneta, O. He also leaves a nephew, William F. Martin, whome he reared in his home and who has been with him the last 20 years; and four grandchildren in Ohio.

Funeral services were held Sunday from the Richards Funeral home, in charge of the Rev. Clement Loehr, pastor of the First Presbyterian church. Burial was made in the Winterset cemetery.