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Showmen's Rest - Part 4 

Submitted by Member on   5/8/2004
Last Modified

Showmen's Rest - Part 4

by Peter & Joyce Rosa
CLICK HERE to find the complete series


To All Showfolks and Fans:

NOTE: Your comments, additional information about the showfolks covered in this series and photos are welcomed. If you have photos of showfolks gravestones not covered in this series, please email as soon as possible. This series is being presented in alpha order using the showfolk's last name. Please contact Peter and Joyce Rosa at: Peterscircus@AOL.com.

We continue the SHOWMEN'S REST series with the gravestones of:

  • JOHN CARROLL
  • C.L. "TEX" & LUCILLE M. CLAYTON
  • JOE WALLACE COOPER

All photos were taken in the SHOWMEN'S REST section of Mount Olivet Cemetery in Hugo, Oklahoma. We will scan photos and send at least three per email over the next few weeks.

We would appreciate your participation in this series. In the next email, we will send photos of the gravestones of TERRY FENNE (Note: Still Living), JACK LLOYD FULTON, and DUDLEY WARNER HAMILTON (Note: Still Living) . If you have information you would like to see included with these photos, please send it not later than Wednesday, February 18, 2004, to peterscircus@AOL.com. We would especially like to list the shows that these showfolks trouped with during their careers.

Also, if there are any corrections to information we list in this series, please contact us immediately so we may set the record straight.

The photos in this email are the gravestones of:

1. JOHN CARROLL
MAR 3, 1926
APR 25, 1980

John Carroll joined the Circus at the age of 15 years old. He worked in the elephant department of the Miller family Circuses. Upon his death, John Carroll left his life savings to D.R. and Isla Miller to establish the JOHN CARROLL SHOWMEN'S REST TRUST FUND to provide gravestones for showfolks who could not provide their own. A true tribute to John Carroll, D.R. and Isla Miller's integrity and compassion for fellow showfolks. Please note that the monument has a section that reads:
ELEPHANT TRAINER
AL G. KELLEY - MILLER BROS. CIRCUS
1948 - 1968
CARSON & BARNES CIRCUS
1969 - 1980
Another section of the monument has the etching of three elephants in performance with trainer on head of center elephant.

Another section reads:
FOUNDER OF THE JOHN CARROLL'S
SHOWMEN'S REST TRUST FUND


2. LUCILLE M. CLAYTON C.L. "TEX" CLAYTON
FEB 5, 1908 MAY 16, 1907
NOV 27, 1979 MAY 4, 1978

Tex Clayton operated an under canvas moving picture theater. He held many positions on the Al G. Kelly - Miller Bros. Circus. Lucille Clayton was his wife and the mother of John Frazier and Mary Rawls. She was a juggler and had a wire act with young daughter, Mary, during her Circus career. Please note that there is a circus parade wagon etched between Tex and Lucille's name. There is a letter "C" in the middle of the wagon. Also enscribed below the wagon are the words,
"WITH IT AND FOR IT".


3. JOE WALLACE COOPER
MAR 26, 1937
JUN 18, 2000

Joe Cooper was a circus agent. He worked for Allen Bros. Circus, Culpepper - Merriweather Circus, Carson & Barnes Circus and "was on the road" contracting for the Kelly Miller Circus when he passed away. He was the nephew of circus agent Dudley Hamilton. On the front of the monument are the words:
BIG TOP CIRCUS AGENT
His gravestone has the logos of all four circuses on the backside of the monument along with the words:
HE GAVE THE WORLD A SMILE EACH DAY



HOST NOTE: Photos will be sent so they show in the body of the email. We will also attach them to the email so those of you who are able to open attachments can view them at full size. Also, we will note the text etched on each gravestone if they are hard to read in the photo.

This series is being done because it is felt that many folks will not be able to journey to Hugo, Oklahoma to see these magnificent monuments. These gravestones have been erected to honor the memory of those whose varied skills have allowed the circus-going public to view the wonder of the CIRCUS.

We would like you to note that all of the showfolks interred at Mount Olivet will not be represented. Only those monuments that noted a circus motif were photographed. If you have photos and information of other showfolk's monuments, please send as soon as possible to: peterscircus@AOL.com

Sincerely,

Peter and Joyce Rosa

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