OBITUARY - THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC - AUGUST 22. 1967
BELEW, Merritt L.
Merritt L. Belew, 87, an associate member of the Arizona Showman's Association, died Sunday in a Phoenix hospital. Mr. Belew, 44 N. 32nd St., had been a showman, equestrian director and horse trainer for circuses before retiring in 1956. Born in Willows, California, he moved to Phoenix in 1953 from Texas. Services in A. L. Moore and Sons Mortuary, 333 W. Adams. Burial in Greenwood Cemetery. His wife, Nita,survives.
______________________________________________________________
Merritt Belew was included many times in many interesting articles in a circus history pulblication called the "Bandwagon"..
Merritt was married twice. First marriage to Rosalie Dalcam in 1913 in Australia.
"Per Billboard Magazine, March 4, 1916: "Rosalie Dalcam (Belew) writes that she was granted a divorce from Merritt L. Belew in the Superior Court, Chicago, February 11. She will be with the Hagenbeck-Wallace Show this season." Courtesy of Mary E. Wolf Hitt, Find A Grave Member 47065977.
Next he married Ione Nita Buchanan per April 1922 issue of Billboard Magazine.
"Merritt Lynn Belew, chief horse trainer with the Al G. Barnes Circus, and Ione Nita Buchanan, professionally known as "Blondie," equestrienne with the Barnes show, were married in the office of Justice of the Peace A. T. Barnett in San Francisco, April 19."
Per two articles:
First in the Vancouver Daily Word-Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Wednesday June 18, 1919 stated in the article "...Belew is the adopted son of the late Henry Rowe, one time owner of the Norris and Rowe Show and is considered to be the country's foremost animal educator."
Second in the Chilliwack Progress (Chilliwack, British Columbia , Canada) Thursday, July 3, 1919, Page 2 stated in the article " Merritt Belew, who heads the training staff with Hullers Dog and Pony Shows, although young in years is a veteran of the White Tops. Many residents of this section of the country will remember the old Norris and Rowes Dog and Pony Show. This attraction regularly used to travel through British Columbia and Western Canada visiting all the principle points. Belew is an adopted son of the late Harry Rowe, one time owner of the Norris and Rowe's Show, and he is conceded to be the country's foremost animal educator."
In another article interview, from Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 15 Nov 1933, Wed, Page 10, he states he was in an Orphanage in northern California and ran away at the age of 14 (1902-1903) and jumped a train. That's when he met Norris and Rowe in the circus in Sacramento when he got off the train car and saw the circus cars on the back.
In 1900 his mother, Tennessee was working as a waitress at a hotel in Shasta County, California. She is listed as the mother of two children. They are not listed in the census with her. However Thomas Raymond is listed as being the adopted son of the Briggs and Minnie L. Flack Family in Glenn County, Ca. So perhaps Merritt was in an orphanage at that time. Perhaps she could not care for them. But within 2 years both boys were back with Tennessee in Sacramento.
Have not found a record of any adoption to date.
Per his WW Registration his date of birth is noted as August 19, 1889-per his headstone his listed DOB is August 19, 1890, per his WWII Reg. listed DOB Aug. 19, 1884- Born in Willows NO BIRTH CERTS IN COLUSA CO. OR GLENN CO.
BELEW, Merritt L.
Merritt L. Belew, 87, an associate member of the Arizona Showman's Association, died Sunday in a Phoenix hospital. Mr. Belew, 44 N. 32nd St., had been a showman, equestrian director and horse trainer for circuses before retiring in 1956. Born in Willows, California, he moved to Phoenix in 1953 from Texas. Services in A. L. Moore and Sons Mortuary, 333 W. Adams. Burial in Greenwood Cemetery. His wife, Nita,survives.
______________________________________________________________
Merritt Belew was included many times in many interesting articles in a circus history pulblication called the "Bandwagon"..
Merritt was married twice. First marriage to Rosalie Dalcam in 1913 in Australia.
"Per Billboard Magazine, March 4, 1916: "Rosalie Dalcam (Belew) writes that she was granted a divorce from Merritt L. Belew in the Superior Court, Chicago, February 11. She will be with the Hagenbeck-Wallace Show this season." Courtesy of Mary E. Wolf Hitt, Find A Grave Member 47065977.
Next he married Ione Nita Buchanan per April 1922 issue of Billboard Magazine.
"Merritt Lynn Belew, chief horse trainer with the Al G. Barnes Circus, and Ione Nita Buchanan, professionally known as "Blondie," equestrienne with the Barnes show, were married in the office of Justice of the Peace A. T. Barnett in San Francisco, April 19."
Per two articles:
First in the Vancouver Daily Word-Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Wednesday June 18, 1919 stated in the article "...Belew is the adopted son of the late Henry Rowe, one time owner of the Norris and Rowe Show and is considered to be the country's foremost animal educator."
Second in the Chilliwack Progress (Chilliwack, British Columbia , Canada) Thursday, July 3, 1919, Page 2 stated in the article " Merritt Belew, who heads the training staff with Hullers Dog and Pony Shows, although young in years is a veteran of the White Tops. Many residents of this section of the country will remember the old Norris and Rowes Dog and Pony Show. This attraction regularly used to travel through British Columbia and Western Canada visiting all the principle points. Belew is an adopted son of the late Harry Rowe, one time owner of the Norris and Rowe's Show, and he is conceded to be the country's foremost animal educator."
In another article interview, from Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 15 Nov 1933, Wed, Page 10, he states he was in an Orphanage in northern California and ran away at the age of 14 (1902-1903) and jumped a train. That's when he met Norris and Rowe in the circus in Sacramento when he got off the train car and saw the circus cars on the back.
In 1900 his mother, Tennessee was working as a waitress at a hotel in Shasta County, California. She is listed as the mother of two children. They are not listed in the census with her. However Thomas Raymond is listed as being the adopted son of the Briggs and Minnie L. Flack Family in Glenn County, Ca. So perhaps Merritt was in an orphanage at that time. Perhaps she could not care for them. But within 2 years both boys were back with Tennessee in Sacramento.
Have not found a record of any adoption to date.
Per his WW Registration his date of birth is noted as August 19, 1889-per his headstone his listed DOB is August 19, 1890, per his WWII Reg. listed DOB Aug. 19, 1884- Born in Willows NO BIRTH CERTS IN COLUSA CO. OR GLENN CO.
OBITUARY - THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC - AUGUST 22. 1967
BELEW, Merritt L.
Merritt L. Belew, 87, an associate member of the Arizona Showman's Association, died Sunday in a Phoenix hospital. Mr. Belew, 44 N. 32nd St., had been a showman, equestrian director and horse trainer for circuses before retiring in 1956. Born in Willows, California, he moved to Phoenix in 1953 from Texas. Services in A. L. Moore and Sons Mortuary, 333 W. Adams. Burial in Greenwood Cemetery. His wife, Nita,survives.
______________________________________________________________
Merritt Belew was included many times in many interesting articles in a circus history pulblication called the "Bandwagon"..
Merritt was married twice. First marriage to Rosalie Dalcam in 1913 in Australia.
"Per Billboard Magazine, March 4, 1916: "Rosalie Dalcam (Belew) writes that she was granted a divorce from Merritt L. Belew in the Superior Court, Chicago, February 11. She will be with the Hagenbeck-Wallace Show this season." Courtesy of Mary E. Wolf Hitt, Find A Grave Member 47065977.
Next he married Ione Nita Buchanan per April 1922 issue of Billboard Magazine.
"Merritt Lynn Belew, chief horse trainer with the Al G. Barnes Circus, and Ione Nita Buchanan, professionally known as "Blondie," equestrienne with the Barnes show, were married in the office of Justice of the Peace A. T. Barnett in San Francisco, April 19."
Per two articles:
First in the Vancouver Daily Word-Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Wednesday June 18, 1919 stated in the article "...Belew is the adopted son of the late Henry Rowe, one time owner of the Norris and Rowe Show and is considered to be the country's foremost animal educator."
Second in the Chilliwack Progress (Chilliwack, British Columbia , Canada) Thursday, July 3, 1919, Page 2 stated in the article " Merritt Belew, who heads the training staff with Hullers Dog and Pony Shows, although young in years is a veteran of the White Tops. Many residents of this section of the country will remember the old Norris and Rowes Dog and Pony Show. This attraction regularly used to travel through British Columbia and Western Canada visiting all the principle points. Belew is an adopted son of the late Harry Rowe, one time owner of the Norris and Rowe's Show, and he is conceded to be the country's foremost animal educator."
In another article interview, from Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 15 Nov 1933, Wed, Page 10, he states he was in an Orphanage in northern California and ran away at the age of 14 (1902-1903) and jumped a train. That's when he met Norris and Rowe in the circus in Sacramento when he got off the train car and saw the circus cars on the back.
In 1900 his mother, Tennessee was working as a waitress at a hotel in Shasta County, California. She is listed as the mother of two children. They are not listed in the census with her. However Thomas Raymond is listed as being the adopted son of the Briggs and Minnie L. Flack Family in Glenn County, Ca. So perhaps Merritt was in an orphanage at that time. Perhaps she could not care for them. But within 2 years both boys were back with Tennessee in Sacramento.
Have not found a record of any adoption to date.
Per his WW Registration his date of birth is noted as August 19, 1889-per his headstone his listed DOB is August 19, 1890, per his WWII Reg. listed DOB Aug. 19, 1884- Born in Willows NO BIRTH CERTS IN COLUSA CO. OR GLENN CO.
BELEW, Merritt L.
Merritt L. Belew, 87, an associate member of the Arizona Showman's Association, died Sunday in a Phoenix hospital. Mr. Belew, 44 N. 32nd St., had been a showman, equestrian director and horse trainer for circuses before retiring in 1956. Born in Willows, California, he moved to Phoenix in 1953 from Texas. Services in A. L. Moore and Sons Mortuary, 333 W. Adams. Burial in Greenwood Cemetery. His wife, Nita,survives.
______________________________________________________________
Merritt Belew was included many times in many interesting articles in a circus history pulblication called the "Bandwagon"..
Merritt was married twice. First marriage to Rosalie Dalcam in 1913 in Australia.
"Per Billboard Magazine, March 4, 1916: "Rosalie Dalcam (Belew) writes that she was granted a divorce from Merritt L. Belew in the Superior Court, Chicago, February 11. She will be with the Hagenbeck-Wallace Show this season." Courtesy of Mary E. Wolf Hitt, Find A Grave Member 47065977.
Next he married Ione Nita Buchanan per April 1922 issue of Billboard Magazine.
"Merritt Lynn Belew, chief horse trainer with the Al G. Barnes Circus, and Ione Nita Buchanan, professionally known as "Blondie," equestrienne with the Barnes show, were married in the office of Justice of the Peace A. T. Barnett in San Francisco, April 19."
Per two articles:
First in the Vancouver Daily Word-Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Wednesday June 18, 1919 stated in the article "...Belew is the adopted son of the late Henry Rowe, one time owner of the Norris and Rowe Show and is considered to be the country's foremost animal educator."
Second in the Chilliwack Progress (Chilliwack, British Columbia , Canada) Thursday, July 3, 1919, Page 2 stated in the article " Merritt Belew, who heads the training staff with Hullers Dog and Pony Shows, although young in years is a veteran of the White Tops. Many residents of this section of the country will remember the old Norris and Rowes Dog and Pony Show. This attraction regularly used to travel through British Columbia and Western Canada visiting all the principle points. Belew is an adopted son of the late Harry Rowe, one time owner of the Norris and Rowe's Show, and he is conceded to be the country's foremost animal educator."
In another article interview, from Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 15 Nov 1933, Wed, Page 10, he states he was in an Orphanage in northern California and ran away at the age of 14 (1902-1903) and jumped a train. That's when he met Norris and Rowe in the circus in Sacramento when he got off the train car and saw the circus cars on the back.
In 1900 his mother, Tennessee was working as a waitress at a hotel in Shasta County, California. She is listed as the mother of two children. They are not listed in the census with her. However Thomas Raymond is listed as being the adopted son of the Briggs and Minnie L. Flack Family in Glenn County, Ca. So perhaps Merritt was in an orphanage at that time. Perhaps she could not care for them. But within 2 years both boys were back with Tennessee in Sacramento.
Have not found a record of any adoption to date.
Per his WW Registration his date of birth is noted as August 19, 1889-per his headstone his listed DOB is August 19, 1890, per his WWII Reg. listed DOB Aug. 19, 1884- Born in Willows NO BIRTH CERTS IN COLUSA CO. OR GLENN CO.
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