Untitled Document

Our Van Valkinburgh, Moser

and Related Families

Home | Surnames | Index | Bibliography

Husband: Homer Harvey Holcomb (1 2)
   Born: 07 NOV 1896               in Sioux City, Woodbury Co., Iowa (3 4)
Married: Private
   Died: 15 NOV 1971               in Spokane, Spokane Co., Washington (8 9)
 Father: Thomas Jud Holcomb
 Mother: Mary Anna Van Valkenburg
Spouses: Lucille Murry; Janet Parks
   Wife: Priscilla May Smith
   Born: (Private)
   Died:
 Father: 
 Mother: 
Spouses: Lester Loren Jensen
Children
01  (M): Loren C. Jensen
   Born: (Private)
   Died:
Spouses: 
02  (M): Norman L. Jensen
   Born: (Private)
   Died:
Spouses:

Additional Information

Homer Harvey Holcomb:
Name: Hokie
Born: 1897, Iowa 5 6 7
Died: 15 NOV 1971, Spokane, Washington, USA 10 11
Other-Begin: Lots of printed info/ pics from Cowboy Hall of Fame
Other-Begin: Lots of printed info/ pics from Cowboy Hall of Fame
Other-Begin: Cassia, Cassia 12
Buried: UNKNOWN, Evergreen Cemetery, Spokane, Washington
Education: 1/2 day of high school
Residence: 1900, Spokane Ward 5, Spokane, Washington 13 14
Residence: Not Stated, Cassia, Idaho 15
Residence: 1910, Spokane Ward 3, Spokane, Washington 16
Residence: 1920, Rockland, Power, Idaho 17

Notes:
Grandma Van (Mildred C. Anderson) often talked about Homer Holcomb, and his antics as "World Famous or Worlds Champion Rodeo Clown".

Found Homer Harvey Holcomb in the LDS IGI records Dec 17, 1999.

***************************************************************************************
From Cheyenne Frontier Days Web site, 1999

Clowns appeared at Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1907 when they entertained between events. Some of the first rodeo clowns include C.B. Irwin, who entertained with a trained pony act; Dan Dix, who started his show business career with Buffalo Bill in 1902, and Ed Wright, an early day competing cowboy and performer in western pictures. "Clowns" is an archaic term that doesn't describe their primary mission, to rescue cowboys. Because a bull will charge a horse and rider, pick-up men cannot be used in the bull riding contest. Instead, these grease-painted matadors often appear to play with the bull once a cowboy is off, to allow him to escape the best way he can. It is deadly serious work. The first clown at Frontier Days to be billed as a bull-fighter was Jimmy Nesbitt in 1936, when bull riding became a sanctioned event. Homer Holcomb and Pinky Gist followed the same format in the 1930s and 1940s. From 1947 to 1959, Benny Bender handled clowning and bull-fighting chores. Wilbur Plaugher, gentleman of rodeo clowning, signed on in 1957; he stayed on board through 1983. Beginning in duo with Benny Bender, he ended working with three greats: Wick Peth, Quail Dobbs and Bobby Romer. Today, three men share bull-fighting duties. The bull fighters are highly trained athletes, combining the courage of a commando, the instincts of a prize fighter, and a degree of highly tuned professionalism that comes from knowing that a wrong move or momentary lapse of concentration could result in a major injury in front of thousands of people.

***************************************************************************************

The California Rodeo - A Central Coast Tradition
by Burton Anderson
in cooperation with the Monterey County Historical Society
Copyright 1997 by Burton Anderson

The local service clubs sponsored a Queen of the Rodeo contest in 1926 and the title was won by Miss Bernice Donahue. Later, in 1929, the contest evolved into the "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" and was won by Miss Lilian Kirschner of Santa Clara County. During this period a former rodeo clown who began cavorting in the arena in 1922, became the official announcer of the California rodeo. His name was Abe Lefcowitz, which he shortened to Abe Lefton, and he served as the announcer from 1928 until 1950. He was a great comic and announcer, especially when he teamed up with a clown by the name of Homer Holcomb. Abe and Homer were without a doubt the greatest crowd-pleasers of all time at the California rodeo. A distinguished guest in 1928 was Mayor Jimmy Walker, of New York, who was the subject of an Able Lefton joke that reputed the Mayor was here to see how the real bull was thrown. Abe constantly poked fun at cowboys, dignitaries and politicians and the fans loved it.

***************************************************************************************

Rodeo Hall of Fame Inductees
Rodeo Historical Society Inductees
Includes All Inductees Through The Current Year

Holcomb, Homer - 1896 - 1971 ID 1982 PRHS 1988

***************************************************************************************
Hello!

I got the email message that you sent to the Frontier Days office. I handle
the research questions at the CFD Old West Museum, so I checked out our
files, photos, and library to see what I could find for you.

I did find a two page biography of him in a "Who's Who" book put out by the
Cowboy Hall of Fame, and I have a list of major people in Frontier Days,
which includes him as a clown from 1937-1939. I did not find any photos, but
it looks like the Cowboy Hall of Fame might have some. They are located in
Oklahoma City.

Send me your snail mail address, and I will send you photocopies of what I
found as well as addresses for other museums to contact.

Sincerely,
Carrie Beauchamp, Registrar
CFD Old West Museum
Cheyenne, WY
***************************************************************************************

Homer served in WW I as a bugler. Training camp was Camp Hustus, North Fort, Virginia.

***************************************************************************************

Homer was the oldest of eight children, he grew up in American Falls, Idaho.

****************************************************************************************

I have received a package with 44 pages of pictures and magazine clippings of Homer from the Pro-Rodeo Hall of Fame. There are some pretty good photos in it!

***************************************************************************************

Footnotes

  1. U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [91].
    Online publication - Ancestry.com. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.Original data - United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, M1509, 4,582 rolls. Roll 1452213, DraftBoard 0.
    [Ancestry.com, U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Provo, UT, USA.]
  2. Public Member Stories [72].
    Online publication - Ancestry.com. Public Member Stories [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - Family tree stories submitted by Ancestry members.
  3. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [63].
    Online publication - Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - <li>Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M237, 675 rolls); Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Record Group 36; National Archives, Washington, D.C.<li>Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; (National Archives Microfilm Publication T715, 8892 rolls); Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; National Archives, Washington, D.C..
    [Ancestry.com, New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, Provo, UT, USA: T.]
  4. Public Member Stories [72].
    Online publication - Ancestry.com. Public Member Stories [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - Family tree stories submitted by Ancestry members.
    [Ancestry.com, Public Member Stories, Provo, UT, USA.]
  5. 1900 United States Federal Census [5].
    Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900.T623, 1854 rolls. Spokane, Washington, ED 73, roll T623 1751, page 2A.
  6. 1920 United States Federal Census [7].
    Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: <a href="http://www.archives.gov/publications/microfilm-catalogs/census/1920/part-07.html">NARA</a>. Note: Enumeration Districts 819-839 on roll 323 (Chicago City.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1920.T625, 2,076 rolls. Rockland, Power, Idaho, ED , roll , page , image 544.
  7. 1910 United States Federal Census [6].
    Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: <a href="http://www.archives.gov/publications/microfilm-catalogs/census/1910/">NARA</a>.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1910.T624, 1,178 rolls. Spokane Ward 3, Spokane, Washington, ED , roll T624_1670, part , page .
  8. Lynne Logan, online tree [55].
  9. Washington Death Index, 1940-1996 [96].
  10. Glenn Metcalf , David Almarion Edited Version 2003, Online Family Tree [39].
    Online publication - Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc.
  11. Public Member Stories [72].
    Online publication - Ancestry.com. Public Member Stories [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - Family tree stories submitted by Ancestry members.
  12. U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [91].
    Online publication - Ancestry.com. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.Original data - United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, M1509, 4,582 rolls. Roll 1452213, DraftBoard 0.
  13. 1900 United States Federal Census [5].
    Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900.T623, 1854 rolls. Spokane, Washington, ED 73, roll T623 1751, page 2A.
  14. Ibid.
    Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900.T623, 1854 rolls. Spokane, Washington, ED 73, roll T623 1751, page 2A.
  15. U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [91].
    Online publication - Ancestry.com. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005.Original data - United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, M1509, 4,582 rolls. Roll 1452213, DraftBoard 0.
  16. 1910 United States Federal Census [6].
    Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: <a href="http://www.archives.gov/publications/microfilm-catalogs/census/1910/">NARA</a>.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1910.T624, 1,178 rolls. Spokane Ward 3, Spokane, Washington, ED , roll T624_1670, part , page .
  17. 1920 United States Federal Census [7].
    Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: <a href="http://www.archives.gov/publications/microfilm-catalogs/census/1920/part-07.html">NARA</a>. Note: Enumeration Districts 819-839 on roll 323 (Chicago City.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1920.T625, 2,076 rolls. Rockland, Power, Idaho, ED , roll , page , image 544.

Home | Surnames | Index | Bibliography

Untitled Document

 

If you find any additions or corrections that need to be made, please email me.

Spotmom

Gypsy's Rambling Ivy 1998-2001

Revised: 2009-12-09
Copyright © 2009 C. Herrin. All rights reserved.