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Mary Elizabeth Travelbee Colgrove

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Birth	:	5 Feb 1856 Indiana, USA
Death	:	4 Dec 1923 Wabash County, Indiana, USA
Burial	:	Massies Creek Cemetery, Cedarville, Greene County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.7381287, -83.8398666
Plot	:	Section 3
Description	:	Married Harry P. Colgrove/Colegrove on March 31, 1886, in Indiana Mary is 62 in the 1920 North Manchester, IN census. Her occupation was "electrical doctor." Source: NMHS Newsletter, August 1989 "Call Me Madame by Dr. L.Z. Bunker Mary E. Travelbee was born in the North Manchester area in 1852, the daughter of John and Mary Travelbee. We first hear of her when she ran off with a traveling circus at the age of 16. Imagine this in 1868! She married the owner of the circus, William Colgrove, and was a part of... Read More	Married Harry P. Colgrove/Colegrove on March 31, 1886, in Indiana Mary is 62 in the 1920 North Manchester, IN census. Her occupation was "electrical doctor." Source: NMHS Newsletter, August 1989 "Call Me Madame by Dr. L.Z. Bunker Mary E. Travelbee was born in the North Manchester area in 1852, the daughter of John and Mary Travelbee. We first hear of her when she ran off with a traveling circus at the age of 16. Imagine this in 1868! She married the owner of the circus, William Colgrove, and was a part of show business for half a century, becoming a prominent lady rider and giving equestrian exhibitions for which she received many awards. Late in her career in the 1900’s she gave one or more performances at the North Manchester fair, appearing on a beautiful black horse and wearing a black broadcloth, side saddle, riding habit. Tales of her earlier days abounded. She was a friend of Annie Oakley and invented the divided riding skirt for her. The circus went to Europe, and she was decorated by the crowned heads there. She was presented at court to Queen Victoria, and she well might have been, for the queen had a fancy for show people. Mr. Tom Thumb and his wife, the Great Boldini and Buffalo Bill were among those whom Madame Colgrove claimed as her friends. The Colgrove Circus, with Madame as its equestrian star, traveled over the United States and Canada for many years. But by 1910 or so the circus was gone, Mr. Colgrove was dead, and Madame was so reduced in circumstances that she took a hair dressing course in Chicago and came back to her hometown as hair dresser and wig maker, the first in this community. She had a shop at 105 East Main Street which was furnished with faded grandeur of her earlier days---a colossal mirror, several Belter chairs and a beautiful Belter table---priceless antiques today! She had somehow retained the old Travelbee homestead on South Sycamore Street in North Manchester, where she lived with numerous pets and James Wilson, an Oklahoma Indian who was a horse trainer at the stables at the North Manchester fairgrounds. It is not known if she had any horses, but she apparently did not ride, having become somewhat afflicted with arthritis. She continued her beauty shop a number of years and eventually sold out to Mrs. Myra Rick who came here from Chicago. Madame was an ardent spiritualist. Mediums would come to her house for séances, which were popular entertainment in town for several seasons. She thought she was in daily communication with her deceased husband. As time passed she became increasingly crippled and was helped by kindly neighbors. One of these told of wondering about Madame’s tales about her life in Chicago high society, when Madame produced a number of gorgeous gowns, sewn up in muslin bags, that she had worn in happier days. Eventually she went to live at the Wabash County Poor Farm, but this is really not as bad as it sounds as the Poor Farm served as a low cost nursing home at that time and was the only alternative to the hospital. One can imagine her sitting on the broad veranda, regaling her fellow patients with tales of Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill and the happy days of the circus. She died in 1923 and is buried beside her parents in the family plot in Oaklawn Cemetery, North Manchester." Her grave is not marked.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Mary Elizabeth Travelbee Colgrove's memorial?
Mary Elizabeth Travelbee Colgrove's memorial is located at: Massies Creek Cemetery, Cedarville, Greene County, USA.
When did Mary Elizabeth Travelbee Colgrove death?
Mary Elizabeth Travelbee Colgrove death on 4 Dec 1923 in Wabash County, Indiana, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Mary Elizabeth Travelbee Colgrove's memorial?
Latitude: 39.7381287
Longitude: -83.8398666

Family Members:

Parent

John E Travelbee

(1831 - 1909)

Mary Hitsfield Travelbee

(1835 - 1910)

Spouse

Siblings

Henrietta “Etta” Travelbee Clemans

(1858 - 1911)

William Elsworth Travelbee

(1861 - 1929)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Massies Creek Cemetery
Cedarville, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7381287, -83.8398666

2. North Cemetery
Cedarville, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7546997, -83.8116989

3. Baptist Cemetery
Cedarville, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7355240, -83.7877370

4. Stevenson Cemetery
Wilberforce, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7311096, -83.8925171

5. House Family Cemetery
Xenia, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7217789, -83.8937454

6. Grinnell Cemetery
Yellow Springs, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7818920, -83.8759030

7. Clifton Union Cemetery
Miami Township, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8012000, -83.8301000

8. Dean Cemetery
Jamestown, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6689493, -83.8315935

9. Forsman Cemetery
Xenia, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6955500, -83.9147300

10. Friends Cemetery
Xenia Township, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7425385, -83.9332275

11. Deardoff Cemetery
New Jasper, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6691720, -83.8115010

12. Caesarscreek Cemetery
New Jasper Township, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6805992, -83.7827988

13. Glen Helen Nature Preserve Memorials
Yellow Springs, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8020130, -83.8856190

14. Stand Pipe Cemetery
Xenia, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6873500, -83.9113330

15. Lawrence Cemetery
Ross Township, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7251770, -83.7405660

16. McClellan Cemetery
Yellow Springs, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8161598, -83.8387951

17. East Church Street Cemetery (Defunct)
Xenia, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6879340, -83.9199990

18. Glen Forest Cemetery
Yellow Springs, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8102000, -83.8851000

19. Methodist Cemetery (Defunct)
Xenia, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6840640, -83.9184530

20. Johnson Family Cemetery (Defunct)
Yellow Springs, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8156530, -83.8740560

21. Gowdy Associate Reformed Cemetery
Xenia, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6835938, -83.9194183

22. Morgan Cemetery
Beavercreek, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7414408, -83.9499268

23. Tornado Victims Memorial Plaque
Xenia, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6862490, -83.9293760

24. Saint Pauls Catholic Cemetery
Yellow Springs, Greene County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8118973, -83.9045181