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To view our interactive map of notable burials, please click here!

Earl D. Fawcett, born on February 6, 1898, was raised in Homestead. Mr. Fawcett began clowning at the age of 14 and continued until shortly before his death in 1969. Early in his career as a well-known Pittsburgh entertainer, he wore a red wig and checkered suit to advertise attractions, night clubs, and theater shows.
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He was best known for his time as a member of the beloved Shrine Circus, playing as clown "Charlie Lewis." According to Mr. Greg DeSanto, a former employee of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the Shrine Circus would hire local clowns to fill parts of the show from the 1940's through the 1960's. "Charlie Lewis," along with Otto Griebling, Happy Kellums, Joe and Chester Sherman, Charlie Cheer, Felix Adler, BoBo Barnett, and Pelulza were among the many who regularly who worked during that time. 

Mr. Fawcett passed on December 26, 1969 at the age of 71. His funeral arrangements were handled by T. D. Turner's of Wilkinsburg.
 

Information and photo sources:

  • “Bird in Hand, Etc.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1 May 1936, p. 6.

  • Bishop, Pete. “Elegy for a Clown.” The Pittsburgh Press, 1983, pp. 12–13.

  • Cashin, Pat. “CHARLIE LEWIS: Clown Cop.” Pat Cashin's Clown Alley, 31 May 2006, clownalley.blogspot.com/search?q=charlie+lewis.

Henry George Miller

Old Section A, Lot 155

Henry Miller.png

Henry G. Miller, was born on April 22, 1906 to Austrian immigrants, Stephen and Sarah (Mantach) Miller. He was a resident of 1376 McClure Street of Homestead.

 

Henry was a musician staff member for the KDKA radio station, and was associated with many of the dance bands throughout Pittsburgh. He died at the age of 36 on December 9, 1942 in Passavant Hospital. According to his death certificate, he had developed cardiovascular issues following a long battle with bronchiectasis in his right lung.

 

He was survived by eight siblings. 

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His funeral arrangements were handled by the Anderson Funeral Home, where a Funeral Service was held on Saturday, December 12, 1942, 2 PM, prior to his interment at the Homestead Cemetery.

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​Information gathered from:

  • "Henry George Miller," The Pittsburgh Press, 10 December 1942, p. 33.

Old Section E, Lot 81

Edwin Rowe Photograph.jpg
Great Battle of Homestead lithograph.jpg

"Great Battle of Homestead; Defeat and Capture of the Pinkerton Invaders – July 6th, 1892" - Edwin Rowe, Homestead, PA

For a full biography of Edwin's life, please visit our blog post!

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Edwin Rowe, Sr., was born in Crowan, Cornwall, Wales on Christmas Day, December 25, 1834 to parents, John and Eleanor (Rodda) Rowe.  He married Catherine Morgan (a daughter of Thomas Morgan, born on April 27, 1833, in Caerleon, Monmouthshire, Wales), on August 25, 1855. Edwin was the first of his family to leave Wales for America, via Liverpool, England. He arrived in New York City, New York, via the S/S Colorado of the American-based Guion Line, on April 5, 1869.

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Catherine followed him on the S/S Colorado, arriving August 10, 1869, with four of their children: Thomas Henry (named after his paternal uncle), Catherine "Harriet," Edwin, and Priscilla Rowe. 

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The reunited family moved from Ohio, to Beaver Township, and finally, to Homestead by 1880. He opened a carpet weaving business on E. 6th Avenue before later rebranding to include picture selling and framing in a new Amity Street shop. 

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Edwin, a skilled artist, found his first true success with his iconic picture, the “Great Battle of Homestead; Defeat and Capture of the Pinkerton Invaders – July 6th, 1892," pictured below. The design was copyrighted in Washington, D. C., on October 11, 1892. The original 22" x 28" black and white piece was lithographed by Kurz and Allison Art Studio, Chicago, in 1892; copies hung throughout several important sympathetic locations in Homestead, including the Homestead based United Steelworkers Local 1397.

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According to Ms. Rosamond Brown, a twice-great-grandchild of Mr. Rowe, the original lithograph now resides in the Library of Congress, located in Washington, D. C., and the digital version may be accessed here. Original copies of the lithograph are still highly valued today, with a framed 19" x 24.5" copy selling at a price of $2,200.00 in September of 2018.

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Edwin and Catherine were well-known members of the Homestead community for their contributions to the religious and cultural sects of the Borough: they were two of the eleven charter members of the First Baptist Church of Homestead, located at Ninth Avenue and McClure Street, organized February 16, 1884, and Edwin had also been a charter member of the Sons of St. George Lodge.

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Edwin, Sr., died on May 26, 1925, at the impressive age of 90 from chronic nephritis. He was buried with his wife, Catherine, on May 28, 1925 in the Homestead Cemetery. Their graves were never marked. He left behind his daughters, Sarah and Priscilla; son, Charles; 21 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.

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Photo of Edwin Rowe, Sr., shared from family album by descendant, Roger W. Pollok of Bellefonte, PA.

 

​Information gathered from:

  • Allison., Kurz &. “Great Battle of Homestead. Defeat and Capture of the Pinkerton Invaders, July 6th 1892.” Library of Congress, 1 Jan. 1892, https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003656885/.

  • Charles Rowe's Find-a-Grave account

  • "Edwin Rowe," Pittsburgh Pose-Gazette, 21 Jun 1915, p. 2.

  • "Edwin Rowe," Daily Messenger, McKeesport, 19 Jun 1915, p. 1.

  • "Edwin Rowe," Pittsburgh Daily Post, 27 May 1925, p. 18.

  • "Edwin Rowe," Pittsburgh Daily Post, 28 May 1925, p. 4.

  • Edwin Rowe, Jr.'s Find-a-Grave account

  • England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.

  • "James MacBeth," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 20 Nov 1948, p. 7.

  • “Kurz and Allison 1892 Litho Great Battle of Homestead - Sep 29, 2018: Concept Art Gallery in Pa.” LiveAuctioneers, https://www.liveauctioneers.com/en-gb/item/64488373_kurz-and-allison-1892-litho-great-battle-of-homestead.

  • Madarasz, Anne. “The Homestead Steel Strike: Perspective on the Past.” Making History: The Heinz History Center Blog, Senator John Heinz History Center in Association with the Smithsonian Institution, 10 July 2017, https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/blog/western-pennsylvania-history/homestead-steel-strike. Accessed 17 Mar. 2022.

  • Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 024111-027690

  • Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 048001-051000

  • Priscilla (Rowe) Marsh's Find-a-Grave account

  • "Rowe,' Pittsburgh Press, 09 May 1922, p. 31.

  • "Rowe," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 03 Jan 1956, p. 33.

  • Sarah (Rowe) MacBeth's Find-a-Grave account

  • "Served but One Week." Pittsburgh Daily Post, 23 Jan 1895, p. 6.

  • "S/S Colorado, Guion Line," <http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_ship.asp?sh=color>

  • "The Rev. Thomas H. Rowe," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 09 May 1922, p. 10.

  • "Well Known Homestead Lady Dead," Homestead News, 06 Mar 1907.

  • Year: 1870; Census Place: Austintown, Mahoning, Ohio; Roll: M593_1239; Page: 23A

  • Year: 1880; Census Place: Beaver, Clarion, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1117; Page: 38C; Enumeration District: 064

  • Year: 1900; Census Place: Homestead Ward 5, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Page: 12; Enumeration District: 0405; FHL microfilm: 1241368

  • Year: 1910; Census Place: Homestead Ward 5, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1294; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0099; FHL microfilm: 1375307

  • Younger, Rina. “A Working-Class Image of the Battle.” "The River Ran Red" Homestead 1892, 1992, pp. 156–157.

Edwin Rowe, Sr.

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