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Rock Falls, IL, farmer Shelby Rowzee held his trimmed out team of black, crossbred Morgan and Percheron horses steady in the early afternoon of Friday, October 19, 2012. Rowzee’s son, Tom, is shown in the background.
Bess, on the left, and Jill were used to, and disciplined in, pulling wagons. They respectfully awaited their duty to carry a passenger to his burial site at Coloma Township Cemetery: The Reverend Robert Henry Sharp.
Pastor Sharp died Sunday, October 14, at age 89.
In mid-September, the team had carried Rowzee’s wagon on a four-day camping trip to the southern Michigan border. Five other wagons were in the caravan.
But this beautifully restored 1871 hearse was a new conveyance. The seven-year-olds seemed reverently calm, awaiting an important new task. A small gathering of spectators were awaiting the McDonald Funeral Homes cortege from the church service in Sterling, IL.
Rock Falls Manufacturing, based long ago in Sterling, created the 19th century hearse. RFM became Eureka Coach in 1886, crafting covered wagons, hearses, and funeral coaches. These wainwrights remained in business until 1964 in Rock Falls–on the same Second Street where this hearse sat, awaiting a motorized hearse.
A second son, Mark, held the horses’ heads. Bess and Jill were also tolerant of the chilly, glancing rain, which appeared just as the flag-draped casket was to be transferred.
Inside the hearse, on both sides, there was lush period embellishment of black, draped fabric trimmed in long, black-and-gold bullion fringe. Large, heavy tassels helped the decor hang properly. Gold painted metal railings would secure the Reverend’s casket. Two small vases held white, artificial roses, symbolic of purity and spiritual love.
Casketbearers transferred Pastor Sharp: Brodie, Jason, J. R., and Lincoln Sharp; Colin and Scott Wilcoxen. Honorary casketbearers included Kymin Hussung, Andrew Sawtelle, and Bailey Ukena.
Pastor Sharp the master carpenter–who portrayed President Abraham Lincoln in so many venues–had been working on the hearse just last month. He was “to spruce it up, give it a facelift, [with] painting and polishing, ” stated James Sharp, the youngest son, His father’s efforts on the wheels were completed for the funeral service by James and his son, Brodie.
“Brodie did the majority [of the work],” stated James Sharp.
Ironically, or fittingly, Pastor Sharp had mentioned, “I’d like to ride in that,” to his Pastor, Robert Hasselbring of First Church of the Nazarene in Sterling, when showing the latter the hearse. How could he be denied?
Funeral Director Joe McDonald aquired the hearse “this spring” from Oklahoma. Burdette Sandrock of Prophetstown, IL, had alerted him to a photograph in a want ad of a horse newspaper. McDonald flew two staffers to investigate: Funeral Director Ben Dirks and his son, Larry.
They were well pleased with the condition and the fact that it was “95% original, except for buckles and a leather horse strap. The serial number is there [stating] Rock Falls Manufacturing in Sterling.” Robert Sharp confirmed the “hardware was consistent with the Civil War [period] or a short time after.” The former owner stated the hearse had been used for an Oklahoma State Senator’s funeral.
“It finally came home,” McDonald commented. It was significant to him “that the man who was so involved” in the restoration of this vintage, locally-made hearse would be the first person transported in it.
“It is very unique, but dignified. The plan is to use it again, and [for now, the funeral home will] display it indoors.”
McDonald stood sentinel, reflected in the glass as the doors were softly closed prior to the ride to the cemetery. There would be full military honors accorded. Rock Falls native son Pastor Sharp had served in the U. S. Army and was in World War II and the Pacific Theater. He co-founded the GI Gospel Hour.
Battery G, a Civil War group of reenactors, headed by Del Tedrick, offered a cannon salute, using the cannon Pastor Robert H. Sharp had built from exact, 1860’s government specifications.
