I don't know if it is the same Sells Circus, but Annie Oakley & Frank Butler started their careeres as sharp shooters with a Sells Circus. ----- Original Message ----- From: jbernth <jbernth@home.com> To: <CIRCUS-FOLK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2001 11:20 PM Subject: Re: [CIRCUS-FOLK] Campbell Brothers Circus > My adoptive father, LeRoy B Arringdale, born Independence Mo, 1911, raised > in Omaha, Ne, left home to join the circus in the late 30's. He passed away > in Aug 1999. I wish he were here to share with you. He had a sister who > lived in Ashland, NE, which is near Lincoln, Married my mother in 1940 and > left the "sawdust" behind, but it was in his blood. I had a wonderful > childhood hearing and learning about the circus life. He mentioned > Sells-Floto, Al G Barnes, and maybe Campbell too. I would have to check more > info. He was an artist, painted circus wagons, was a clown, and continued > clowning until the end. My mother's family was appalled that she would marry > a "circus roustabout" but they married in 1940, and celebrated just shy of > 59 years. My birthfather, Ray L. Morgan, was a 2nd man, in motion pictures, > whatever that is, If anyone has any info about either of these men, I would > really appreciate sharing and exchanging ideas. Sincerely, Jean Bernth > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <ScrubJay42@aol.com> > To: <CIRCUS-FOLK-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2001 4:07 PM > Subject: [CIRCUS-FOLK] Campbell Brothers Circus > > > > What we know: > > 1) My husband's grandfather, Charles Raymond LAME (b. ca 1874), was a > > "carnie" or traveled with a circus early in the century. For a time, his > > wife also worked with the circus. > > > > 2) Charles was raised "near Lincoln, NE", or more specifically, it > appears > > that he was an orphan who was passed around among relatives who had > migrated > > from Montgomery & Boone Co., IN to the areas in and around Saline Co., NE. > > While searching the area last summer, we went to Fairbury, the county seat > of > > Jefferson Co., NE, just south of Saline Co., and saw a wonderful mural on > one > > of the brick buildings there that depicted a circus scene. We ate dinner > > that night in Fairbury, and I picked up a brochure at the front desk in > the > > restaurant which described the Campbell Brothers Circus, which was the > > subject of the mural, and told how Fairbury was it's winter quarters. > (Not > > sure why anyone would "winter" in NE, but I digress...) We had been > > speculating how Charles ended up in Audrain Co., MO, and later in Pike > Co., > > MO, where he raised his family. It suddenly hit us that perhaps he left > the > > difficult farm life in his late teens to "join the circus". It would have > > been a way out of a life that he never would talk much about, and possibly > > the circus contingent traveled by riverboat to its different venues, which > > could easily put him in the locations in which we could place him. > > > > My question: Does anyone know anything about this particular circus, or > how > > one could find out about the people who worked with it a century ago? > Where > > could one find records? Did the censuses count itinerant circus people? > > Would they be recorded in the winter quarters, or just where they happened > to > > be during a particular census? Any information would be appreciated. > > > > TIA > > Ruth Lame > > > > > > ============================== > > 9 Health Tips for Computer Genealogists > > http://www.thirdage.com/features/tech/ouch/ > > > > > > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB >