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/ > >