Hi Cousins; This is the latest CIRCUS UPDATE! (a very kind Lister sent this to me and from what I have gleaned from the circus books I got yesterday evening at my local library this is the same Dan Rice from Girard. He is known as 1 of the most famous clown in "Clown Hall of Fame" and put himself in the main act of the Dan Rice Circus....I guess being the owner of the circus gave him that privilege! <grin>) here goes: "Dan RICE days in Girard PA will be July 31, Aug 1 this year. Dan RICE was a circus man and it was his costume that the caricature of Uncle Sam was based on. Dan RICE made and lost 3 fortunes and came to Girard during the peak of his career in the 1850's. Dan RICE was associated with Agrippa MARTIN of the Girard area and it was on his farm that the animals were housed in the winter. This farm is now owned by friends of mine and I have some MARTIN family history written by a woman who was born there in 1875. The brick wall with stone collums that surrounded the Dan RICE estate was not for keeping the animals in, in fact I recall reading info that Dan RICE never actually lived at what was called the Dan RICE estate. Eventually the wall was torn down and I have some of the stone collum because my grandfather was a contractor hired by the town to do the job." by Pat. As more comes in I'll share it until someone asks me to stop! I am trying to condense some of the Dan Rice info (from the circus books) and will post it soon. happy trails; Patti Waldo Swaim