When the Circus Came to Town

Did you know that at one time it was commonplace to see an elephant or a zebra casually passing through Newtown? 

Circus man John O'Brien, of Frankford, Philadelphia, owned a 254 acre farm near Brownsburg which he purchased in 1874. On this farm he kept many of his circus animals, including elephants and zebras. He wintered some animals at his farm, and some in Frankford. O'Brien and his menagerie spent the winters at the Seven Star Hotel, in Frankford, the off-season home of the circus. John's farm in Upper Makefield is now Jericho National Golf Course.

O'Brian's (sic) Farm in Upper Makefield 1876

John O'Brien was one of those unique and successful characters not uncommon in this country, especially the newer portions of it, during the first five or six decades of the nineteenth century. Rough and illiterate, yet with a large stock of native shrewdness, he found his way into the show business, became wealthy, and at one time owned more show property than any other one man in the United States. It was only to strangers that he was known as John O'Brien. To his help and acquaintances he was simply Pogey. Pogey was an Irishman, but where he was born or where he lived as a boy I never knew. At the time I went to work for him he was the youngest show proprietor of any consequence in the country, being only thirty-five. By George Conklin. From “The Ways of the Circus,” Harper’s, 1921. 

Clown in front of the Bird in Hand

The October 24, 1874 Newtown Enterprise gives us a glimpse of what the circus was like, and the trouble that followed it.

The Circus - On Wednesday last Newtown seemed completely demoralized. The circus was coming, and there was no disposition to work or do business. The epidemic seemed to be general, and boys from five years old up, all went out to the Yardleyville pike to see the elephant and the circus come in. There was a large space of ground covered with tents, bug and little, main show and side shows. The procession of animal cages passed through the streets about 10 o'clock, headed by the band in a great chariot, (the musicians dressed in red,) the elephants, the camel, and the ponies. The wagons had once been gaily painted and adorned with banners, but after a long summer campaign they were sadly the worse for wear. Many of the horses were old and appeared to be worn out. The tents occupied several acres of the Phillips' meadow. In a short time the side shows were ready to exhibit their wonders, which were painted on the suspended canvasses in front of the tents. The man with the air-gun set up his tin birds, and the man who sold the big sticks of candy and the peanuts was playing his vocation, and there was something called the French pool stuck up on the fence. A gaping crowd of all sizes, colors and degrees stood around and sat on the fences. Evidently a show was something new in Newtown, and it must be attended to. The ticket office opened at 1 o'clock and the people rushed up to buy tickets. 

There was a fair attendance at both afternoon and evening performances. There was a very large number of animals, a dwarf, and the painted South Sea Islanders, a steam engine put in motion the automaton bell ringers, the organ turner, and bugler. The were two circus rings, with very creditable performances in both, the regular programme of circuses.We understand this show is the same as that exhibited throughout the country last year by Barnum, or a larger part of it. Last spring Mr. Barnum made an arrangement with John O'Brien of Frankford, by which the latter gentleman was to run the show this season. The animals, curiosities and wagons belonging to Barnum; the horses and mules to O'Brien. The net receipts were divided between them on prescribed terms. The show traveled over 4000 miles this season, through the western states, and in Canada, and has had rather a rough campaign. It is the largest traveling show now out, and a very large number of men were employed. It requires considerable executive ability to conduct such a concern properly. Some of the men connected with the show are very rough characters, and at nearly every place they exhibit there has been trouble between them and those with whom they come in contact. Some difficulties took place on Wednesday night at Newtown. While the evening performances were going on, several persons were standing on the ground in the rear of the tents. They were ordered off by the men in charge, and as they were going away, and on the Turnpike, stones were thrown at them. One stone struck William Barnsley on the back of his head, prostrating him to the ground, and inflicting quite a severe wound. No others were injured. A young name man named Kitchin was struck in the mouth as he was coming out of the tent.

But the greatest disturbance connected with the show took place at Atkinson’s hotel about 12:30 o'clock, after the performance was over. It is difficult to get at the particulars, for obvious reasons, as most well disposed and reliable persons were at home. Men were intoxicated, there was noise and profanity, and fighting and shooting. Edward Dillon, who resides near the Neshaminy, was there. He got into a difficulty with some of the showmen. He drew a pistol and fired. Whether others fired pistols or not, we do not know. One of the showmen was shot in the leg, another in the head. Dylan was badly hurt. The worst wound was in the mouth, several of his teeth being knocked out and his upper jaw badly lacerated. He also has several wounds about his head and body, mainly from beating and kicking. He was taken to his home about 4 o'clock. Dylan is badly hurt, but he is a man of a strong constitution, and will probably recover. James Morris was beaten and is somewhat hurt. Several others were hurt, and some can thank their heels for carrying them safe from the scene of action. Persons residing on State Street were kept awake by loud cries of profanity, the effects of intoxication. It was a night of drunkenness and disorder which will long be remembered by many of our citizens. No arrests were made.

About 6 o'clock the teams are got ready and left town, most of them going into winter quarters at Frankfurt. Some of the animals are taken back to Trenton, and from their ship to New York. Many of the men were paid off, and went home. Most of the performers went to Philadelphia and Schenk’s station in the morning stage and by 8 o'clock Newtown resumed its accustomed quiet.

Business generally was suspended in the town during the day. There seems to be some fascination about shows that we cannot understand, and nearly all, old and young, appeared to be demoralized, and wanted to go. We are thankful that such shows rarely come here.

Stunt horse rider

The newspapers made many mentions of the circus and the issues surrounding it.

A zebra belonging to O'Brien's menagerie, en route for the farm of the proprietor near Brownsburg, passed through town, stopping Saturday night at the Brick Hotel. Oct 10, 1874 NE

The "baby elephant," belonging to Mr. John O'Brien, Frankford, died this week after a short illness. The cause of the illness is unknown. It was valued at $7,000. Mar 22, 1873 NE

Four Elephants belonging to John O'Brien passed through Newtown at a late hour on Saturday evening last, en-route from O'Brien's farm near Brownsburg to Frankford, where they will be placed in winter quarters. It was with great difficulty they were induced to cross the bridge over Newtown Creek, near the residence of T. B. Scott. Nov 7, 1874 NE 

Some time since four of O'Brien's elephants were sent from his farm near Brownsburg to Frankford. They stopped over night at Worthington's Buck Hotel, Feasterville. A price was fixed on for their feed during the night. In the morning it was found that the animals had been taking liberties. They had lifted the roof off a corn crib and helped themselves, and taken liberties with apple trees. Mr. Worthington does not care to make a regular business of entertaining elephants. Nov 14, 1874 NE

O'Brien's traveling Circus and Menagerie, or at least most of the animals, etc. connected therewith, have gone into winter quarters near Brownsburg, where O'Brien owns a farm. Nov 6, 1875 NE

On The Move - The circus season has now commenced, and John O'Brien is making the necessary preparations to start his shows on the road. On Sunday the large elephant passes down the Buck road, on its way from Mr. O'Brien's farm, near Brownsburg, to Philadelphia. The horses and mules also passed through Newtown on the same day. Several newly painted animal cages went up to the farm on Wednesday evening, after some of their occupants, which "Porgie" has been housing there during the winter. Apr 8, 1876 NE 

A mob of armed men made an attack on the employees of O'Brien's circus after the close of the performance at Dover, Delaware, on Saturday night last. Ten of the circus men were shot, one named Henderson, it is thought fatally. Dissatisfaction with the show is said to have been the cause of the attach. No arrests were made and the circus paraphernalia was loaded on the cars and started for Cambridge, Md. Apr 28, 1883 NE 

O'Brien's Seventy Horse Act

A brief history of Upper Makefield Township, in talking about Brownsburg says:

A former resident recalls, as a boy, when the village was winter quarters for Barnum and Bailey's wild animals. This was about the time of World War I, before that the circus wintered in Florida. The animals were quartered with local farmers, the elephant barn on Brownsburg Road and the tigers' cages on a River Road farm.

O'Brien's Farm Complex 1938

John O'Brien went through some hard times and his farm was condemned and repurchased on multiple occasions. It seems like the circus business had its ups and downs, and luck wasn't always on O'Brien's side.

Feb 26, 1887 Newtown Enterprise

Many people thought the circus was shady, and O'Brien's business tactics were equally suspect. After losing the circus 3 times, he and his wife were charged with conspiracy to cheat and defraud their creditors in 1887. 

John O'Brien died in September 1889, his obituary paints a portrait of a man who had it all and lost it.

John O'Brien - Our readers remember O'Brien, who ran a big show, and at one time owned a farm in Upper Makefield. The Dover, N.J. Iron Era thus speaks of him: "Those who attended the circus in Dover last week must have noticed the portly man who sat at the entrance and received the tickets. That man was John O'Brien, and he illustrates the ups and downs of circus life. Some years ago he was proprietor of some of the largest shows that traversed the country. At one time he presented his wife with $20,000 worth of diamonds, and one year he paid Barnum $10,000 for the use of his name. Today he dare not use his own name and is traveling with a mangy little combination of nobodies under a tent which is but a mass of tattered rags. 

Mr. O'Brien died at his residence on Sunday in Frankford, which had been his home since boyhood. Born in 1836, his first venture on his account was in driving an omnibus between Frankford and Philadelphia while he was quite a youth. This occupation proved so remunerative that he went to Vermont, and there took to horse dealing. A little later he bought a stage line in Washington, selling out at the outbreak of the war at a profit of some thousands of dollars. 

It was then that he entered the show business, on a very small scale at first, but advancing with such rapid strides that he was soon rivaling Barnum. He was in partnership with Adam Forepaugh for a while, and at that time was worth $250,000. In late years, however, he lost a considerable amount, though still retaining a good bit of property. 

O'Briend diamonds were formerly famous. They sparkled from the button holes of his waistcoat, and on every link of his watch chain, not to mention his massive rings, collar button and scarf pin. He was wont to swing a heavy sandalwood cane, with a perfect menagerie of beasts cleverly carved upon it. He leaves a widow and two daughters. 

With O'Brien's death, so too passed the days of Elephants walking through Newtown.