The original Campbell Bros. Circus was owned by brothers Virgil, Al, Charlie and Ed Campbell and began in Galesburg, Il. The Circus started with 30 horse drawn wagons and more than 100 personell. The Circus grew to a 40 car railroad show and was advertised as the second largest circus in America. The circus began wintering in Fairbury Nebraska in 1885. The 1912 season was a disastrous one for the show, bad weather,fires and a train wreck plagued the circus. The following year banks foreclosed on outstanding loans and the show was forced into bankruptcy.
The brothers grandfather, Elisha Campbell and his four sons Bill, Fred, Bert and Ed., bought bankrupt circus and moved it's headquarters to the family farm near Enid, OK. The circus continued for seven more seasons. |
