Links Between Upper Arlington and the Sells Circus

The Sells brothers had one of the most important traveling railroad circuses from the late 1870s to the early 1900s. This circus headquartered in the Grandview area from the 1870s until 1907. The image below highlights some connections between the circus and Upper Arlington’s history, and details with noted quotations follow.

"Some of the grain grown in the Fishinger and surrounding area (in the late 1800s) was hauled on heavy circus wagons (which tore up the roads) to feed the zebras, elephants, etc. wintering with the Sells Circus between Olentangy River and the River Rd., just north of King Ave." (from The Upper Arlington News, August 1, 1968 p. 1)

King Gibson Thompson (1876-1960) and Benjamin Sells Thompson (1879-1958) are the brothers who purchased land south of Lane Avenue and developed it into Upper Arlington. (Ben’s middle name suggests a link right away!).

Their great-great grandfather on their mother’s (Louella Frances Sells) side is John Sells (1747-1815).

John’s brother, Ludwig Sells (1743-1823), is the great-grandfather of Peter, Lewis, Ephraim and William Sells, founders of The Sells Circus!

Additionally, Ludwig Sells is the father of John Sells (1774-1841) (yes, another John), the founder of Dublin, Ohio. (courtesy of UA Historical Society member, David Hartmann, March 2023)

“Evidence points to other mixed families and Native American involvement in the Sells Brothers circus as well. Gus Abney, a teamster, was American Indian and his wife, Ella, was African American.” (Hughes) Their son Ira attended Stony Point School. Stony Point School was a rural school in southern Perry Township in the latter half of the 1800s - 1920. The approximate location is the southeast corner of today’s Fishinger Road and Riverside Drive.

Hughes, Sakina Mariam. UNDER ONE BIG TENT: AMERICAN INDIANS, AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE CIRCUS WORLD OF NINETEENTH-CENTURY AMERICA. A DISSERTATION Submitted to Michigan State University. In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of DOCTORATE OF PHILOSOPHY History. 2012, p. 160

“Bill Kihue Moose was a Wyandot man who had relocated to Dublin as a child in the 1840s and worked in the circus and other shows as “Indian Bill.” Moose remained in the region and worked for the Sells Brothers Circus for several years. Moose spent his childhood in Dublin, Ohio…In 1878, he began working for the Sells Brothers Circus, both as an equestrian rider and selling goods. In interviews he gave later in life, Moose spoke of traveling with the circus and other shows throughout the United States and Canada. While at the Chicago exposition, Bill met Buffalo Bill Cody and became friends with Apache riders. Cody also introduced him to Rain-in-the-Face, the famous Apache warrior. In 1886, he went with the show to Australia.94 When his employment with the circus ended around 1888, Moose, somewhat of a local celebrity, supported himself by selling art, post cards, photographs of himself, teaching crafts, making bow and arrows, and telling tales about his life and about life in the circus.” He is buried in Wyandot Park in Upper Arlington.

Hughes, Sakina Mariam. UNDER ONE BIG TENT: AMERICAN INDIANS, AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE CIRCUS WORLD OF NINETEENTH-CENTURY AMERICA. A DISSERTATION Submitted to Michigan State University. In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of DOCTORATE OF PHILOSOPHY History. 2012, p. 160

“At “King and Queen” Avenues (now approx. King and Virginia avenues), Sellsville’s royal corner, was the resident of Hezekiah and Minnie Brandon (Negro). Mr. Brandon worked on the Miller Farm, now old Arlington.” (Weisheimer). [840 acres of the Miller Farm was purchased by King & Ben Thompson to develop Upper Arlington.]

“They raised money to purchase two lots for a building site (for Antioch Baptist Church) inside of Sellsville. The church was built under Pastor Cochran who laid the cornerstone on October 14, 1894 with Deacon Hezikiah Brandon and Trustee Benjamin Bowen. The Sells family assisted the congregation by loaning tents and seats for the early meetings. Ephraim Sells donated furniture to the congregation.” (Hughes)

Currently the church (destroyed by fire in 1968 and rebuilt in 1969) is located on Chambers east of Kenny.

Weisheimer, Carl H. Sellsville: Circa 1900. January 1, 1971. (from Upper Arlington Historical Society’s Archives). P. 48.

Hughes, Sakina Mariam. UNDER ONE BIG TENT: AMERICAN INDIANS, AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE CIRCUS WORLD OF NINETEENTH-CENTURY AMERICA. A DISSERTATION Submitted to Michigan State University. In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of DOCTORATE OF PHILOSOPHY History. 2012, p. 153

“1011 Flennekin Pike was the residence of Loren and Florence (Abney) White (Negro). Their children were Abney, Ira, Vernon, George, Betty, Gloria, Pearl, Eleanor, Francis, Margaret, Edith and Kathryn. Mr. White farmed as well as excavating and general maintenance work.” (Weisheimer).

Edith attended Stoney Point School.
Francis and Margaret attended South Perry Township school.

Weisheimer, Carl H. Sellsville: Circa 1900. January 1, 1971. (from Upper Arlington Historical Society’s Archives). P. 70.

“820 Kinnear Road was the residence of Greeley Litchford (Negro). He was married to (1) Carrie Newman and (2) Ella Bundy. Mr. Litchford lived next to the railroad and worked for the Livingston Seed Company…Greeley’s sisters and brothers were Alice, Rachel, Sarah, Clara, Stella, James and Grant.” (Weisheimer). [Greeley is Eugene Litchford, son of Blake Litchford and grandson of Pleasant Litchford, a major landowner in southern Perry Township in the 1800s.]

Weisheimer, Carl H. Sellsville: Circa 1900. January 1, 1971. (from Upper Arlington Historical Society’s Archives). P. 83.