"Sawdust, Spangles & Dreams"

compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber
October 2010

Genealogists come from all walks of life. Like other fields, genealogists have their own network. Within that network I am known by some through my research business, Family Lineage Investigations; some through genealogy organizations; others recognize me during my time as a staff genealogist for the Boyd Library; or by many simply as the cemetery lady. But I also have another past.

My past is full of wonderful animals, and to borrow from the musical Jumbo, it has had a share of "Sawdust, Spangles & Dreams."

While Eastern Kentucky is well known for the Country Western Highway and music entertainers, our area is rich with other performers as well.

My first memory of a big top was as little more than a toddler when Coles Brothers Circus came to Ashland, Boyd County, Kentucky. The canvas went up in the field that would later become Hecks and is now owned by Kings Daughters Hospital behind the famous Bluegrass Grill.

My mother, already friends with many performers, knew no strangers and my father, early in his veterinary practice was already becoming known for his skills with circus animals. While there were no official winter quarters for a given show in Boyd County, for over three decades performers were made welcome in the community by my family. By the time I was in grade school, in the 1950's, our tiny house on Algonquin Avenue already had a trapeze bar, tight wire and trampoline placed in the back yard for performers that wanted to practice.

I was taught how to twirl a baton by performer Rusti Delaney. Trapeze artist Jimmy Lloyd helped me with my roller skates. My first elephant ride was on Burma. I still have a letter in my collection from her keeper Lou Turner who taught me how to properly mount and dismount. Ironically Jimmy Lloyd would later be killed by a rogue elephant [while they are magnificent animals I have a great fear of them but always loved & trusted Burma].

In 1959 George Wolfford did an article for the Ashland Daily Independent titled "Circus Clowns Serve As Baby Sitters For Ashland". I made the newspaper seated between Victor Lewis and Coco the Clown. Under my picture it read "Real Life bedtime Stories - Terry Martin,...enjoys true-to-life bedtime stories read by two honest-to-goodness clowns." In the picture I am holding the latest edition of The Billboard as they look over my shoulder.

Victor Lewis encouraged my fledgling attempts at art. Coco, Michael Polakovs, born 1923 in Rega, Latavia married Hazel Fannin and became a resident of Boyd County, Kentucky. He designed the first Ronald McDonald outfit, headlined with Ringling Brothers and was a member of the Clown Hall of Fame. But to me he was my champion & part of my family. When troubled or in trouble he was always there with his gentle smile. In or out of greasepaint he made me laugh.

He was not my father's brother but they loved each other as such and in the world of sawdust it is an honor to give someone a "family title" which could leave genealogists pondering when doing research. He will always be my "uncle Mike".

The Fannin's have a long history and were pioneers in Lawrence and Boyd County. Hazel is the daughter of Harry F. and Madeline Davis Fannin. Madeline was the great grand daughter of David Davis and wife Catherine Bryson. Her maternal lineage includes John and Elizabeth Chadwick Eastham.

Harry Fannin was the son of George and Emma Lambert Fannin. Michael Polakovs came to America in 1953. He was laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery, Ashland, Kentucky in December 2009. He leaves a legacy and wonderful family in Boyd County.

My first "gig" was with Coco and Victor around 1960 when they performed at the Children's Home in Ironton, Ohio. I was supposed to squirt water on Coco as part of the "busy bee" skit. Of course I botched it up which apparently made it all the funnier. I went on to do several more one night stands. I was the stooge for Narbu the guerrilla once. I was not supposed to hit him hard with the purse [as per instructions]. I konked him a good one! Again it apparently brought more laughs.

By the 1960's Ashland Oil was presenting a circus each Christmas for employees and family. The performers found their way to our new home. My parents place was named Jomar [for John and Mary Martin]. It also happens to be the name of the rail car that John and Mary Ringling North used. Today there are many homes on Jomar Road that receive mail with that street address but probably don't know the significance or link to circus heritage.

I was an only child but I felt I had siblings. The Wallenda children, Tino and Delilah Zoppe' spent summers with us. Many years later I would fill in for Tino's wife at a show in New Jersey. No laughs, but I am sure he was glad when it was over. All I had to do was smile, hand him props and "ta da." I think he got all his props ok and can only imagine the description he gave Olinka when he got home!

By the time I was 15 I went on the road for several weeks with Kirby's Chimps. The Kirby's were great and it was a wonderful vacation. I had no duties or cares. When I was 16 I traveled with Clyde Brothers Circus for the summer. This time I had to pull my own weight. The Toth's had a roly poly act and I quickly learned to help with set up. I was given a costume and immediately put in Spec and finale and allowed to carry baby Oggie the Orangatang. He was wonderful and I missed him at the end of the season. I also was given my first real job. Under the tutelage of Gee Gee Engesser Powell I became a hawker of cotton candy. Today, tucked away in my jewelry box, among my treasures, is a small silver disk that she gave me when I left the show. It is engraved "Cotton Candy Queen."

My father would later write Doc, My Tiger's Got An Itch which gives a wonderful overview of life and circus friends. Among his narratives he mentions elephant man "Captain K. Y. Seagraves". He was an elephant trainer with Mills Brothers Circus.

K. Y. Sagraves was born Lonnie Virgil Sagraves 17 December 1920 in Boyd County, Kentucky. His father, James A. Sagraves was a boilermaker in the steel mill at Ashland. His mother was Katie Weaver Sagraves. James and Katie are buried in Dixon Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky. K. Y. died 24 November 1985 in Ashland.

Boyd County has been entertained by the circus for generations. The Boyd County Library Hanner's Photograph Collection contains ads and billboards for several shows including the announcement that the Forepaugh Show with its Wild West would be arriving in Ashland, October 2nd, 1890 by train.

1923 seems to have been an extremely popular year for circus entertainment in Ashland. An ad for Sparks Circus said they would be at the "circus ground" April 11th. Their ad said there were 350 performers, 2 herds of elephants and hundreds of thoroughbred horses. Two months later in June the Haag Show also played Ashland. The following month, July, the L. G. Heth show with 35 double length circus cars also arrived in Ashland. They were followed by the Al. G. Barnes Circus on August 16th. All these shows and later shows were at 35th & Winchester, the same lot that I remember in the early 1950's.

Nor are circus personalities limited to my life time in Boyd County. In the early 1900's many articles were written about the Nichols Brothers. Howard, Clyde, William, Walter and Millard were the sons of Thomas M. Nichols and his wife Lucretia. In 1910 the family is residing in Catlettsburg. Thomas is listed as an electrician and his sons are listed as traveling jugglers. Articles say that they learned to hoop juggle from their father who never did professional appearances. They played the Hippadrome Theatre in New York. After World War I the brothers scattered. Eventually there were three separate acts under the same name. Howard played in different areas of Europe. Millard, Bill, Walter and Millard's wife Birdie May of Ashland made up another act in the New York area while Clyde and his wife played the Chicago area. Thomas M. Nichols [1868-1945] is buried in Ashland Cemetery.

Gee Gee, my father and Coco have all passed away along with so many others. All have touched my life and left memories. And while the circus has evolved "Sawdust, Spangles & Dreams" never die. The Wallenda's carry on the circus tradition. The family friendships continue into new generations. Their children along with my children share pictures of our grandchildren [thanks to Facebook]. Another generation that have dreams and who can enjoy the wonder of the circus with all its sawdust and spangles.

Greenville Morgan Witten Murder

Greenville Morgan Witten was born in Tazewell County, Virginia 24 July 1830 to Thomas and

Mary Polly Lackey Witten. The Witten's made sure their two sons were educated. Green's younger brother enlisted in the Confederate Army and was killed in action.

Greenville M. Witten migrated to Floyd County, Kentucky where his father had done business for many years. He began his career in the mercantile industry, expanded into timber and then along with cousin Joseph Davidson purchased large land grants in Floyd and surrounding counties.

In 1854 G. M. Witten became an early commissioner of the Big Sandy Valley Railroad Company and in 1873 helped create a rail system. The rails ran from the mouth of the Big Sandy River, in Boyd County, to the property of the Great Western Mining and Manufacturing Company in Lawrence County, Kentucky [Peach Bottom] with a goal to reach the Virginia state line. The name of this enterprise was called the Chatteroi Railway Company.

Genealogists tend to list him only briefly, as he left no descendants and never married. While he had money and land he preferred to board in rooming houses and hotels. Green M. Witten was community minded, belonged to several organizations and while living in Prestonsburg had been the Second Master of the Zebulon Masonic Lodge on two different occasions prior to moving to Boyd County, Kentucky.

Money wise, Greenville Witten also became a banker along with his cousin. Having learned the banking trade in Floyd County, together, they opened the bank of Witten & Davidson in Catlettsburg, Kentucky. Witten quickly took the reins of the business settling into life in the river town. He had friends far and wide and was said to have carried large amounts of cash on his person. He quickly became involved in Catlettsburg affairs holding the office of police judge and mayor. He retired from banking in 1882 but remained a Catlettsburg resident.

From these small tidbits we can assume that Witten was a strong character. His death made many major newspapers:

"Marion, Oh. 23 March 1896. CATLETTSBURG MYSTERY. Wealthy and Prominent man disappears from home. Catlettsburg, KY. G. M. Witten, ex-mayor, ex-police judge and retired banker has been missing since March 14. The river and Catlett Creek have been dredged in vain and inquiries sent to all parts of the country, but no trace of the wealthy man can be found. He is prominently connected here and no expense is being spared to solve the mystery of his disappearance for which no cause can be learned. He had about $5,000 on his person when last seen here."

"Daily Public Ledger, Maysville, KY. 25 March 1896. It is now believed that Judge G. M. Witten, who mysteriously disappeared from his home at Catlettsburg, was murdered. The City Council has offered a reward of $50.00 for his body, dead or alive and $200.00 for his murderers in case he was killed."

"Climax, Richmond KY 26 Mar 1896. Ex-Mayor Witten still missing. Catlettsburg, KY. No clew [as spelled] has yet been brought to light as to the whereabouts of ex-Mayor G. M. Witten, who disappeared March 14. The citizens of Catlettsburg have raised $300 to be added to the $250 offered by the city council, making $550."

"Climax, Richmond, KY 1 April 1896. The Reward is Increased. Catlettsburg, Ky. Gov. Bradley passed through this city en route to Frankfort and notified Mayor Hopkins that he would offer a reward of $500.00 for the arrest and conviction of the murderer of Judge Witten. This makes a total of $1,000. offered for the arrest and conviction of the murderer. No trace has been found of the missing judge."

"New York Times 2 May 1896. The body of ex-mayor G. M. Witten of Catlettsburg, KY. was found in the river yesterday. Mr. Witten disappeared several weeks ago, and there have been rumors of foul play. He was known all over Kentucky, and was a member of several secret organizations."

"Daily Public Ledger, Maysville, KY. 2 May 1896. Found at Last. The
body of Ex-Mayor Witten of Catlettsburg Recovered. The body of ex-mayor Greene M. Witten, who disappeared from Catlettsburg on the 14th of March, was found yesterday morning in the Ohio River just below that city. On his person was found- 2 $1,000 United States bonds, 2
$500. United States bonds, 4 $100 bills. And $2.65 in change, besides his gold watch and chain, rings, etc. When last seen he was trying to get change for a $100 bill and it is supposed by many that he was murdered for this and thrown into the river, his murderer being ignorant of the other large sums in his possession. One of his arms was broken and there were other evidences of injury to the body. There will be a rigid investigation."


"Daily Public Ledger, 4 May 1896. The Coroner's Jury at Catlettsburg returned a verdict declaring that the late ex-mayor Witten was killed and his body thrown into the river. The thief and murderer got about $100 and left nearly $4,000 on Witten's person."

Greenville Morgan Witten was laid to rest in Section A, Catlettsburg Cemetery, Boyd County, Kentucky.

"Newark Daily Advocate 17 May 1896. Arrested In Indian Territory. Ashland, KY., May 16. It is stated by parties in touch with the officers that Aaron Fickle, the railroad engineer wanted at Catlettsburg fo the alleged murder of ex-police judge G. M. Witten, has been located at Kreb, I. T., and will be arrested as soon as the proper steps toward securing his removal from the nation can be arranged."

Armed with this piece of information, I searched the Circuit Court Records of Boyd County, Kentucky and found no entry for Aaron Fickle until the 14 September 1896 Term where the Commonwealth vs. Aaron Fickle and ordered an alias Bench Warrant. An alias writ is usually a secondary writ issued for a cause that had been issued earlier without effect. I went back, yet found no other entries in the Boyd Circuit Court. I followed the bench warrant forward, term by term by term for 6 long years. A new alias bench warrant was issued at each term during those six years for Aaron Fickle with no returns.

Aaron Fickle had not been a resident of Boyd County, Kentucky. In 1880 he was single, residing in Indianapolis, Indiana with occupation listed as railroad engineer. Single, born in Ohio, as with most rail road workers he moved around. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and on at least two occasions 1883 and 1887 withdrew from one division moving to another according to journals.

Krebs, Indian Territory is located in Oklahoma and was part of the Choctaw Nation and home of the Osage Coal and Mining Company. They had a good depot and rails by the late 1880's as well as newspapers from circa 1899 according to the Library of Congress. It was considered Indian Territory from 1890-1907. The territorial Marshal should have received the bench warrant. At least 4 different US Marshal's held positions in Indian Territory, Southern District during this time frame. The bench warrant would have directed any Sheriff, coroner, jailer, constable, Marshal or policeman to arrest the person and bring him before the issuing Circuit Court in the state where the warrant was written. I have found no indication in local records that Fickle was actually returned to Catlettsburg for trial.

Aaron Fickle does not appear on the 1900 Federal Census nor the Oklahoma Territorial Census records. He was born in Ohio and may be the Aaron Fickle who resided with his family in Perry County, Ohio in 1870.