The Ringling BrothersBy Eli

ChildhoodIn the year 1869, there were seven Ringling brothersAl was 16, Gus was 15, Otto was 11, Alf T., was 6, Charles was 4, John was 3, and Henry was less than a year old.Al, Gus, and Otto worked in their father’s harness making shop.

ChildhoodAt the age of 10, the boys started working for their father. In the shop they made leather harnesses, buggy whips, and horse collars. The boys helped by cutting large pieces of leather into more narrow strips. They also decorated horse drawn carriages.

Teen yearsWhen they were older the boys had a small circus in a barn.Their circus had a couple of kittens, some dogs, several cats, and a bull frog.

Al could make a whole meal while walking across a tightrope. He could also balance a breaking plow on his chin, which weighed 70 lbs.

Circus YearsBy the time they started the Ringling Brothers Circus, Al was 29,Gus was 28, Otto 24, Alf T. 18 and John 16.

World Famous CircusIn the year 1890, their menagerie included enough exotic animals to fill 30 animal cages.Their circus also had 107 horses and ponies.

Circus World MuseumThe Ringling Brothers were important in Wisconsin. Now there is a museum for them in Baraboo, WI.