Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-02-24

Adam Forepaugh, proprietor of the
well-known circus and menagerie known
MS Forepnugh's Aggregation, was born in
Philadelphia, February 2s, 1881. He be.
gan life as butcher boy in the employ OF
one John Hinkle, at salary of four dol.
lars month and his board. At the age
OF sixteen he ran away from home and
went TO work for John Butcher, a butcher
in Cincinnati, who, by the way, is still
living in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Young
Adam remained in his employ for year
and half receiving fifty dollars for the
first month and one hundred dollars n
month the rest of his term. Leaving Gin.
cinnati, he entered the employ of John
Gray, butcher and hore dealer. Re-
turning 10 Philadelphia, he was in the
butcher business up to 1913, when he em :
barked in running stage lines, and con.
tinued therein up to 1854. While in the
omnibus business, Mr.. erepaugh dealt in
horses anl cattle, AMI bouyh and soldin
n single year as many as ten thousand hor
seq. In 1861 lie sold to John OBrien,
who was runnng n small wagon show
sixty.lwo horses for $4,000. and took MS
part payment nm interest in the show.
At this time MIR. Forepaugh had no idea
OF permanently cnIbnrking IN the show bus
mess, but visiting the O'Brien Show in
Pittsburgh, he purchased the same, and
buying Jerry Mable's menagerie, combin-
ell the two, which formed the nucleus of
the now leviatlan-proportion great Fore.
pnugh Show The Mahle purchase con
sisted of two elephants aud eight animals,
for which he paid S42 900, aud the proper.
~ was delivered TO him nj Twelfth and
State streets, Chicago, on the very
day OF the assassination OF Abraham Lin
coin. Desiring name to attract patron
age, Dan Rice was secured ut II salary of
81 900 a week, for thirty weeks, nnd at
this figure he remained in Mr.. Fore
paugh's employ tor three seasons. For
eight years the earnings OF the show were
invested in Its enlargement Mr. Fore
paugh increased the number of cages on
exhibition until they numbered twenty,
when the veteran managers declared that
he was on the road to ruin. Next the
number was increased to thirty, and at
last to forty four. Up 1876, the Aggre-
gution had been moved by wagon, but,
having now reached such gigantic proper
tions, he lhd constructed his own trains of
eepng, coach, fiat, box and stock cars,
ms well MS a special car, for the transpor.
tation OF his business agents and adver-
lisers. OF late years, Mr.. Forepaugh has
increased his menagerie each season by
direct impOrlations from tire wild beast
dealers OF Europe. 1t is his boast that he
Gowns, controls and exhibits more wild
animals, and individually possesses more
show property than any other single per
son or firm in the world" During the
past winter his establishment was entire
y refitted and repanted, and the features
OF the procession increased by three new
tableau'cars OF elegant design and massive
proportions. Ii is IL remarkable fact that
during Mr.. Forepaugh's managerial career
he has never suffered financial revere,
hut during the past fifteen wears has con.
tinued TO add TO his fortune. lie is large
real estate holder in Philadelphia and
Brooklyn; and in tho former, his native
city, lie owns nearly one hundred houses,
making his real estate possessions foot up
over n half million dollars. Manager
Forepaugl is eminently n practical man.
'n-.hg the travelling season lie is rarely
"pseht from MS SNOW, paying the greatest
attention 10 even the most minute details,
and giving everything his personal super.
vision. Possessed OF a s,alwart frame,
perfect health and sanguine tempera-
ment, he dispatches business without
fatigue, or thought that it is work. Ills
great hobby is the menagerie, and no sum
OF money is too great if the exigency in-
cites him TO Guido n rival. At this writ.
ing, in addition 10 a very large and valna
BILE collection of animals, his menagerie
contains no fewer than twenty elephants.
The name OF Adam Forepaugh, the show
man, may well be added TO the roll OF self.
made men OF whom America is 50 Justly
proud. Beginning life as butcher buy,
working for four dollars month, he now
counts his fortune by hundreds OF lhous-
ands, and fills worthy mission by furn-
ishing employment to hundreds, and
amusement and instruction the nation.