Ellsworth American., 1883-07-26
Tom Thumb"
BRIEF SKETCH OF HIS PUBLIC LIFE AND
TRAVELS.
A WONDER OF THE WORLD FOR THREE
GENERATIONS.


Charles s. Stratton, the liliputian, better
known to the world as Gen. "Tom Thumb"
was born in Bridgeport. CT, Jan. 4, 1888.
He was the third Of four children-two
boys and two girls-all Of whom were of or
dinary stature. At the time of birth, Gen.
Thumb weighed nine pounds, which was
within half pound Of the weight at birth
of one of his sisters, who subsequently
attained weight of more than two hun
dred pounds. His fathers name was Sher-
wood F.. Stratton. He was a carpenter bv
trade, and followed that occupation for a
livelihood until his son attracted the attention
of that prncely Snowman, =. T. Barnum,
after which he travelled, with him about the
country. Mr.. Barnum's attention was called
to this dlminutlve representative of the
Stratton family in the early part Of the year
1872, and within a very few days after the
beginning of their acquaintance, Charles
5. Stratton made his debut before the pub
lie as the smallest man upon earth At
this time he was but years of aye instead
OF l. years, as was represented upon the
advertisement cards at the time. The ex-
hibtion of Tom Thumb created a great deal
of excitement throughout the country, and
crowds Of people focked to see him at the
first opportunity. Mr. Barnum exhibited him
IN this country about two years, and then,
as reports regarding him had spread all over
Europe, he concluded to make tour of
England and the continent. On Jan. Is,
1914, Mr.. Barnum and Tom Thumb sailed for
Europe, and met with most remark able sue
cess. The youthful prodigy was presented
to Queen Victoria and all the dign,ares of
the court of ST. James. To Queen Victoria
is given the credit of comforting upon Tom
Thumb the title Of general" Before his
presentation to the Queen, he was known
only by that sobriquet with which he became
so closely identified that many people sup
posed that that was his real name. Tom
Thumb held public levees in Egyptian Hall,
Piccadllly, London, in 1915, for a very con
siderable length of time. While giving ex-
hibtions there he was visited by the Duke
of Wellington. AT that time he was in the
middle of his exhibition, and was imperso-
mating Napoleon Bonaparte, walking up and
down the little stage upon which he usually
sat, taking snuff and pretending to be think
ing deeply. The Duke of Wellington,
thinking to perpetrate joke at the little
generals expense, asked him what he was
thinking of. Tom Thumb looked up with
broad grin into the face of the Iron duke"
and answered: Il was thinking Of the loss
Of the battle Of Waterloo" This sharp re-
port was reported by the Duke Of yelling
ton TO his friends, who, in return, repeated
II to others, SO that, eventually, it was
known all over England and the continent.
The little coat worn by Tom Thumb upon
this occasion was very carefully preserved
by him and doubtless yet exists. Its ex-
treme width across the chest was only ID 2
inches, and the length OF the sleeves s -
inches. After considerable time spent
abroad, three years, Mr.. Barnum and his
dminutiye friend returned to America, where
the exhibitions were continued IN connection
with many of his amusement ventures,
particularly his great New York museums
While abroad they visited nearly every city
and town in France and Belgium, all the
principal places in England and Scotland
and Dublin in Ireland. During his tour
he received presents from all the crowned
heads Of Europe. Subsequently he Wis
tied Havana, and Europe and was most
enthusiastically received. In the early
part of 1862, Mr.. Barnum assumed charge
of Commodore Mutt, whom he discovered
in Manchester, n. II. In August of
that year, Tom Thumb and Commodore
Mutt we're exhibited as the 1.-TWO Dro-
MOS" and the 1.-TWO smallest living
men," Tom Thumb and Commodore Mutt
continued togsther until about 1915, when
circumstances compelled their separation.
About the time of the engagement of Com
modore Mutt, Mr.. Barnum succeeded in dis
covering two lady lillputians, named Lavinia
Warren and Minnie Warren Bump. From
the first there was sharp spirit of rivalry
bpt b.l and ,h.. rnpnpnlnr.
and both were very attentive to Miss Lavnia
The outgrowth of the matter was the
marriage Of Tom Thumb and Lavnia War
rem at Grace Church, New York, Feb. 10,
1868. After the marriage, at which
Commodore Mutt and Miss Minnie War
ren stood up with the happy pair, the
exhibitions were continued, that occurrence
leading to greater celebrity than ever be-
fore. Another trip was made abroad. and |
the smallest married persons in the world |
were presented to all the dgnitaries of state
in every kingdom in Europe. In June,
1862 the little party Of iliputians started,
via California. for three years trip around
the world. At this time Tom Thumb was
erecting dwelling at Middleboro, which
was the native place of the Warren sisters.
and when about to start upon his tri p re-
ceived a telegram from his father stating
that his house had been blown down by
tornado. The answer sent in reply was
"Well, put it up again." The trip around
the world was consummated without mis-
hap or accident Of any kind. They trav-
eled $4,000 miles, $1,000 miles of which
were by sea. This trip would have occupied
just three years to day, had not the steamer
upon which they sailed from Liverpool been
detained off Sandy Hook by fog. In the
early part Of 1876, the party again started
upon tour Of this country. Shortly after
ward their party was augmented by the ad-
diton of Maj. Newell, Of Chicago,a "a liliputian,
who has been exhibited by Mr.. Barnum un-
der the name of "Gen. Grant, Jr. Mr.. Newell
and Miss Minnie Warren became interested
in each other, and were married in July.
1877. This tour lasted year and eight
months, and ended on May 10, 1878, on ac-
count of the i'll health Of Mrs. Newell.
This date was her last appearance in public.
The party Immediately returned to Middle
boro. where Minnie Warren soon died, her
death causing great grief to those so pc
culiarly and closely connected with her. In
the early part of 1879 the tours of the party
were again resumed, during which time the
little general was presented with a son, who
was named after his father. No other
events Of interest happened in his career
until his winter tour of 1882. which ex-
tended into the next year up to the time
of the fire at the Newhall House in Mil
wsukee. At that horrible conAagration,
had it not been for Major Newell, Gen.
Thumb and bis wife must have persisted
in the flames. This disaster had such an'ef-
feet upon Mrs. Thumb that the tour was
ended there, and the general and his friends
returned to his home in Middleboro, where
he remained up to the time of his death.
During the latter part Of his life, Tom
Thumb grew comparatively large, increased
in weight to 10 pounds and attained height
Of 40 inches. During his life he was prom
inently connected with the order of Masons,
and many other secret societies. He was a
Mason of the SD degree, and a member of
ST. Johns lodge No. 8, Jerusalem royal arch
chapter No. Is, and Hamilton encampment
No. 5, Knights Templars, all Of bridgeport,
Ct. Gen, Tom Thumb was in every sense
Of the word 4 remsrkahl naraona9e and