1848 – The Pioneer Circus Comes To Iowa City.

In another post, we discuss the entertainment options of 19th-century Iowa Citians, and you might be surprised to know that by the mid-1850’s, there were several halls in downtown Iowa City where people could go for concerts, lectures, and other light entertainment. You can read more here.

But, recently, we came across an intriguing article written by Susannah Abigail (S.A.) Irish and published in the 1916/17 Old Settlers’ Association (OSA) Yearbook. In it, Irish – who came to Iowa City as an nine-year-old in 1846 – writes of her memories of the Pioneer Circus that came to town in 1848 and 1849 – two decades before the famous P.T. Barnum brought his “Greatest Show On Earth” to Johnson County!

Click here to read Susannah A. Irish’s story about arriving in Johnson County in 1846.

So, here, we want to share with you S.A. Irish‘s circus remembrances from those special days in Iowa City history. Keep in mind, that our community – while in its second & third year as the state’s capital – was still only one decade old in 1848/1849 – with a population of about 1,000 people.

In 1848 – there was no railroad in and out of Iowa City. The pioneer circus traveled by wagon – providing quite the parade as the show came into town. Irish also mentions the fact that in 1848, there was no bridge over the Iowa River. There was a ferry service running from the foot of the Capitol building (today’s Iowa Avenue Bridge), but obviously, heavy animals and large circus wagons had to ford the river on their own. Quite the scene, indeed!

Apparently, the Pioneer Circus had a successful run that first summer of 1848, because, according to reports that we found in The Iowa Capitol Reporter (see below), E. F. & J. Mabie Grand Olympic Arena and U. S. Circus came to Iowa City for one show – 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 25, 1849. More than likely, this was the circus show Susannah Irish refers to in her story, since records indicate that the Mabie Brothers’ U.S. Circus was very well-traveled around the Midwest in the late 1840’s and 1850’s…

*This ad ran in Iowa City newspapers beginning in August of 1849. Note that the tour included Anamosa on September 22, Cedar Rapids on September 24, and Tipton on September 26.*

According to her remembrances (below), the 12-year Susannah Yarborough – and a few of her friends – were given the thrill of a lifetime. Anybody wanna ride an elephant?

Apparently, that elephant ride in 1849 made a big impression on one spectator – the 15-year-old Charles W. Irish – because a few years later (1855), Susannah & Charles were married – going on to have three children of their own! More on that later.

*Here is Charles W. Irish’s “pen and ink sketch” Mrs. Irish tells us about in her remembrances of the 1849 circus.*

Fast forward now to the mid-1850’s. Susannah is in her late teens and she recalls the visit of the Yankee Robinson Circus. Actually, her dates might be off just a bit, because according to the Iowa City newspapers, the Mabie Brothers, once again, brought their big U.S. Circus to town again in 1853 and 1854.

Below left is a large ad placed in The Iowa Republican on August 31, 1853, and by now the Mabie Brothers have joined forces with the Herr Driesbach & Co.’s Menagerie – the “largest collection of Living Animals ever exhibited.”

Records do indicate that Yankee Robinson first brought his Big Show (see ad below) to Iowa City in 1856, so now…on with Susannah Irish’s remembrances…

**Yankee Robinson** (above right) was born Fayette Ludowick Robinson on May 2, 1818 in Avon, New York, the son of Abel Robinson – a shoemaker – and Sophia Robinson. In his early years Robinson worked with his father at his shop, and then at age 19, opened his own shoemaker business in Medina, Michigan. In 1845, Robinson moved to Chicago, opening a “minstrel show” titled the Olympic Serenaders before joining with June and Turner’s Circus – where he remained for two seasons – gaining much of his knowledge of the circus business. In the 1850’s, the showman operated his own Yankee Robinson circus – traveling under canvas from town to town across the Midwest, becoming one of the most successful traveling circuses in the United States.

Apparently on this trip to Iowa City, the largest elephant in the Yankee Robinson Big Show was Betsy – who obviously made one big impression – literally – on Susannah, her neighborhood, and the road (North Dubuque Street) to Cedar Rapids!

Interestingly, Yankee Robinson got deathly ill on one of his tours in 1884. While in Jefferson, Iowa, Robinson suddenly died, and within a matter of months, his entire franchise was purchased by The Ringling Brothers. Which brings us now, to the days of P.T. Barnum, and his first three visits of his Greatest Show On Earth to Iowa City (1872, 1875, and 1877) – all held at the Lucas Show Grounds. Here, in closing, is Susannah’s exciting memory from one of those early P.T. Barnum visits. Hold onto your hats & cloaks!

When Susannah A. Irish wrote her circus remembrances in 1916, she was mother to two girls – Hannah Elizabeth Irish (below left) and Ruth Ann Irish Preston (below right), and a grandmother to three grandchildren – twins Ella & Abby, and Charles (pictured below in 1936). Sadly, the Irish’s oldest son – Frankie – died at an early age in 1882, and Susannah’s husband – Charles W. Irish – passed in 1904. Susannah Abigail Yarborough Irish died on May 10, 1925 at age 87, and the couple is buried with the Irish family in Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. Godspeed!

So there you have it – Susannah Abigail Irish and her enjoyable memories of when the first pioneer circuses visited Iowa City. I hope you have enjoyed the show! You can read more about P.T. Barnum’s Greatest Show On Earth and their early trips to Iowa City here.