Davis

Other Events:

• Census: 1920, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona

Harry — Gladys Mae Firestine. Gladys (daughter of Frank Harry Firestine and Myrtle B. Wells) was born 17 Apr 1901, Missouri; died 7 May 1921, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona; was buried 9 May 1921, Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Census: 1910, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri
• Census: 1920, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona

Other Events:

• Also Known As: Franz Heinrich Feuerstein
• Immigration: 16 Jan 1886, New York City, New York
• Census: 1900, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri
• Census: 1910, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri
• Draft Registration: 12 Sep 1918, Tarkio, Atchison County, Missouri
• Census: 1920, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona
• Census: 1930, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas

Notes:

Record Group Buchanan County Circuit Court
Series Naturalization Records
Sub Series Certificate of Naturalization - Minors
County Buchanan
Reel Number C 998
Box
Folder
Volume
Page 22
Name Firestone, Frank H.
Current Residence
Record Date 11/07/1904
Native Country Austria
Age 21 (5 yrs in US)
Witness 1
Witness 2
Note
Source Missouri State Archives

The following was posted as a query on rootsweb:
1404. Great Mons Victor, 30 June, 2006 - I am looking for information about Frank Firestine and family (Franz Heinrich Feuerstein). He performed as a snake charmer, a contortionist (The Great Mons Victor), he performed with the Flying Fortons (not sure about the spelling of this one). He performed a short ?high wire? Act at a ticket booth, and was also said to have played a wind instrument in the parades. The Sells – Floto circus is one of those mentioned in family history. His wife’s name was Myrtle and they had a daughter in 1900 named Gladys Mae and she was said to have done a trained dog act (whether she was an assistant or the main actor – I don’t know. We do have a picture of “The Great Mons Victor” but really don’t have a lot of hard core evidence of the families time with the circus’. They lived in St. Joseph, MO and we think they left circus life sometime before 1910. Any information to aid us in finding additional information would be greatly appreciated. I would also be very happy to share our photo with you if interested. Thank you for your time. Carol B. Groover, Locust Grove, GA. Respond to this message, replies go to this board, not to the message sender.

Reply: 04 July, 2006 - Sells-Floto as a circus title came into use in 1906, an outgrowth of the [Otto] Floto Dog and Pony Show. It was Denver-based, but also wintered elsewhere [Venice, CA one winter]. It survived in constant use through 1932 and today the title is used on the RBBB concessions company. The late Gordon Carver wrote a series of articles about the early years of the show and you can locate these in the article index on this website. Orin C. King also wrote articles about Sells-Floto. Their writings might include references to performers that would be helpful to your search. In the economy practiced by traveling circuses, it would not be unusual for members of smaller troupes to do multiple turns in performance, side show, concert, etc. There is also the Burns Kattenberg collection of contortionist photographs at Harvard University. Their images might provide additional understanding of his circus career. The listing of the other circus titles with which they are affiliated might provide further understanding of the circus affiliation. Some titles had a very brief existence, providing accuracy as to the year of association. Fred Dahlinger

Frank married Myrtle B. Wells Abt 1899. Myrtle (daughter of Ransome C. Wells and Mary E. Ellis) was born Dec 1881, Missouri; died 1919; was buried Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Census: 1900, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri
• Census: 1910, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri

Other Events:

• Also Known As: Firestine
• Immigration: 16 Jan 1886, New York City, New York

Herman — Rosina Arnot. Rosina was born 1848, Austria; died 1902; was buried Ashland Cemetery, Saint Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Immigration: 16 Jan 1886, New York City, New York

Other Events:

• Census: 1860, Morgan Township, Dade County, Missouri
• Census: 1870, Buchanan County, Missouri
• Census: 1880, Winthrop, Buchanan County, Missouri
• Census: 1900, Shannon Township, Atchison County, Kansas

Ransome married Mary E. Ellis Abt 1883. Mary was born 25 Nov 1862, Pennsylvania; died 3 May 1924; was buried Mount Vernon Cemetery, Atchison, Atchison County, Kansas. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Also Known As: Smith
• Census: 1900, Shannon Township, Atchison County, Kansas
• Census: 1920, Atchison County, Kentucky