Lewis Sells

Career

Lewis Sells worked with his father before moving to Cleveland with his brother Ephraim, where he drove and conducted on the horse car line for James Anderson. He worked as assistant manager and superintendent, reporting to Allen Sells. The traveling show lasted thirty-five years and kept its winter headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. On April 27, 1872, they staged their first Columbus performance. In 1896, Lewis Sells managed the merger of the Sells Circus with James A. Bailey's Forepaugh show, producing the Great Forepaugh and Sells Bros. Circus. While Bailey secured his territory from the Ringlings overseas, the show remained under Sells management, keeping it at a high standard and traveling in over 60 cars for years.