Peter Sells

Peter Sells (April 6, 1845 – October 5, 1904) was an American circus proprietor who was a co-founder of Sells Brothers Circus.

Early life and education Peter Sells Jr. was born on April 6, 1845, in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, United States.

Named after his father, he was one of eleven children of Peter and Hannah Ranney-Sells.

He spent his early years in Columbus, and after his father relocated to Cleveland in 1854, he attended the Mayflower School until age 18. He later took a commercial course in Chicago in 1863. He partnered with his brothers Ephraim, Lewis, and Allen in 1871 to launch what became the Sells Brothers Circus, which started as a wagon show. Peter acted in the capacity of general agent in advance of the show, attending to the routing, railroad contracts, and advertising. He retained his interest when the Sells Brothers' show was consolidated with the Forepaugh shows in 1896. He was one of four proprietors of the Adam Forepaugh & Sells Bros. Consolidated Show (later Forepaugh-Sells Circus).

The death of his brother Ephraim in 1898 left him and Lewis to continue the partnership. With Peter and Allen Sells passing in 1904 and no heirs interested in continuing the family business, his last living brother sold the family's remaining stake in the show.

Early in 1901, Peter Sells and his daughter Florence moved back into the house, having been separated from his wife for over a year before the divorce. He sold the home soon afterward. His wealth was estimated to be around the million mark.

Death

On a business trip to Topeka in early August, Peter Sells arranged for an addition to the Arion building. He admitted to feeling ill. After returning home to Columbus, he was stricken with apoplexy as he stepped off a streetcar at his residence. Peter Sells died on October 5, 1904, in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio, United States, at age 59.