His stage name was Barney Baldwin. This is the name he used for most of his life.
He was famous for being the "broken neck wonder
his mother, Margaret (also went as Marion) McBurney.
Entertainer. Barney Baldwin was born Francis J. Mattler, Jr. His parents divorced when he was ten years old. His father was born in France and was a well-known attorney in Lafayette and Indianapolis, Indiana. His mother died of cancer in 1880. He and his brother, Stephen, traveled out West together and while in Montana, Frank worked for Cole’s circus. It's possible that it was this exposure to the circus life that sparked his desire to become a sideshow attraction. In October 1887, he began his life as Barney Baldwin, the Broken Neck Wonder, debuting in New Orleans, Louisiana at Robinson’s Museum, and thus began his life as a dime museum freak. He traveled the country and into Canada. Some sources reported that he toured in Europe. He married multiple times and had at least two children. His life ended when he took a fall down stairs at a South Broadway resort in Shawnee, Kansas. It was reported that the cause of death was a broken back.
He was famous for being the "broken neck wonder
his mother, Margaret (also went as Marion) McBurney.
Entertainer. Barney Baldwin was born Francis J. Mattler, Jr. His parents divorced when he was ten years old. His father was born in France and was a well-known attorney in Lafayette and Indianapolis, Indiana. His mother died of cancer in 1880. He and his brother, Stephen, traveled out West together and while in Montana, Frank worked for Cole’s circus. It's possible that it was this exposure to the circus life that sparked his desire to become a sideshow attraction. In October 1887, he began his life as Barney Baldwin, the Broken Neck Wonder, debuting in New Orleans, Louisiana at Robinson’s Museum, and thus began his life as a dime museum freak. He traveled the country and into Canada. Some sources reported that he toured in Europe. He married multiple times and had at least two children. His life ended when he took a fall down stairs at a South Broadway resort in Shawnee, Kansas. It was reported that the cause of death was a broken back.
His stage name was Barney Baldwin. This is the name he used for most of his life.
He was famous for being the "broken neck wonder
his mother, Margaret (also went as Marion) McBurney.
Entertainer. Barney Baldwin was born Francis J. Mattler, Jr. His parents divorced when he was ten years old. His father was born in France and was a well-known attorney in Lafayette and Indianapolis, Indiana. His mother died of cancer in 1880. He and his brother, Stephen, traveled out West together and while in Montana, Frank worked for Cole’s circus. It's possible that it was this exposure to the circus life that sparked his desire to become a sideshow attraction. In October 1887, he began his life as Barney Baldwin, the Broken Neck Wonder, debuting in New Orleans, Louisiana at Robinson’s Museum, and thus began his life as a dime museum freak. He traveled the country and into Canada. Some sources reported that he toured in Europe. He married multiple times and had at least two children. His life ended when he took a fall down stairs at a South Broadway resort in Shawnee, Kansas. It was reported that the cause of death was a broken back.
He was famous for being the "broken neck wonder
his mother, Margaret (also went as Marion) McBurney.
Entertainer. Barney Baldwin was born Francis J. Mattler, Jr. His parents divorced when he was ten years old. His father was born in France and was a well-known attorney in Lafayette and Indianapolis, Indiana. His mother died of cancer in 1880. He and his brother, Stephen, traveled out West together and while in Montana, Frank worked for Cole’s circus. It's possible that it was this exposure to the circus life that sparked his desire to become a sideshow attraction. In October 1887, he began his life as Barney Baldwin, the Broken Neck Wonder, debuting in New Orleans, Louisiana at Robinson’s Museum, and thus began his life as a dime museum freak. He traveled the country and into Canada. Some sources reported that he toured in Europe. He married multiple times and had at least two children. His life ended when he took a fall down stairs at a South Broadway resort in Shawnee, Kansas. It was reported that the cause of death was a broken back.
Bio by: therescuedphoto
Gravesite Details
Source: City of Shawnee
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