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| SANDER KEN GRIMS NELLIS |
| "Master Sanders K. G. Nellis" |
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| from a Salem newspaper, January 29, 1836. Photo courtesy Essex Institute |
| Sander Nellis was born in 1817 the fourth of six children to German Palatine immigrants Johannes Nellis and Gertrut Armstrong. The family settled in Stone Arabia, New York along with many other Swiss and German farmers who founded the community. Mr. Nellis started his career at age 13 in 1830 and continued to exhibit his skills for at least another thirty years. He is generally credited with being the first armless man to exhibit in the U.S. According to T. Allston Brown's History of the American Stage (1870) "(Mr. Nellis) travelled extensively in this country, through the British Provinces, West Indies, South America, and Europe." |
| Because one of Mr. Nellis' abilities was cutting silhouettes with his feet he has attracted connoisseurs of this old art form. The pics above and below are courtesy of Mr. B. M. Jones author of the excellent blog at antiquesilhouettes.blogspot.com/ |
| Master Sanders obituary as published in the New York Times, 9 Apr 1866 |
| taken in Santiago, Chile. Mr. Nellis stood about 4 1/2 feet tall |
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| "We understand that Mr. S.K.G. Nellis, born without arms, will give his astonishing & novel exhibition in Charlottetown on Tuesday 15th, Wed.16th, & Thur.17 of September. The following are among the many achievements of Mr. Nellis with his feet. Mr. Nellis will cut with scissors Valentines & Profile Likenesses, write legibly, fold puzzling letters, make boxes, open & wind a watch, take out & replace the crystal, load & discharge a Pistol, shoot with Bow & Arrow at a three cent piece held between the fingers of one of the spectators. Mr. Nellis will play several Marches, Waltzes Etc., on the Accordion, Triangle, Drum & Violin cello. Mr. Nellis will shave any one of the audience. He will also sing a favorite song, & close his singular & wonderful Entertainment by dancing a Hornpipe." - The (Prince Edward Island) Examiner, Sept. 14, 1857 |