Ella Evans Harper: The Woman Who Was Dubbed Half Camel, Half Human

Ella Harper was born on January 5, 1870, in Hendersonville, Tennessee, just after the Civil War. She had a rare condition called congenital genu recurvatum, which made her knees bend backwards. This unusual condition meant she found it more comfortable to walk on all fours. Ella's family lived in Sumner County. Her father, William Harper, was a livestock farmer, and her mother, Minerva Ann Childress, took care of the children. None of her four siblings shared her condition, although one died shortly after birth. 

Meet Ella Evans Harper: The Woman Dubbed Half Camel, Half Human

American freak shows had gained popularity in the mid-19th century, although European fairgrounds had featured sideshow performers since the 1700s. Despite her disability, Ella saw an opportunity to make a living in the world of sideshow performances.

By the age of 12, Ella joined small-time "freak shows" and soon performed on circus stages from St. Louis to New Orleans. In 1886, ambitious showman W.H. Harris offered Ella a contract with his travelling Nickel Plate Circus, which featured lion tamers and acrobats. Ella quickly became the star attraction, earning a weekly salary of $200, equivalent to about $5,000 today.

Despite her lucrative career, Ella's time in the circus was often humiliating. Known as the "Camel Girl," she was forced to perform alongside an actual camel, with audiences invited to marvel at their similarities. Her role was more of a spectacle than a performance, reflecting the times rather than her talent. Nonetheless, she was advertised as "the most wonderful freak of nature since the creation of the world."

Ella's pitch cards not only highlighted her circus experience but also revealed her future plans. Determined to leave the sideshow life, she declared, "I intend to quit the show business and go to school and fit myself for another occupation." After a year of weekly $200 payments, Ella followed through on her plan.

After leaving the circus in 1887, Ella sought education and returned to her childhood home. However, tragedy continued to follow her. Around 1890, her father died in a house fire, and her brother Willie passed away about five years later. Despite these losses, Ella found love with Robert Savely, a school teacher and photography shop bookkeeper. They married on June 28, 1905, and Ella gave birth to a daughter, Mabel Evans Savely, on April 27, 1906. Sadly, Mabel died at only six months old.

The couple relocated to Davidson County, where they cared for Ella's mother. They adopted a girl named Jewel in 1918, but she also died within three months. In the end, cancer claimed Ella's life on December 19, 1921. Buried beside her children, Ella Harper, once known as the "Camel Girl," had overcome many struggles to shape her own destiny. Though remembered for her sideshow fame, her life was a testament to resilience and determination in the face of adversity.