Farmer Burns wrestles his way into Chariton

Martin "Farmer" Burns (left) and Frank Gotch/Wikipedia Commons photo

Martin "Farmer" Burns (1861-1937) often is cited as the godfather of wrestling in Iowa, a state renowned at times as a high school and collegiate powerhouse. A Cedar County farm boy, he combined intellect, strength and agility to claim the American Heavyweight Championship in 1896 and 1897. He also taught, coached and wrote --- leaving a considerable legacy.

Among other accomplishments, Burns recognized the potential in young Frank Gotch, another Iowa boy he defeated in 1899, and coached him into perhaps the greatest wrestling champion of all time. That's Farmer Burns on the left above, as he would have looked in 1905 when he arrived in Chariton for an exhibition appearance, with Gotch beside him.

Burns began his career as a catch wrestler on the carnival/exposition circuit and traveled widely to cities big and small across Iowa and elsewhere for at least 30 years --- so nearly everyone who wanted to see him in action had an opportunity at one time or another to do so.

He appeared at the Opera House in Humeston during January of 1904 --- and a special car was added to the train at Chariton to transport men who wanted to attend to and from that Wayne County town. A year later, he was back in the area for appearences in Russell on Monday, April 10, and Chariton on Tuesday, April 11, at the Armory, corner of South Main and Armory Avenue.

No self-respecting woman would have considered attending, of course --- but Burns and his fellow performers did not tolerate unruly crowds. Here's how The Humeston Advocate of Jan. 29, 1904, described the atmosphere there during his appearance: "An audience of perhaps 225, all men, witnessed the event and perfect order was maintained throughout --- no boisterous talking or conduct of any kind being permitted. Smoking was barred and aside from the fact that a few boorish individuals persisted in wearing their hats there was nothing to distinguish the audience from that of any other public entertainment. In fact, there was nothing said or done that the most fastidious person, either lady or gentlemen, could have considered offensive."

Most likely the atmosphere in Chariton was similar, although the nature of the crowd was not described in the following report, published in The Chariton Patriot of April 13, 1905:

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Farmer Burns, America's best known wrestler and undisputed champion in his class, was in Chariton Tuesday and that evening, in company with Prof. M.A. Simmer, champion strong man, gave an athletic exhibition in the Armory before a fair sized audience.

The entertainment was a good one. Prof Simmer's feats of strength in handling heavy dumb-bells were remarkable. He lifted with apparent ease and put above his head with one hand heavy weights that such men as Tom Hooper, N.G. Lutz and Roy Meadows could only raise to the height of their chins with two hands. He put above his head with one arm a dumb-well weighing 260 pounds, which Messrs. Lutz, Meadows and H.H. Larimer, all lifting together, could not raise higher than their chests. He raised above his head with one arm Mr. Lutz, who weighs 207 pounds, and did other remarkable feats in weight handling. Mr. Simmers is but 27 years of age. He claims to have defeated the most noted strong men in weight lifting.

Farmer Burns, hero of five thousand wrestling matches, is a unique character in the sportsman's world. He is 44 years old but in perfect physical condition with a figure like that of a well developed boy of 20 years. Every muscle in his body is like a steel band when contracted, but elastic and pliable when relaxed. Quick and agile as a cat, this man knows no superior in the knowledge of wrestling, which game he has followed since a boy.

He is careless of dress and ignorant as to the use of correct language and although he has followed the life of a professional athlete, with all its bad influences, he neither drinks intoxicating liquors, uses tobacco nor swears --- doesn't even drink tea or coffee. To his natural way of living he ascribed his perfect health and wonderful physical condition.

Before giving his part of the performance, Mr. Burns gave a short lecture on the value of correct living and indulgence in athletic sports. He showed the extraordinary control he could exercise over his muscles, the most wonderful being those of his neck. He defies any man to choke him. He illustrated different holds and locks of wrestling.

He offered to forfeit $25 to any man in the audience he could not throw in 15 minutes. Only one man was game enough to go against him --- Mr. Hunsucker, a blacksmith in Smoot's shop. Mr. Hunsucker said he had wrestled with Burns once before in response to a like offer. He buckled into the Farmer and the audience witnessed a short but lively exhibition. After mixing up for a minute, Burns permitted the blacksmith to take his old and then threw him easily.

Then Burns and Simmers gave a wrestling exhibition which was well worth seeing and which lasted several minutes. The strong man showed some knowledge of the game, but this together with his superior strength and great weight was of no avail against Farmer's skill and agility and the strong man was thrown as easily as if he had been less heavy and of less strength.

Both Burns and Simmers are Iowa men. Burns is the discoverer and teacher of Frank Gotch of Humboldt, Iowa, who until his last match with Jenkins was the champion heavy-weight wrestler of America.

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Martin Burns was called "Farmer," by the way, because he showed up for one of his earliest big-time matches wearing overalls.