Bloomburg’s giantess of a man
If you Google “Nellie Wilson giant,” one of the first images you will find is an old cabinet card from the late 1800s. It features an extraordinarily tall woman next to an average- height man, flanked by a small child on a tricycle.
A bit of research reveals an article from Australian newspapers in 1891 discussing the arrival of an eight-foot-tall giantess and her companion, Charles Robinson, who stands at a mere seven feet eleven inches tall.
Nellie, who is “just off an Arkansas farm where she was raised, does not like to be viewed by crowds as it embarrasses her.” She measures “eight feet and three-quarters of an inch” and can perform the work of two or three strong men while laboring on the farm.
She excelled at pitching hay, and when it was time to load it into the mow, it took three men inside to stow it away.
On one occasion, frustrated by a stubborn Arkansas mule, “she picked him up and lifted him over the fence.”
Her origins and family history in Arkansas remain a mystery, while academics and scientists worldwide have been searching for information about her for over a hundred years.
In 2021, I began writing a book about my newly discovered great uncle, James Wesley Patterson, better known as Big Jim. Most locals are likely familiar with him, and every so often, I receive a new photo or story in my inbox that reignites my passion for finishing his story.
Recently, Dr. W.W. Herder, a Dutch professor of Endocrine Oncology, reached out after reading a newspaper article I wrote about Jim a few years ago. He attached two cabinet card photos from the late1800’s.
One photo depicts what he believes to be an African wild man, possibly Jim, while the other is more mysterious— the reason for his contact: an eight-foot-tall woman named Nellie Wilson.
The doctor is regularly published in medical journals on acromegaly, giantism, and notable patients with these conditions. Having written several books about the medical conditions of famous giants, Dr. Werder thought I might have some insights into Nellie since Jim is from the same area. Upon examining the photos for a few seconds there is no questioning the African wild man’s identity, it’s undoubtedly Jim, or South Sea Island Joe as he is referred to in several Sells Brothers Circus route books, performing as a Giant Polynesian Chief. The other photo featuring “Ms. Nellie Wilson,” is also, in fact, our very own Big Jim Patterson of Bloomburg, Texas! While I certainly do not claim to know everything about Jim’s life, I have learned quite a bit by reading his letters and speaking with local and circus historians. One question that has always puzzled me is why Jim’s given name is never listed in any Sells Brothers travel logs. As it turns out, he traveled under an alias throughout his time with the circus. During the Sells Brothers’ 1891-92 U.S. and Australian tours, Jim is noted under the “Curiosities” performers as both Island Joe and Ms. Nellie Wilson. By the late 1800s, most major U.S. cities had banned cross-dressing, so this may have been a tactic to avoid legal trouble. However, it is more likely that Jim simply valued his privacy, especially while back home in Bloomburg.
Big Jim Patterson’s sharp wit and love for mischief were legendary, much like his physical stature. Whether tricking circus staff with tall tales or playfully teasing friends and family, his humor apparently brought laughter and joy wherever he went, leaving an indelible mark on the area— and apparently, the entire world.
I think Dr. Herder and his colleagues agree and are likely sharing a good laugh.
National Library of Australia (25 Nov 1891 - A Giantess. - Trove) trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/44090126