Jennie Power

George's parents were Jeanette Lush O'Brien and John O'Brien. John O'Brien was a famous horse trainer for the circuses of the time. Jennie O'Brien was a high school equestrienne with the circus, and her husband trained her mounts.

After John's death in Baraboo in 1902, Jeanette (Jennie) O'Brien later married W.W. (Bill) Power, the elephant trainer, and young George learned the elephants from his stepfather.

George Power became famous for training the elephants to do amazing skits such as a mock baseball game, a war battle scene, a barbershop scene, bowling, and the waltz, two-step, Charleston, foxtrot, and hula dances. Power's Elephants were at the New York Hippodrome from 1905-1922; in vaudeville from 1923-1926; in Europe with Bertram Mills Circus from 1926-1937; returned to the States in 1937; and worked fairs and circuses until George Power grew ill and the surviving elephants were sold in 1942.
Melani Carty

William "Buckles" Woodcock Buckles Blog

Famed Elephants Just Marchers Now by Frank Tripp, May 21, 1950

The “queen” of America's greatest elephant act of four decades ago was reminiscing, and it had to be about elephants. Jeanne Power is in retirement now, after 40 years of intimate association with elephants, and owner of the best.

"Elephants are much like people," she declares. "They are not treacherous. They do have moods; they pout, they are jealous of one another. They are inquisitive and their old Trunk is forever is mischief, like the hands of an active child. They will snoop, pull down lights, open water faucets and undo each other's chains, as children might, but that does not make them bad.

"Elephants are like goats too," she chuckled. "They will eat clothing, blankets and all manner of things. Our Roxie once sneaked, chewed and swallowed a quart jar of jam, the crushed glass and all. We gave her up for lost but she lived for many years. Our Jennie ate a bushel of coal, and another time gulped down a whole barrel of road oil. She was weeks recovering, suffered terrible agony and lost several hundred pounds. She's still alive, and 86.'"
Famed Elephants Just Marchers Now by Frank Tripp, May 21, 1950