Mose Smith
"The Greatest Tattooed Man in the World"
born: June 21, 1891 died: November 6, 1948

Photo courtesy of the Tattoo Archive, used with permission

Mose's frontal tattoos, date unknown. Prints of this photo may be ordered
through the Public Library of Anniston-Calhoun County.

Mose was a tattooed man on the following shows:

1916-1917 John Robinson Circus
1920 Ringling Bros, Barnum & Baily
1925 Miller Bros 101 Ranch Wild West
1931-1932 Rubin & Cherry Model Show

He also played the calliope and steel guitar, and kept snakes and an orangutan. During some portion of the 1920's or 30's, he operated a tattoo studio in Chicago at 534 S. State St. In the 1940's, he was the owner and operator of a Monster and Snake show.

Mose was my Great Grand Uncle (my great-grandfather's brother), and I am seeking any and all available information on him to further expand this resource about his career as a tattooed man.

Mose's grave in Highland Lawn Cemetery in Terre Haute, IN

Mose's obituary from the Terre Haute Tribune Star

In addition to my family, the following people and organizations have helped me so far, and my gratitude knows no bounds:

Fred Dahlinger (Circus World Museum)
Chuck Eldridge (Tattoo Archive)
Darlene (with the Miller Bros. Old Timers)
Carmen Forquer
Lance Johnson Studio (for permission to use the Russel Bros. photo)
Highland Lawn Cemetery, Terre Haute, IN
The Vigo County Public Library, In Terre Haute, IN
The Public Library of Anniston-Calhoun County, Anniston, AL

If you have any information that you can contribute, and especially if you have any photos, route cards or pitch cards which mention or show Mose, please contact me at vargr@indy.rr.com.