Ella Harper, born on January 5, 1870, and passing away on December 19, 1921, gained fame under the stage name “The Camel Girl.” Her unique condition, known as congenital genu recurvatum, caused her knees to bend backward, leading her to prefer walking on all fours, hence the nickname “Camel Girl.” In 1886, she became the star attraction of W. H. Harris’s Nickel Plate Circus, capturing attention in newspapers wherever the circus traveled. On the back of her pitch card, it was stated:

“I am called the Camel Girl because my knees turn backward. I can walk best on my hands and feet, as you see me in the picture. I have traveled extensively in the show business for the past four years. Now, in 1886, I intend to leave the show business and pursue an education to prepare myself for another profession.”

Her remarkable talents earned her a salary of $200 per week, a substantial sum that likely opened up new opportunities for her. Following her passing, Ella Harper found her final resting place in Spring Hill Cemetery, located in Nashville, Tennessee.