Nicu was the son of Baron Anton De Barcsy and Madame Sidonia De Barcsy.  Both Baron Anton De Barcsy (Bar-she) and Sidonia were members of the Hungarian aristocracy by birth. Nicu was born in Budapest, Hungary on February 28, 1885.  Nicu was only 1 ¾ pounds when he was born but he was perfectly proportioned.  He told people that it only took him 10 seconds to be born.  Twelve days after giving birth to Nicu, Sidonia discovered a fine downy covering on her cheeks and chin.  It continued to grow and her cheeks were soon covered by a chestnut colored beard. These two events must have been hard for an aristocrat to accept but Baron Anton De Barcsy did as well as his wife. Madame Sidonia De Barcsy was a devout Catholic and she viewed the events as a visitation from above.

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In addition to these developments, the Baron lost his fortune on the board of trade (like our stock market) and found himself on the wrong side of the political changes in the empire.  

While Nicu was still a toddler, the family had to flee for their lives across the Hungarian and Austrian borders into Western Europe (Enid Morning News, Bob Ritz and Casey Morgan).  Without any specific job skills with which to find work, the Baron soon realized that the family could be a natural sensation in a circus and they were billed all over Europe as The De Barcsy Troupe.  Madame De Barcsy was the bearded lady and Nicu, at twenty-eight inches tall was “The Smallest Perfect Man on Earth”.  Even the Baron, who was 6’3” tall and weighed nearly 400 pounds performed as the circus’ strongman. Nicu later recalled, “I used to dance on his (Baron’s) outstretched hand.”  

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The De Barcsy Troupe traveled all over Europe for the next 15 years.  In 1903 the De Barcsys immigrated to America.  Nicu had turned 18 and was wearing the Hungarian Silver Cross with Crown, which he claimed was his birthright, and demanded to be addressed as “Captain”.   Throughout his life, Little Nick could always be seen with a cigar in his mouth.  Nick told reporters Ritz and Morgan that, “I started smoking when I was ten, and I’ve smoked two a day ever since.  By then, my parents knew that I was a midget, so they didn’t worry about it stunting my growth.”  Even though Little Nick refused to be measured after retirement he is thought to have grown about 6 more inches making his height around 3 feet with his weight around 25 lbs.  When he performed he weighed 24 lbs but he stated, “I weigh a little more than that now because I drink some beer and that adds the pounds.”

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For nine years after coming to America the family worked with numerous traveling shows, including the widely-known Ringling Brothers, the Hagenbeck and Wallace Show, and the Campbell Brothers Circus.  In a country with no established royalty, the De Barcsys were even more fascinating to audiences here than in Europe.  By this time, the young Nicu had become the true star of the family.  He played up his aristocratic lineage, always wearing the Hungarian silver cross.  The family prospered while performing on the circus circuit but chose to live a life of quiet luxury in a fashionable New York City apartment during the winter months.

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Sadly, in 1912, Baron Anton De Barcsy passed away.  Finding life alone to be difficult, Sidonia quickly married (no official record of a legal wedding) Frederick Valentine Tischu, a trick roper of German and native American descent who billed himself as “The Long-haired Cherokee Buck Man.”

Frederick Valentine Tischu proved to not be the “providing type” and he squandered the money that was so carefully saved by Baron Anton DeBarcsy. By 1914, the family was forced to sell all the fine furnishings from the New York apartment to pay off the Buck Man’s gambling debts.

Desperate for cash, Baroness Sidonia took out an ad in Billboard: “Trio seeking rewarding position-sophisticated bearded woman, of royal lineage; midget son, who does card tricks and performs on or with small animals; and wild Indian man, trick roper.  Temporary financial embarrassment requires small advance.  Serious only need apply.”

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This ad was read by Bill Campbell, a nephew of the Campbell Brothers, who was now running his own wagon show.  Though nowhere near the size of the original Campbell Brothers Show, he agreed to her terms. Bill Campbell owned some farmland just outside of Drummond, Oklahoma which served as the wagon show’s winter quarters.

The first winter in Drummond was a hard one for the Madame, Nicu, and Buck, for the Madame’s funds were low, and Nicu and Buck had no money of their own.  However, William Bassett, an automobile dealer who owned a boarding house in Drummond, took in the unlikely trio on credit, taking Campbell’s word that he would receive his money at a later date.

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In the spring of 1915 the trio played a full 15 week season at Coney Island and returned to Drummond with enough money ($2600-$3500) to purchase a plot of land and build a two bedroom, story and a half brick home on Drummond’s main street.

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The trio continued to play various circus’s for the next eight years, playing every state in the union but the Baroness developed diabetes and her health began to decline. Soon, she was performing less and less until 1923 when she was effectively retired.   As she was no longer bringing in an income, husband number two abandoned her for another circus performer, Dolletta Boykin, billed as the “Smallest Mother in the World.”  She had two children both normal-sized.  

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The Baroness was drawn to the quiet peacefulness of a small town. She was a quiet woman who loved literature and the arts. There was no doubt of her noble heritage. She enjoyed her garden and the menagerie of animals that were Nicu's hobby: ducks, dogs, chickens, monkeys, and several doves imported from France. Nicu ensured that his mother was free to spend her declining days in peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of show business.

Sidonia died on October 19th, 1925 from diabetes complicated by a severe cold. Her funeral was held at the Congregational Church in Drummond and from there her body was sent to Kansas City, Mo., the nearest town with a crematorium. Her ashes were then sent to New York City to rest in a receptacle beside those of her late husband, the Baron.

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Madame De Barcsy was just 59 years old. The Tulsa World reported that litte Baron Nicu was as alone as anyone can get and still be in a civilized society. Near Nicu, however, was Bill Bassett, who at 296 pounds physically resembled Nicu's father and was the only person to whose care the Madame would entrust her son since the Baron's death in 1912.

Captain Nicu De Barcsy was 40 years old when his mother died.   Although Nicu was highly educated in show business, he was poorly educated in other ways (he could barely write his name).  He said he tried school at one time but some of the kids whipped him so he returned to show business.

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Little Nick was known to be extremely patriotic. The Bank of Drummond recognized this in a letter sent to Little Nick. It was also announced in The Drummond Times.

After his mother’s death, Nicu continued to perform for another seven years.  He served as a mascot for the Enid Elks and enjoyed the fanfare in Chicago.

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Then in August 1927, his good friend Billy Bassett got sick and was taken away in an ambulance.

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By 1932, Nick retired completely.  He was concerned about being kidnapped and also about the dust he breathed on the road. Nick’s concern that “the dust will kill me” may have seemed odd at the time, but medical science has proven that “little people” are especially prone to congestive lung diseases.  After his retirement, the townspeople of Drummond began celebrating Little Nick’s birthdays.

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The guest book also contained guests from his 55^th birthday, his 59^th birthday and his 62nd birthday.  The booklet will be on display in the museum.

Even though the town's people of Drummond accepted and celebrated Captain Nicu De Barcsy, his life must have been lonely at times.  There was a reference to his being a bachelor in one article where he said he thought about getting married once. “Nick was tempted only once to get married but has no regrets about breaking off his engagement.  His fiancée was Italian” (Enid Events, March 8, 1951, pg 1).  Following is an Acquaintance Card of Little Nicks that will be on display in the museum.

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Nick did have several hobbies in his retirement.  Nick had a pet dog, Snowball, that he trained to do a variety of tricks. He had hens, a flock of mourning doves, imported from France, a rock collection from various parts of the country and his shade trees many of which Nick planted himself.

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Nicu was very patriotic and almost every article talks about his patriotism which made his naturalization as an American Citizen in 1951 one of his proudest moments.

Drummond Postmaster Bessie Fleer recalled (about Nicu’s patriotism) that “if she didn’t get the flag up soon after a rain he would remind me.

Other townspeople also acclaimed to Nicu’s patriotism, recalling that the first sound of firecrackers on the Fourth of July always came from the direction of his home –often only a few minutes past midnight.

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When “Little Nick” turned 70 he received a lot of attention.  In the Enid Morning News it stated that Capt. Nicu De Barcsy, the world’s oldest living midget, will celebrate his 70^th birthday as a guest of the Drummond Lions club.

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He was even featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

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However, this claim to be the world’s oldest midget was challenged by a man in New York who said he was older than Nick.

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In February 1959, Nicu De Barcsy accompanied the Rotarians to their Oklahoma City convention as their mascot.

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Nicu started experiencing some health issues in his 70’s.  He is seen in this photo in Enid General Hospital for observation.  His long time friend Marion Brown, helps Nick with his cigar.

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According to a February 27, 1972 article about Little Nick’s 87^th birthday, “in his last years in Drummond Nick could be seen traveling the main street of the town in apparel suited to his aging and leisurely taste, usually a pair of striped overalls a long-sleeved shirt and tie, a cap and a pair of freshly-shined western boots.”

Nicu was seldom without his cigar.  He once stated, “I started smoking when I was 10, and have never stopped. They knew then that I would be a midget, so didn’t worry about stunting my growth.”  Two cigars a day were his quota.

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On August 2, 1976 Nicu De Barcsy passed away in an Enid hospital after a brief illness.  Nick was 91 years old.

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Little Nick only had enough money for a casket.  However, the townspeople, led by Howard DeHass, raised money for a vault and a headstone.  Little Nick is buried in the Del Norte Cemetery among the Long and Brown families; next to Carl Bennett, a friend from the circus.

Inscribed on his tombstone above his name are the words,“The smallest perfect man on earth.”

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I wish that I could live again

In the good old days gone by

A roaming through the fields of green

Just my little Pal and I.

Those were the days, the happy days

That brighten the years slipping by

As in memories do we roam again

Just my little Pal and I.

I have done the best for the people of Drummond as I could.

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