You are right, he was much more than a "circus" promoter. But even if he did that alone, he would be a notable figure and worthy of more respect than many give him. There should be nothing wrong with giving entertainment to children and families.
Did you go to the weekend dos, when the bronze of P.T. was put up in front of the Bethel Library ?
Have you been by the Barnum house and up to the church and graveyard where his family is buried ?
His partner's old theatre is now a restaurant on the corner before the railroad tracks. And Greenwood Ave. is named after him.
The Cruzites are STUPID, don't know any history, and though they don't understand it, comparing Trump and P.T. is really not all that far off. :-)