The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-01-20
A NOBLE WOMAN DIES
Miss Eliza w. Bowman, Noted Phil
pnthroplC Worker of Chicago,
Died in this City Friday.


Died in this City Friday.
Eliza w. Bowman, daughter of
Joseph and Mary Shaver Bowman,
was born in Rockingham county,
Virginia, May 3, 1880, and departed
this life at the home of her nephew,
DR.. Fred A. Bowman, in Leon, Jan.
IA, 1910, aged 70 years, 8 months
and IL days.
When she was few years old her
parents moved to Middletown, Henry
county, Indiana. Her father discov-
ering her great anxiety to secure an
education procured for her the best
teachers and afterwards sent her to
Cambridge, in the same county,
where she finished her education.
After visit to her old home in Vir-
ginia she decided during visit to
the institution for deaf and dumb,
which had recently been erected by
the state of Indiana, to enter this
work, and through the efforts of
Judge John Davis and Hon. d. Kill
gore, speaker of the Indiana legisla-
ture, she was appointed to this work.
Later, at her own request, thinking
she was better fitted for the work
she was transferred to the state in
stitution for the blind. There was no
selfish consideration, no motives of
gain or personal aggrandizement
prompting her in either of these in
clinations. She sought the oppor-
tunity and labored successfully in
obedience to the love of her nature
which responded to the call of hui
manity.
An incident in her childhood days
will serve to show her natural in
clination along this line One night
when she was only seven years old,
her mother missed her from her bed.
AS it was 10 O'Clock they were great
ly alarmed and instituted a search
for her. They found her on the pub
lie highway, her child's cart filled
with wine, preserves and good things
of various kinds which she thought
were needed by a poor family in the
neighborhood. She chose the shades
of evening so that they might not be
humiliated by having it known they
were the recipients of charity.
In all of her life this characteristic
of her nature predominated, true to
the teaching, of Christ as expressed
in Matt. 6:3. But when thou doest
give aims let not thy left hand know
what thy right hand doeth."
When those she had befriended in
the institution learned she was going
to- feaSe them they bearded the dimes
which came to them and when
enough had been secured they had
them melted and made into a beauti-
full goblet in token of their love and
appreciation of her efforts for their
benefit
At the close of the civil war she
became interested in the Home for
Friendless and was its manager for
many years, giving not only herself
in loving service but also all wealth
which came to her. The story is told
of a gentleman in Ohio, a stranger,
who had heard of her work, and sent
her $500 for herself and $500 to
spend as she saw fit. She refused to
use dollar for her own use but
gave all to good work. Here she also
saw service for fifteen years as the
editor of the Home Visitor, publi-
cation devoted to the interest of the
friendless. While engaged in this
work there came to her high honor,
that of being appointed lady commits
sioner to represent Illinois at Phila-
delphia to take charge of the ladies'
department at the Centennial. This
honor she was compelled to forego,
as her work in the Home was of
greater Importance to her.
When the Home for the Friendless
was taken over by the City of Chi
cago she became superintendent of
tho ouc, ~ n
editor of Newsboys' Appeal. Here
we find the force of her personality
| working great beneficial results.
From lawless, rough mob, she
brought to pass the impossible, and
her boys as they ever were became
quiet, law abiding, and from that
! home in the twelve years she reigned
as queen there has gone out class
of men inspired by the personality of
that life which will never die.
Expecting to end her life in this
work, after twelve years of loving
service she was compelled to give it
/ up on account of being poisoned
from leaky pipes and it was several
| years before Aunt Eliza, as they
called her in Chicago, could again
engage in active work. While acting
as editor OF the NeWSbOyS' Appeal
she was chosen as delegate from the
to the National Editorial Association
held at Asbury Park, in July, 1894.
Later she became manager of the
Working Girls Home, an institution
conducted under the auspices OF
American Volunteers, where she gave
| her loving service until failing health
compelled her to seek retirement.
The Chicago papers announce that
henceforth this home will be called
the Eliza w. Bowman nome for
Young Women, in token of the great
work she did as manager for many
years. Just year ago she was the
guest of honor at the fiftieth ami
versary of the founding of the Home
! for the Friendless.
) Such is, briefly given, the life his
tory of one who has lived long and
well. Her existence, by reason of her
strength, heightened out to four
score years, was not spent in seeking
riches, pleasure, honor, glory or ease,
but in loving service. Her life and
wealth, at the call of the Master, was