Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1920-03-25
STORY OF THE MAN WHO
WOULD NOT GIVE UP
Sveessde osspits Handbags That
Make osssars Of Nest Men. Over.
coming Difficulty, Trial, Hard.
ships and All Obstacles,


literature.
II you want to meet q man, who
has been through them all and more,
handicaps that make beggars Of most
men. yet who has succeeded, let me
introduce you to N. J. Bowling Of
Rsnvills County. no. I mean Of Ameri-
O.
u. J. Bowling was born in Hunting
tom. Massachusetts, flfty-four years
ago Like many Of Americas great
men, his parents were poor. He was
LETT motheriess At ten. He went west
with his father to st. Louis. thence
to Chicago. whore the boy attended
school. sold papers and learned the
mysteries Of the great city. Wishing
TO become . cowboy and kill Indians,
little Nike 1t the age Of twelve decid-
cd to shift for himself and left for
Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota,
and for two years worked ~ q farm
hand.
In the summer Of 1880, he collect
ID large herd of cattle to herd dur
ing the season. During this summer.
with NO company but his pony. he had
time to reflect, learn the ways Of ma
ture and to plan his future. He was
going to be . stockman. get An educa-
ton and have . home.
The season Of herding over. Mike
went to Candy to collect his pay Can
BY was the trading center Of the farm
ers whose cattle he herded. Decem-
Der 4th, 1880. the boy was to 70 out
In the country six miles away to COM
plete his business. Be 1t remembered
that 1880 was known throughout the
Northwest a. the Big Snow Winter"
He rode out in the country with two
farmers in . lumber wagon and met
the unheralded bliszard. When It
reached it, height, the men could not
sec their horses. The team could not
keep the road In racing across
plowed field, the boy was jolted out
The rafting wagon and seventy mile
gale drowned his cries. He was alone
IN the storm and knew that some
time that night his life was likely to
end Houses were scarce and he
walked for hours. At last stumbling
svor = wood PIE. he knew house WAS
near. He threw sticks in all direc-
doos, hoping BY sound to locate the
buildings. Failing In this. he moved
h . circle, hoping again to locate
shelter. In his search, he came upon
. stzawstack- Its inviting shelter
could not be denied. So he burrowed
IN In thu stack he spent the rest OF
The night Aghting the slumber that
forstelh approaching death.
The storm over. the morning sun
sent tn dassling light into the small
mouth Of his burrow. The boy Mike
crawled out but found he could not
stand He crawled 70 the farm house
lees than . hundred rods away and on
the door sill. he found . stick Of wood
He had missed his mark BY inches.
This six inches was the margin b.
tween safety and disaster. Kind and
Wiling hands took him In and the
agontRtng process Of thaWing out be-
gaA.
Again . storm and three days
elapsed before . doctor could be had
and when he arrived. he sadly shook
hi head With little hope the doctor
placed poor Nike ON tho kitchen table
All went we'll - long - the chloro-
form lasted. then the boy had
to bear the completion OF the ampu-
tAfaon without IT. benefits. When the
trimming was over. Nike was minus
both leO below the knees. the left
arm below the elbow. the greater part
At hin thumb and right haad.
With these handbags, poor Mike was
to make his way through life. DR..
J. w. Andrews q aankato, still liv-
in6 says this was his greatest piece
at surgery.
The homeless Mike became q county
charge and was sent to Granite Falls.
Herr 10 met . kind and loving folk
and vas taken into the home OF Ole
Lende. as one Of the family and here
he also attended school. walking on
his knees assisted BY . cane held In
his crippled right hand. Nike. though
loving Ars. Lande - his second moth
u. did not care to longer b an object
of charity, % he made . proposition
to the commissioners. Il they would
get him some artificial limbs. and send
him two terms to Carleton college. he
would relieve them from further re-
spoadbCity. Hh plea was taken up
b. newly arrived Norwegian who
AAA both great faith and heart This
nsv arrival h America littls dreamed
that this homeless. iegiass, Aandlsss
boy vas 70 b hi futnro soo-in-laW,
bot such wa Tie case. fer in 1895 he
was married to Miss Jennie Bords-
WicA.
Two hard ysk productive torms 1t
Cax3stm. TN eevsa yeaxs . teacher.
b 1oc1Ao1 70 90 s1t - . business
NJ He oolA Mo Insurance. owned
4 ee1fs1 . Aewspapsr: became Soc-
~ G ~ NatioaAl RauabllcaA Leor
&1U1ng - 1aKhlaU ea2Da10: