Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1920-03-25
Without Hands or Feet "Cheer
Up" Evangelist Insists He Is
Not a Cripple.
STORY OF THE MAN WHO
WOULD NOT GIVE UP
Succeeds Despite Handleaps That
Make Dsssars Of Most Men. Over
coming Difficulty, Trial, Hard.
ships and All Obstacles.


ton Of . great soul. A triumph over
these obstacles In LIES pathway fur.
nishes the theme of our soul stirring
literature.
II you want to meet q man. who
has been Though them all and more,
handicaps that make beggars Of most
men. yet who has succeeded, let me
introduce you to NJ. J. Bowling of
Renvillo County, no. mean Of Ameri-
ca
n. J. Bowling was born in Hunting
ton. Massachusetts, ffty-four years
ago. Like many of Americas great
men. his parents were poor. He was
left motherless at ten. He went west
with his father to st. Louis. thence
to Chicago, where the boy attended
school. sold papers and learned the
mysteries of the great city. Wishing
to become . cowboy and kill Indians.
little Mike 1t the age Of twelve decid-
cd to shift for himself and left for
Yellow Medicine County. Minnesota,
and for two years worked as q farm
hand.
In the summer of 1880, he collect
Cd large herd of cattle to herd dur
ing tho 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.
Tho 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 90 out
In tho country six miles away to CON-
plete his business. Be 1t remembered
that 1880 was known throughout the
Northwest as the Big Snow Winter"
He rode out in the country with two
farmers in . lumber wagon and met
the unheralded bliszard. When It
reached its height, the men could not
SEQ their horses. The team could not
keep the road in racing across a
plowed field. the boy was jolted out.
The rafting wagon and seventy mile
gale drowned his cries. He was alone
In tho 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
ever . wood Pile. he knew . house was
near. He threw sticks in all direc.
lions, hoping by sound to locate the
buildings. Failing In this, he moved
tn q circle. hoping again to locate
aheater. In his search. he came upon
strawstack- Its inviting shelter
could not be denied. So he burrowed
In. In this stack he spent the rest OF
the night fighting the slumber that
foretells approaching death.
The storm over. the morning sun
sent its dazsling light into the small
mouth Of his burrow. The boy Mike
crawled out but found he could not
stand He crawled to 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
willing hands took him In and the
agoai3ing process Of thawing out be-
gan
Again = storm and three days
elapsed before . doctor could be had
and when he arrived. he sadly shook
his head With little hope the doctor
placed poor Mike ON the kitchen table.
All went we'll ~ long - the chloro-
form lasted. then the boy had
TO bear the completion OF the ampu.
talon without it, benefits. When the
trimming was over. Mike was minus
both leg1 below the knees. the left
Arm below the elbow. the greater part
0 hts thumb and right hand.
With these hAndicaps, poor Mike WAS
to make his way through life. DR..
J. w. Andrew Of Mankato, still liv-
Ing says this vas his greatest piece
Of surgery.
The homeless Mike became q county
charge and was sent TO Granite Falls.
Here 10 met . kind and loving folk
and was 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 Ma Lende - his second moth
or. did not care to longer be IN object
Of charity. 90 he made . proposition
to the commissioners. X they would
get him some artificial limbs, and send
him two terms to Carleton college. he
would relieve them from further re-
sponsibility. Hb plea was taken up
By . newly arrived Norwegian Who
had both great faith and heart This
new arrival IN America little dreamed
that this homeless, ieGleos. handles
boy w1s to Be- his future son-in-law
but such was the case. for In 1895 he
Wa married to Miss Jennie Borde
wtch.
Two hard ysG productive terms q
| Car3otcn, than seven yearD . teacher
10 leciAed 70 90 cut - . business
NJ He sold ltfe insurance.. owned
| Il o11fod Q newSpaper: became SEQ
~ ct IL NatiouAl ReD0bflcaA Lea
1 nnEAm0 49, nlAKAlnR na>AnlnAs