The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1921-10-19

Auu
To keep alive the memory Of
Michael j. Dowling, Minnesota's imam
Of grit" plans are now being made for
the raising of funds to build q hospi-s
tai for crippled children.
The Minnesota Editorial Association
is sponsor for the movement to raise
$1O0, 900. "A campaign will be con-
Quoted throughout the state, in every
county, town and city, starting Oct.
II and lasting until Oct. 81.
The Minnesota Bankers Association
has taken the lead in pledging SIS, 900
to the fund. That leaves just $75, 600
that is to be raised for the memorial.
While definite. arrangements have
not been made, the present plans call
for the erection of Michael J. Bowling
Memorial Dormitory at the State
School for Crippled Children. There
are now many little ones, crippled and
unfortunate, awaiting the chance to
get treatment at the state hospital.
1t is to care for some of these that the
dormitory is planned.
Committees are being named in ev-
cry county by directors selected from
the various congressional districts.
The committee in charge as named by
Philip Leisch, president Of the Minne-
sofa Editorial Association, is as fol-
lows: First Distrit, e. K. Whiting,
Owatonna; Second, Bess NJ. Wilson,
Redwood Falls; Third, Oliver ]. Quane,
st. Peter; Fourth, Harrison Fuller, st.
Paul; Fifth, George E. Ackerson, Min
neapolis; Sixth, Asa M. Wallace, Sauk
Center; Seventh, Ludwig |. Roe, Mon
tevideo; Eighth, r. w. Hitchcock, Hib-
bing; Ninth, H. NJ. Wheelock, Fergus
Falls; Tenth, Henry Rines, Mora.
j. R. Landy Of Olivia, long time fri
end Of Michael Bowling, is chairman
Of the general committee. II. G. Hot
aling is acting as executive secretary.
Miss III. S. Bordewich of the Olivia
State Bank, the Dowling bank, is trea-
surer. Julius Schmahl Of st. Paul,
former secretary Of state, is commit
teeman-at-large.
. Appointments for the various
counties have been made and the COM
mittees in charge will be asked to
raise the definite amount desired as
quickly as possible after Oct. II.
The story Of the life Of Michael j.
Dowling is one of courage and grit
against tremendous odds. It is a
story which has inspired thousands
and will continue to be a living IN
spiration.
Born in Huntington, Mass, Michael
j. Dowling started out in life with a
sound body. His parents were poor.
At ten he was motherless. With his
father he went to st. Louis and then
to Chicago. In the streets of the
great city he sold papers and attended
school. At twelve, the little fellow
decided to shift for himself. For two
years he worked as farm hand in Yel-
low Medicine county.
In the summer of 1880 he collected
large herd of cattle to care for dur
ing the season. On December 4, 1880,
the boy was finishing up his seasons
business. With two farmers he rode
out into the country that night. The
big blizzard" came and when it
reached it's height, the men could not
see their horses, the team could not
keep to the road. In racing across
plowed field, the boy was jolted out.
His cries for help were lost in the
sounds Of the rafting wagon and the
| 20 mile gale.
The boy walked for hours, knowing
well that his life was in danger. He
stumbled upon wood pile and knew
/ that a house was near He threw
sticks in all directions, hoping by
sound to locate the buildings. He
! moved about in a circle and finally
found a straw stack. He burrowed in
and there spent the night, fighting
against the slumber which he knew
meant approaching death.
When morning came, and the storm
had subsidized, Mike Dowling crawled
out into the sunlight. But he found
he could not stand: He made his way
to the farm house and there on the
door step he found one Of the sticks
of wood he had thrown. He had miss
ed his mark by inches.
Kind and willing hands cared for
him. When the doctors arrived, after
long delays due to a recurrence OF the
storm, it was found that an immediate
operation was necessary. When 1t
t was over Mike Bowling was minus
both legs, the left arm below the
shoulder and most of his right hand
Mike Dowling became county
! charge but that was not to last Tor
long. He made proposition to the
county commissioners that they send
him two terms to Carleton College and
that then he would relieve them OF all
responsibility. The bargain was
made and Mike went to school. After
leaving school, Mike Dowiing taught
for seven years and then branched out
as a business man.
Mike Bowling then edited news.
naner. sold insurance and finally went
into the banking business. He be-
came secretary Of the National Re-
nublican League during the Mckinley