The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-10-14
Memorial For
Minnesota S
Man of Grit


To keep alive the memory of Mich
ael ]. Downing, Minnesota's man of
grit, plans are now being mace for
the raising OF funds to build a hospi-
tai tor crippled children.
The Minnesota Editorial associa-
ton Is sponsor tor the movement TO
raise $1uv,o00. A campaign will be
conducted throughout the state, in
every county. town and city, startins
October II and lasting until Oct. 81.
has taken the lead in pledgIng $z1-
QUO to : the fund. That leaves Just
$4,000 that Is TO be raised for the
memorial.
While definite arrangements have
not been made, the present plans call
for the erection OF Michael BOWL
ing 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.
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
Minnesota Editorial Association, Is
as follows: First District. e. K. Whit.
ing, OMatonna; Second, A. M. Well
tss Woss 81 Psssr Ton asas,o ~
Fuller, st. Paul: Fifth, George e. Ac-
kerson. Minneapolis; Sixth, Asa M.
Wallace, Sank Center; Seventh, Lud-
wig /. Roe, Montevideo; r. w. Hitch.
cock. Hibbing; Ninth, H. M. Wheel
ock. Fergus Falls; Tenth. Henry
Rines, Mora.
]. r. Landy of Olivia, long time
friend of Michael Bowling. Is chair
man Of the general committee. H. G.
H9taling Is acting a. o. executive 3, sec sse
is treasurer. Julius Schmahl of st.
Paul former secretary Of state, Is
committeeman at large.
Appointments for the various
counties have been made and the
committees 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 ].
Bowling Is one Of courage and grit
against tremendous odds. It is story
which has inspired thousands and
ton.
Born in Huntington, Mass. Michael
J. Bowling 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 attend
ed school. At twelve, the little fellow
decided to shift for himself. For two
years he worked as farm hand in
Yellow Medicine county:
Tn kho ofrnnrnnr rsf 1870 ha NnTJaafod
q large herd Of cattle to care for dur
ing the season. On December 1, 1880,
the boy was finishing up the seasons
business. With two farmers he rode
out into the country that night. The
''big blizzard" came and when II
reached its height, the men could not
see their horses, the team could not
keep 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
seventy mile gale.
The boy walked for hours, know
ing well that HE ufe was In danger.
He stumbled upon wood pile and
knew that house was near. He
threw sticks in all directions, hoping
by sound to locate the buildings. He
moved about In circle and finally
found a straw stack. He burrowed IN
and there spent the night, fghtins
against the slumber which he knew
meant approaching death.
When morning came, and the
storm had subsidized, Mike Bowling
crawled out into the sunlight. But he
could not stand. He made his way
to the farm house and there on the
door step he found one Of the sticks
he had thrown. He had missed his
mark by inches: -
Kind and willing hands cared for
him. When the doctors arrived, after
long delays due recurrence or the
storm, 1t was found that an immedi-
ate operation was necessary. When
1t was over Mike Bowling was minus
both legs, the left arm below the
shoulder and most of his right hand.
Mike Bowling became county
charge but that was not TO last fof
long. He made q proposition to the
county commissioners that they send
him two terms to Carleton college
and that he would relieve them OF all
responsibility. The bargain was made
Ing school, Mike Bowling taught for
seven years and then branched out
as business man.
Mike Bowling then edited a news
paper, sold insurance and finally
went into the banking business. He
became secretary of the National Re-
publican league during the Mckinley
campaign. He was offered the post OF
assistant secretary of war but declin :
ed. He finally became special edu.
cational commissioners to the Philip
pines. He was chief clerk in the Min
nesota House of Representatives and
in 1900 became q member OF that
body. Twice he was elected Speaker
of the House.
When the great war broke out
Mike Bowling gave his all. He went
to the hospitals to spread cheer
among crippled soldiers. The call
came for him from across the water
and he answered It just willingly IS
he had always every call for help. He
went TO the hospitals Of Europe and
there spread the gospel of grit and
courage and humor and optimism.
The Red Cross, the Liberty Loan
campaigns, In fact all manner Of war
work, claimed his attention. He died
last winter after short illness.
1t Is to perpetuate the memory OF
this wonderful man, Minnesota
man of grit" that the campaign to
raise funds for memorial has been
planned.
It is considered particularly signif-
icant that the plans call for hospit-
al building for crippled children.
Himself cripple. Mike Downing
knew the heartaches of the little
ones who had been MANNED: No