Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1921-10-21
M1NNEsoTA's MAN OF GRIT.

MlNNESOTAS MAN OF GRII.
To keep alive the memory of Michael j. Bowling,
Minnesotas man of grit plans now being made for
raising build hospital for crippled chill
dren.
The Minnesota Editorial Association is sponsor for
the movement to raise 500 900. campaign will be
conducted throughout the state in county, town
city, starting Oct. II and lasting until Oct 81.
The Minnesota Bankers Association has taken the
lead in pledging $25 fund. That leaves just
$4,000 that is to be raised for the memorial.
While definite arrangements have not been made,
the plans call for the erection of Michael j. Dow
ling Dormitory the State School for Crippled
Children. There many little crippled and
unfortunate awaiting at the
hospital 1t is TO for of these that the
dormitory is planned
Committees being named in every county by di-
selected from the various congressional districts
The committee in charge named by Philip Lesch,
president of the Minnesota Editorial Association is
follows: First District, E. K. Whiting, Owatonna Sec
ond, A Welles Worhington; Third, Oliver j. Duane,
St. Peter Fourth, Harrison Fuller, st. Paul. Fifth
George E. Ackerson Minneapolis; Sixth, Asa M. Wallace
Sank Center; Seventh Ludwig l. Roe, Montevideo;
Eighth R. w. Hitchcock, Hibbing Ninth, H. M. Whee-
lock, Fergus Falls; Tenth, Henry Rines, Mora.
J. R. Landy of Olivia long time friend of Michael
Dowling is chairman of the general committee. H c.
Hotaling is acting executive secretary. Miss H. S.
Bordewich of the Olivia Bank the Bowling bank, is
Julius Schmahl of St. Paul. former secretary
of state, is committeeman-at-large.
Appointments for the various counties have been
committees charge will asked
the definite amount desired quickly possible after
October II.
The story of the life Michael J. Bowling is one
of courage and grit against tremendous odds.
story which has inspired thousands
be living Inspiration
Huntington, Mass, Michael J. Bowling star
ted out in life with sound body. His parents
At ten he motheress With his father he went
to ST. Louis and then to Chicago In the of the
great city he sold and attended school At twelve
little fellow decided himself.
he worked farm hand in Yellow Medicine county
In the summer of 1880 he collected large herd Of
cattle to care for during the On December A.
1880, the boy finishing his seasons business.
With two farmers he rode the country that
night The "bg blizzard and when it reached it's
height the could not their horses, the team
could not keep TO the road racing plowed
field, the boy jolted His help
in the sounds of the rafting the
The boy walked for hours Knowing we'll that his
life was in danger. He stumbel wood pile and
knew that house He threw sticks dir
ection, hoping by sound to locate the buildings
moved about in circle and finally stack
He burroWed in and there spent the night, fighting
against the sumber which he knew approaching
death
When morning came and the storm had subsidized
Mike Bowling crawled out into the sunlight But he
found he could not stand. He made his way a
house and there the door step he found the
sticks of wood he had thrown had missed his
by inches
Kind and willing hands cared for him. When the
doctors arrived after delays of
storm, it was found that immediate operation was
necessary. When it Mike Bowling was minus
both legs, the left below shoulder and most of
his right hand.
Mike Bowling became county charge but that was
not to last for long He made proposition to the county
commissioners that they send him to Carleton
College and that then he would relieve of all re-
sponsibility. The bargain made and Mike went to
school, After leaving school, Mike Bowling taught for
seven years and then branched out business man.
Mike Bowling then edited newspaper, sold insur-
ance and finally went into the banking business
came secretary of the National Republican
the Mckinley campaign He offered the post as
sistant secretary of but declined finally became
special educational commissioner to the Philippines.
He chief clerk in the House of Representa-
tives and in 1900 became member body Twice
he was elected speaker of the House.
When the great war broke Mike Bowling gave
his ALL He went to the hospitals spread cheer among
the crippled soldiers The call from across
the water and he answered it just willing as he had
always answered every call for help He went to the