Person:Eli Bowen (2)

Undated Newspaper Clipping found on the Internet

ELI BOWEN, the Legless Acrobat. Eli Bowen, the Legless Acrobat, may, without stretching the adjective, be called a wonderful man. Born without legs, but with a pair of apparently useless feet growing directly from his body, it would seem as if he were as helpless as man could be. Yet Eli manages to not only get about the world easily, walking, as he terms it, upon the largest of his two feet and a couple of padded wooden blocks held in his hands, but he has prospered in his life, has accummulated a competence and raised a family, whom he has supported well and given a good start in life. The eldest of his four sons is an attorney-at-law and justice of the peace at Joliet, Ill. The second fills a position of trust at Grand Rapids, Mich. The two youngest are attending school at Ogden, Cal., where they are living with their mother, Eli calling that Pacific Slope town his home. He was born in Richland County, Ohio, October 14, 1841, the seventh of a family of ten children, all the others being perfectly formed. Eli himself is a perfect specimen of manhood aside from the absence of legs. He attended district school at his father's home until he was 15 years of age and acquired a common school education when he succumbed to the offers of the showman, and in the spring of 1857 began to exhibit himself. Since then he has traveled, chiefly in the United States and Canada. He went to London in 1889 with the Barnum & Bailey show, and again on the second visit of the Greatest Show on Earth to England in 1897. That it is not always the most favored who get most enjoyment out of life is proven in the case of Eli Bowen, who has a most sunny disposition, and appears to be as happy as falls to the lot of mortals to be.

Undated Newspaper Clipping in Personal Collection

FREAK AT CONEY DIES One of Colony's Oldest Members, on Exhibition 55 Years, by United News, NEW YORK, May 5

- Coney Island's famous colony of sideshow freaks lost one of its oldest members yesterday with the passing of Captain Eli Bowen, the legless man, who exhibited his physical disadvantage for the past 55 years. His feet, normal in every respect, grew out of his hips. Captain Bowen, 82, was born in Fremont, O., of normal parents. His sisters and brothers were also normal. When he was not traveling Captain Bowen made his home in Grand Rapids, Mich., with his brother...(clipping ended here).

Obituary

Capt. Eli Bowen, Famous Circus Freak, Is Dead

Findlay, May 7, - Captain Eli Bowen, dean of the country's side show attractions known by many people in Findlay, died on Sunday in the rear of the show house at Coney Island. For 55 years he had toured the world with circuses, billed as the " legless man ".

Captain Bowen was 82, married and the father of four stalwart sons, all newspaper men. His feet, themselves perfectly normal, grew directly from his hips.

Miss Edith Ploiner, of 801 West Sandusky street, is a cousin by marriage of Captain Bowen. When he visited here with circuses he often stopped with Miss Plotner. Only last October he spent 10 days here with his cousin.

Joseph La Point and Wichita Jim Anderson, two old time circus men, now living in a Findlay hotel, can recall many thrilling incidents in which Captain Bowen and themselves participated when they traveled over the world together. La Point was known as Prof. Zero in circus circles and was the barker at the side show with a circus where Captain Bowen performed 55 years ago. He later perfected the act of sawing a woman in two. Anderson was a wild animal trainer with many circuses and carnivals.

The funeral services will be held at the home Monday at 2;30 P.M. conducted by Rev O.G. King of Cleveland . The services will be in charge of Norris Post G.A. R. of which Mr Cadwallader was a member. Fostoria Daily Review May 5, 1924 Pg 2 Fortoria Ohio

Eli Bowen, The Legless Acrobat

Eli & Martha (Haines) Bowen & Son

1.   Bowen, Eli - Freak Dies.
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Hillsdale, Michigan, United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule.
3. ↑ Eli Bowen, in Find A Grave.

   Cemetery name & location not recorded in this record.

4. ↑ Bowen, Robt., in Richland, Ohio, United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule.
5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Eli Bowen, in Find A Grave.