Eli Bowen (October 14, 1844 – May 4, 1924) was an American

sideshow In North America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, carnival, fair, or other such attraction. Types There are four main types of classic sideshow attractions: *The Ten-in-One offers a program of ten ...

performer known as "The Legless Wonder", or "The Legless Acrobat". He was also billed as "The Handsomest Man in Showbiz" and the "Wonder of the Wide, Wide World". His peak weight was , his height - .

Early years

Eli Bowen was born in

Richland County, Ohio Richland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 124,936. Its county seat is Mansfield. The county was created in 1808 and later organized in 1813. It is named for the fertile soil found ...

, to Robert and Sarah Bowen with his undeveloped feet attached to the hips due to a rare birth defect – the so-called ''seal limbs'', which was caused by a genetic disorder

phocomelia Phocomelia is a condition that involves malformations of human arms and legs. Although many factors can cause phocomelia, the prominent roots come from the use of the drug thalidomide scandal, thalidomide and from genes, genetic inheritance. Occu ...

. His other seven siblings were of normal complexion and they all loved and supported their impaired brother. He learned to walk on his hands using wooden blocks, and soon acquired enough strength in his torso to start experimenting with acrobatics. According to the literature, in 1857, at age 13 he joined the traveling circus group ''Major Brown's Colosseum'', where he was performing acrobatic tumbling, such as cartwheels, somersaults, and backflips. However, 1860 census records demonstrate that he was living with his parents and attended school. Only starting from 1870 census, after his father's death in 1865, did Bowen begin to describe his occupation as "showman".

Career

In 1876, Bowen joined Pullman Brothers Side Show, and after three years Cooper, Bailey & Co. In 1897, he performed for Barnum & Bailey Circus in England. He was billed as "The Legless Acrobat", and became famous for his acrobatic work on top of a thirteen-foot pole. Sometimes, he collaborated with Armless Wonder Charles Tripp, and they both were pedaling and steering a

tandem bicycle A tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle (occasionally a tricycle) designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement (fore to aft, not side by side), not the number of riders. Patents relat ...

quipping at each other: "Watch your steps" and "Keep your hands off me". Bowen's artistic life with small carnival sideshows and big circuses run by

James Anthony Bailey James Anthony Bailey (July 4, 1847 – April 11, 1906), born James Anthony McGinnis, was an American owner and manager of several 19th-century circuses, including The Barnum and Bailey Greatest Show on Earth. Early life James Anthony McGinn ...

and P. T. Barnum spanned half a century. At age 79 he continued to work for Coney Island Dreamland Circus Side Show.

Personal life

When he was 26, Bowen married Martha N. Haines (sometimes described as Mattie Haight), 16, and they raised four healthy sons named Frank, Robert, Adrian and Victor. The fliers given to the spectators specified that one became a judge and another a successful merchant. A brief history of his life was retold in a pamphlet ''The Wonder of the Wide, Wide World: The True History of Mr. Eli Bowen'' which was published in 1880. On May 4, 1924, Bowen died at the Dreamland circus in

Coney Island Coney Island is a peninsular neighborhood and entertainment area in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The neighborhood is bounded by Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn, Manhattan Beach to its east, L ...

from

pleurisy Pleurisy, also known as pleuritis, is inflammation of the membranes that surround the lungs and line the chest cavity ( pleurae). This can result in a sharp chest pain while breathing. Occasionally the pain may be a constant dull ache. Other sy ...

, which was caused by

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severit ...

. He was buried in

Lowell, Indiana Lowell is a town in West Creek and Cedar Creek townships, Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 9,276 at the 2010 census. History Lowell was platted in 1853. It was named after Lowell, Massachusetts. The James Brannon Hou ...

References

External links

*
Eli Bowen, Circus Performer: 1850–1880 Census records
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bowen, Eli 1844 births 1924 deaths People with phocomelia Acrobats American circus performers Sideshow performers