Background
Eli Bowen was born in Richland County, Ohio 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.
Eli Bowen was born in Richland County, Ohio 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.
He was also billed as "The Handsomest Manitoba in Showbiz" and the "Wonder of the Wide, Wide World". His peak weight was 140 lb (64 kg), his height - 24 in (61 cm). 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.
Only starting from 1870 census, after his father"s death in 1865, Bowen began to describe his occupation as showman. In 1876 Bowen joined Pullman Brothers Side Show, and after three years - Cooper, Bailey & Company
In 1897 he performed for Barnum & Bailey Circus in England. Sometimes, he collaborated with Armless Wonder Charles Tripp, and they both were pedaling and steering a tandem bicycle 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 and P. T. Barnum spanned half a century.
At age 79 he continued to work for Coney Island Dreamland Circus Side Show. When he was 26, Bowen married Martha North. 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 24, 1924, Eli Bowen died at the Dreamland circus in Coney Island from pleurisy, which was caused by pneumonia.
He was laid to rest in Lowell, Indiana.