Sunday, May 31, 2009
Mysteries Charles Bowman — The Legless Key Tag Maker
Posted by Vance Lauderdale on Sun, May 31, 2009 at 9:11 PM
Oh, the strange things that I have found over the years. I recently told everyone the story (or what I knew of it) of Thomas Doran, the “Armless News Boy.” So to continue that happy theme, I thought I’d share this interesting old promotional flyer from Chas. R. Bowman, a fellow from the little town of Williford, Arkansas, who called himself the “Legless Key Tag Maker.” If you think THAT is strange, read on . . .
First of all, it’s an order form, and since the bottom part has been snipped off, I assume someone previously ordered key tags from Mr. Bowman. In fact, he begins this interesting epistle by expressing his thanks, with a compelling mix of gratitude and pity that have long been the hallmarks of any correspondence from the Lauderdales. Here’s what Mr. Bowman has to say:
MY DEAR FRIEND: Your nice order received, and have filled it as requested. I wish to thank you many times for the kindness shown me, and will appreciate anything you may throw my way, as a fellow handicapped as I needs all the help in his line I can get. Am in bad health and need all the cheer I can get. Yes — lung trouble. I feel sure after you have read over my price list, you and your friends will favor me with another order.
Good grief — no legs and now lung trouble! He goes on:
I don’t have much enjoyment in this life, for I am sick in bed part of the time — bad health sees very little pleasure — but still I try to hold that same sunny disposition (emphasis his, certainly not mine).
Probably you will hear from me in a few weeks before Christmas, and if you do, I want to ask you in advance, do all you can for me, get as many of your friends to chip in and send some work or orders, so I can count on a merry Christmas. In the meantime, I will place your name down on my list as a good, true, helping friend, and will write you next Christmas.
And then, almost as an aside, Mr. Bowman casually mentions precisely how he acquired his distinctive trade name: The train cut both my legs off several years ago. Just like the “Armless News Boy”!
Yikes! It would take a heart of stone to resist a sales offer like this. And it doesn’t help that the picture of his family (shown above) doesn’t suggest a scene of domestic tranquility. All the children seem to be wearing the same clothes, and none of them has any hair. Those poor kids have probably been toiling away at key tags since they were six months old.
Mr. Bowman made more than just key tags. His price list includes lodge emblems (50 cents), key rings (20 cents), “fancy key chain rings for ladies” (25 cents), and even leather dog collars ($1.50). He concludes his sales pitch with another plea for business, assures buyers that “if I have made a mistake on the work let me know and will gladly correct same,” and then ends the letter with “Your Crippled Friend, Chas. R. Bowman.”
Whenever I think the Lauderdales have had a rough life, I run into postcards for the “Armless News Boy” or sales flyers for the “Legless Key Tag Maker.” I wonder what happened to this poor fellow? You certainly have to admire his plunk. Why, when I get a touch of neuralgia, I’m laid up in bed for days. This gentleman gets his legs cut off by “the train,” then develops “bad health” and lung trouble, but manages to keep going and keep feeding that wife and six kids. Thanks mainly, I suppose, to his “sunny disposition.”
I have no idea how old this is, or what happened to Mr. Bowman and his family. Here’s the entire flyer (click to enlarge it slightly):
Comments (6)
Showing 1-6 of 6
Armless reporter and legless key tag maker.....did you know or did you ever encounter the blind man who ran the concession stand in the old Memphis courthouse (2nd & Adams)?
He was quite a gentleman and everyone employed in the building kept an eye out for him (no pun intended!)
He sold a variety of sandwiches, snacks, soft drinks, and coffee. He depended on his customers (the honor system) to present the correct amount of dollars/coins for purchases and could make change if needed.
Wonder what ever happened to him?
like
dislike
Actually, I do remember that fellow and was amazed at his skill at handling money — which was certainly superior to my own. I don't know his name. If anybody does, I'll see if I can find out what happened to him.
here's what i've got - i can't figure out what's going on with this guy! so many moves! so many careers!
http://www.lib.unc.edu/mss/inv/s/Stroman,J…
..."a letter, 1917, from Chas. R. Bowman offering to sell a silver key tag with name and address made by Bowman, who was disabled; and other items."
so that was the first thing i found placing him, time-wise...
i also found these
A 1910 ad for a Chas. R. Bowman who is an artificial limb manufacturer (!) in Jacksonville, FL in 1910 (and a corresponding census record that lists a wife and a son)
http://brokert10.fcla.edu/DLData/SF/SF0000…
http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/hqowe…
This is to the SC 1920 census with presumably the same Chas. from the Jacksonville census, since the ages match...however, this time he's listed as a farmer of special livestock (what are special livestock, anyway?)
http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/hqowe…
AND THEN (I hope this link works) Charles and Thelma in Sharp County, Ark. with his occupation listed as Key Tag maker!
http://content.ancestry.com/Browse/view.as…
Despite all evidence to the contrary, I want to assure you that I do have a life outside of reading your blog and trying to figure out the "mysteries" posts! I've just been doing a lot of Memphis history research and genealogy research lately so I've been having fun trying out all the newly discovered resources...
Charles R Bowman "the Key Tag King" died in 1936 and is buried at the Baker Cemetary near Williford Arkansas.
D. Mullins
From comment by grand-daughter...If someone found ad from 1917...then 1920s
was not right. As for Charles and Thelma, this was one of the sons. As for the
'Jacksonville Florida' comment, I have never heard he lived there, but if accident
happened before 1910, he might have been making artifical limbs.
Sharon Howe 12/11 Have a Merry CHRISTmas!
My Wife, Sharon Bowman Howe, is a grand-daughter of Charles Bowman. We reconnected with the family back in the 1980s and learned from my wife's Grand-mother, Mae and uncles about the life of Charles Sr. He evidently was born in Virginia, Married
Mae Carter from Plains Georgia. He evidently was a 'switchman/brakeman' on the railroad
and lost his first leg falling under a car. At that time he had a wife and 4 children, but
could not get any financial help after his accident. Times were hard, family to feed so he was allowed to come back to his old job, jumping around on the one leg. Within a week,another fall took the other leg. (with both legs, then there was financial help.
Using that Money, he bought a way side overnight cabins and store about four miles
east of Hardy Arkansas. (long hill west of old store, is locally known as 'Bowman Hill')
Old store is still standing across from Ozark Acres. One uncle said that after school, all the family set at benches, using small individual 'punch letters', would then take names from telephone books, putting them on a oval copper plate key fob that then could be attached to house or car keys and if lost, hopefully the finder would 'drop in mailbox' to be returned. The Uncle said Albuquerque New Mexico took a long time to letter. They first
liked to send to Doctors, as they were quick to send back a 'donation'. History almost repeated with my Wife's dad, Robert. He served through out WW2, came home to Des Moines, My wife was born the next year, and about two years later, he was riding a city bus to work, when it was hit by the Chicago-Des Moines-Kansas City Passanger train in Des Moines. He was killed out right. Another grandson of Charles was killed in a motor cycle accident just east of Hardy, When a drunk crossed the center line. Life certainaly
is not fair. Have a Merry CHRISTmas! gs50315@juno.com
