Hi Leolaia,
The story about young Joe Rutherford going door to door selling encyclopedia sets, falling into a stream of icy water, and almost losing his life to pneumonia, is probably a Watchtower myth. During the period in question Rutherford was the primary teacher at Carpenter Elementary school in Syracuse. The school board liked him so much that they wanted to extend his contract for another year. But Joe declined the offer and accepted appointment as court stenographer, a position that would better advance his career in politics. While contemporary accounts frequently mention Rutherford's business activities and his travel, nothing is said about him selling books, nor is there mention about him suffering from a bout with pneumonia that almost cost him his life.
No doubt Hayden Covington heard the tale of "shoeless Joe Rutherford door-to-door book salesman," from the Judge himself. It does make a good propaganda piece, Rutherford going door-to-door trying to make a living while enduring extreme weather and getting doors slammed in his face. This would especially appeal to the JWs of the 1930s and 1940s who were trying to survive by selling Rutherford's books door-to-door and enduring similar hardships. Such a story couldn't help but motivate the flock to strive for more sales.