HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      119
    Joseph S. C. Sowar went to Brazil when fourteen years of age and
attended high school that winter (1875-6), and on June 26, 1876, entered
the employ of Shannon and Turner, bankers and confectioners with whom
he learned the baker’s trade. In 1878 the firm was changed to Shannon
and Fast and on December 1, 1881, to Shannon, Fast and Sowar, A Mr.
Sowar having purchased a third interest in the business. In 1882 they
built the brick building on the corner of National avenue and Sherfey
street, and continued in the business until May, 1899, when Mr. Sowar
sold his interest and in November of that year removed to Colorado
Springs, Colorado. There he engaged in the wholesale candy business
but on account of his daughters ill health sold it and returned to Brazil
on the 19th of March, 1901. Upon his arrival he engaged in the boot
and shoe trade, as a member of the firm of Wehrle and Sowar. In July
of that year they bought the dry goods business of A. W. Turner, from
which time the firm has been styled Wehrle and Sowar Company, operat—
ing two stores—one for boots and shoes and the other a dry goods house.
    Mr. Sowar is a thorough believer in the wisdom of advertising his
conversion to this faith dating from a very early age. It is related that
when he was a lad of twelve years, soon after the death of his father, the
widowed mother, who was put to sore straits to support her four boys
and two girls, had managed to raise a fine crop of early cabbage, tomato
and mango plants. This was during the hard times of 1873. Thousands
of hardy young plants were ready to be placed upon the market but
where were the customers to be found The mother remarked that if
they had a little money they might have some bills printed in order to let
the people of the town known of the abundant supply. But the family
treasury was nearly empty. Then young Joseph comumenced to turn the
matter over in his mind, the result being that he pocketed two cents, with
which he bought foolscap paper, secretly made use of his father’s sacred
gold pen, and drew up the following advertisement "Cabbage Plants.
Tomato Plants and Mango Pepper Plants for Sale.—JOSEPH
SOWAR.” Afraid to post his ‘‘ad’ in the day, the boy sallied out with
paste pot and home-made bills, a little after dark, and pasted them on the
telegraph poles in the center of the town. The next day he went to school
as usual and upon his return at noon asked his mother if anybody had
come to the house to buy plants. Upon being informed that no one had
appeared he began to feel downcast over the expenditure of the precious
two cents, not to mention the waste of paste and time. In the afternoon
he hurried home again from school, hoping- that a few persons might
have read his bills and responded, but as he approached the house he was
surprised to see a large crowd in the yard and, upon rounding the corner
of the building, he found his good and delighted mother selling the plants
as fast as she could wrap them up and make change. Before nightfall
every cabbage, tomato and mango plant in the family stock was sold and
several citizens were bewailing the fact that it was too late for them to be-
come customers. This experience proved a valuable business lesson to
Mr. Sowar, and for years he has been one of the heaviest advertisers in
the city, as well as up-to-date in every other regard.
    In politics Mr. Sowar is a Republican, but prefers to apply his activ-
ities and abilities to his private business rather than expend them on
doubtful political honors. In his religious faith he is a Roman Catholic,
and is a member of the Knights of Columbus and Yoting Men’s Insti-
tute. In the month of August, 1882. Mr. Sowar married Miss Anna