The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-11

Of territory which was then new 10 Mr..
Bauer. The jocular drummer, who sold
another line OF goods, travelled with Bauer
and introduced him everywhere as Joe
Bowers. all the way from Pike"
Many OF the merchants in the small towns.
who had heard the old song, but were I'M
acquainted with its origin. took it for
granted that the new drummer was the
original Joe Bowers. Mr.. Bauer at first
sought to repudiate the distinction, but he
soon learned that it would pay him to lot
himself continue to be known as the cele-
bratcd Piker,
His popularity was increased wonderfully
thereby and he sold such large bills Of goods
| on the strength of his assumed reputation
| that his salary and commissions grew
enormously. In some parts OF the State
Mr.. Bauer is still believed to be the man
whose Sally married the butcher Joseph
NJ. Bauer, it may be stated. never was In
Pike county, and steadfastly declines to
! visit the county. for business reasons.
The Pike couny Of John Hays ballads
lies just across the Mississippi River. in
Illinois. The Missouri Pike. contrary to
THE general impression of strangers. ID one
OF the most enlightened counties in the
State. 1t contains three cities and many
pros p 9rous towns.
Years ago, when bicycle road racing
was popular, national races were run on
the splendid gravel turnpikes of Pike.
Nowadays automobile and coaching parties
from s.. Louis frequently use the Clarks-
vile belt of turnpikes between Clarks-
vile, in the lower end Of Pike, and Louis
lana. The county contains the largest
fruit tree nurseries in the world and is
famous for its apples, its mules. its men
and its maidens.
From Pike county went Gen. John b.
Henderson to the United States Senate.
1t is said that Henderson's vote saved
President Andrew johnson from conviction
upon his impeachment. Gen. Henderson,
who lives in Washington, recently donated
q plot of land in the heart of Louisiana for
city park. He still pays almost annual
visits to the county.
When Congressman Champ Clark re-
Gently made trip to California and Oregon.
in recognition OF his visit, Missouri societies
were organized In Los Angeles and Port
land, with Pikers prominent in the member
ship. There are several Pikers In the
Missouri Society OF New York.
The Pike county colony In st. Louis is
body including more than 200 men, former
residents of the county, who meet annually
at a banquet and glorify Joe Bowers. Col.
D. P. Dyer, United States District Attorney.
is president Of the colony, and he appointed
the committee which is now arranging to
place Joe Bowers's Pike County Home" at
the Worlds Fair.
1t is intended that this building shall
be constructed Of logs from Pike county,
furnished with historic relics from that
county and supplied with Pike pictures
and literature for the edification OF the
general multitude. The Pikers hope to
show the world that the people Of their
county are by no means as backwoodsy as
was indicated by a recent play, In which the
Sheriff of Pike, the chief character, wore
SLOUGH hat and q belt, went in his shirt
sleeves and spoke with an Arkansas drawl.
1t so happened that the real Sherin OF
Pike county at the time when the drama
was first produced was college-bred man
who always wore silk hat in its proper
season.
Efforts are to be made by the Pike county
committee to settle the authorship OF the
ballad Of Joe Bowers, and it Ia highly prob
able that a mass Of interesting literature
on the subject will be collated and filed in
the log house at the Worlds Fair next
wear