Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1918-01-04
.1O[E BOWERS DEAD
SUDDEN ATTACK.
Merchant, After EARLY Failure, Came tOMSm-
Bhis and Achieved Fame and Wealth.
Was Lover Of Children

A sudden stroke of apoplexy
brought, to an abrupt close the re-
markable life of Duke c. Bowers,
founder of Mr.. Bowers Stores and
a widely known philanthropist, at 2
o'clock Sunday morning at his home
in Dresden.
Mr.. Bowers was stricken at $3.50
o'clock Friday night, and though he
rallied later, he began sinking short
" after midnight and gradually grew
weaker until death came.
Mr.. Bowers only reached his home
from Washington Friday at noon.
He had gone to Washington to ten
der his services, without compensa-
ton, in any way in which he might
be needed in the work of food con-
servation. He had held confer
ence with Mr.. Hoover about the mat
ter and would probably have been
asked to serve the government in
some capacity had he lived. This
action was only one of thousands
showing his answering loyalty and
desire to serve his fellowmen and
his country.
The first intimation that Mr.. Bow
ers was seriously i'll came in a long
distance telephone message from
Mrs, Bowers to j.. NJ. Fly, manager
Of Mr.. Bowers Stores, Inc, in, Mem
phis. Mr.. Fly Immediately arranged
for DR.. W. L. Williamson and a train
ed nurse to go to Dresden on the
first train.
For several years Mr.. Bowers had
been in declining health and had
travelled extensively to health resorts
at home and abroad. While in Cal
ifornia two years ago he was strick-
en- with apoplexy and never fully
recovered from the first stroke.
Mr.. Bowers was born 43 years
ago in Columbus, KY, where he
grew to young manhood. Early in
hsi business career he embarked in
the retail grocery business in small
town, where too liberal credit bus
mess sent him onto the financial
rocks of the mercantile world.
With the wreckage he had sal
vaged-said to have been about $3.50,
Mr.. Bowers came to Memphis lit
tie more than Is years ago. Shortly
after his arrival, on Aug. 10, 1902,
Mr.. Bowers Store No. l was opened
at Polk street and Mckinley avenue.
There is story that painter
climbed down from his ladder after
opening the paper containing the
"sign copy" and demonstrated with
Mr.. Bowers for being so formal.
"You don't want Mr.. Bowers on your
sign, the painter is reported to have
told him. Lets make it Duke G.
Bowers Store"
Mr.. Bowers, however, held firm,
and pointed out to the painter that
the same question would arise in the
minds of the thousands who would
see the sign. So, reluctantly, the
painter climbed his ladder, and Mr..
Bowers Store No. 1 was heralded to
the city.
First customers who entered the
modest corner grocery made Sc. eral
startling discoveries-that liquor was
not carried in stock, that no credit
would be granted, that groceries
were sold cheap and that circula-
ton medium had been found for the
penny.
From this beginning Mr.. Bowers
Stores began to spread over the city,
until to day it would be difficult to
find a community in the city which
does not boast of one of the links
of the chain.
Five years ago Mr.. Bowers health
first began to decline, and he gave
up the active management of his
stores. Shortly thereafter the stores
were incorporated and the manage
ment was placed in the hands of j.
M. Fly, vice-president of the Fly &
ILL., C