Alonzo Smith Bower
Alonzo Smith Bower, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, conducts the leading bakery and confectionerof Lima. He was born at Piqua, Ohio, in October 1855, and is a son of Robert Bower, who died in this city December 3, 1903, in the 81st year of his age. Robert Bower came to Allen County when he was a lad of 12 years, about 1835, and from that year, with the exception of eight years spent in Piqua, was a resident of Lima until the time of his death. He first learned the trade of a saddle-maker and followed it for several years, part of the time at Delphos. Later he engaged in the manufacture of carriages, and in 1858 established a shop in Lima, which he conducted until his permanent retirement from active business.
A. S. Bower has been a resident of Lima since his third year. He attended the public schools and worked in his father's carriage shop during his boyhood. At the age of 20 he secured work with Mr. Heffner, who conducted a Bakery, and finding the employment to his liking, continued in his service until 1884, when he opened a small establishment himself. He has succeeded beyond his expectations, and now has the finest bakery and confectionery in Lima, making a specialty of superior ice cream and producing about 1,800 loaves of bread daily, his "Nox-em-al" brand being the local favorite. He has been in his present location about 18 years and is one of the substantial citizens of Lima. Mr. Bower is a stockholder in The East Iron & Machine Company, and has other business interests here.
In 1881 Mr. Bower was joined in marriage to Clara Bowyer, a daughter of Madison L. Bowyer, a venerable and esteemed citizen of German township. Mr. Bowyer still owns the land which his father entered from the government in 1829, when his son, Madison, was a child of four years. Mr. and Mrs. Bower have three children, viz: Robert Sidney, who is associated with his father in business; and Helen and Ruth, both at home. Mr. Bower and his wife are members and active workers of the First Congregational Church, he himself being a trustee of the church, while Mrs. Bower has served as president of the Ladies' Circle for the past four years. Fraternally, he is a Royal Arch Mason and a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias.