1914 Biography - Edward J. Sowar

Sowar, Edward John, merchant and postmaster at Norwood, was born at Mitchell, Lawrence county, Ind., Dec. 21, 1866. His ancestors were from Alsace, Lorraine. He is a son of Joseph H. W. and Elizabeth (Wehrle) Sowar, natives, respectively, of Zanesville and Newark, O., who moved to Mitchell about 1858, the former dying in 1872, and the latter now living at Brazil, Ind. They had the following children: Joseph, a merchant in Brazil; Florence, died in infancy; Alwin, died when 19 years old; Edward J., the subject of this sketch; Frank, a merchant at Muncie, Ind.; Ethela, in Brazil; Katie, deceased. E. J. Sowar spent the first 6 years of his life in Mitchell and then moved to Brazil, where he lived until 1889. He received an elementary education in the common schools of the latter town. At 13 years of age he began work in a woolen mill, where he remained about 2 years. Then he labored as a coal miner for 2 years following which he was about 1 year in a bakery and confectionery shop. He was then taken with a desire to wander, after about 2 years spent in Kentucky, Ohio and Kansas, he started, Oct., 1887, for the South, and after going through Missouri and Texas, to New Orleans then to Mississippi and other places, in Jan., 1889, he came to East Feliciana parish, La. He came to Norwood and clerked for Norwood & Bell, merchants, for 2 years. In 1903 he took charge of the mercantile business for H. W.Dunning & Co. In Jan., 1904, this business was sold to the Norwood Mercantile Co., and Mr. Sowar went with them as a clerk and remained there until Jan., 1908, at which time he began for himself the general merchandise business. This he continues at the present time. In July, 1906, he was appointed postmaster at Norwood and now holds that office. He is a member of the Catholic church. In Feb., 1889, Mr. Sowar married Sallie A. Walche, of Amite county, Miss., and they have the following children: Katherine, now Mrs. John C. Carpenter, of Baton Rouge, La.; Frances Alwyn, now assistant postmaster, at home; Joseph, working at De Quincy, La., for N. O. T. & M. R. R. as stenographer in the dispatcher's office; Edgar, attending L. S. U. and working for Welsh & Levy in Baton Rouge, La.; Irene, Anna and Lela, attending public school in Norwood, La.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Louisiana: Comprising Sketches, edited by Alcee Fortier, published in 1914, volume 3, pages 741-742.