City: Memphis
BOWERS, Duke Cayce, retail groceryman; born Mobile, Ala., Nov. 17, 1874; English-Irish and Scotch descent; son of Calvin T. and Ida (Cayce) BOWERS; father’s occupation, merchant; paternal grandparents, Giles and Rebecca (Adams) BOWERS, maternal grandparents, John Hardy and Louisa (Milner) CAYCE; educated at Marvin College, at Clinton, Ky., and was expelled from same for not being willing to give up to principal an unread note from a young lady; about a year ago by recommendation of said principal was exonerated by the Board of Curators of said college, and later was elected by the board as one of its members; entered retail grocery business in early life, and is owner and operator of 35 retail grocery stores in Memphis, Tenn., known as “Temples of Economy;” married Ethel GIBBS Oct. 24, 1900; member Scottish Rite Masons, Merchants’ Exchange, Business Men’s Club and Y.M.C.A.; former City Clerk and Mayor of Columbus Ky.; assistant to Mr. Thomas Dies in trying to get better street car service for Memphis; refused as a volunteer in late Spanish war on account of being partially blind in one eye.
