University of Virginia Library

JOHN BARNARD COWGILL

The gentleman whose name captions this article
conducts one of the largest and most up-to-date millinery
establishments in this city.

John Barnard Cowgill
was born October 8th,
1866, at Elkville, Illinois,
and is a son of
John B. and Amanda
(Van Pelt) Cowgill. He
went with his parents to
Ohio, when quite a small
boy and was educated in
the schools of Columbus,
and at the Ohio
Wesleyan University at
Delaware, Ohio. When
a young man Mr. Cowgill
accepted a position
with the H. B. Claflin
Company of New York,
and remained with that
firm for a period of
seventeen years, a portion
of which time he was on the road. He had charge
of Claflin Stores in Buffalo, New York, and Cincinnati,
Ohio, and was later merchandise buyer for the same
concern.

Mr. Cowgill came to Roanoke, three and one-half
years ago, and established the splendid Millinery Emporium
at No. 105 West Campbell Avenue. Here can
be found at all times everything pertaining to high-grade
millinery, hair goods, etc. He carries only first-class
goods and therefore caters to the best element of
trade. He established a similar store at Danville,
Virginia, last year and therefore purchases goods in
larger quantities and on closer margins than the small
buyer and is thereby enabled to give his patrons and
customers the benefit of lower prices for their goods.
He has made hosts of friends during his sojourn in
Roanoke.

Fraternally he is an Elk and Odd Fellow and religiously
a Quaker.

In 1891 he was married to Ida M. Stump, daughter of
C. W. and Minnie Stump, of Wilmington, Ohio, and as a
result of that union, they have one son, Carl L. Cowgill,
now a student at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

Mr. Cowgill resides at 529 Fourteenth Avenue,
Southwest.