San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1582
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 11/7/2009
JAY P. COWEN
A native of Illinois, Jay P. Cowen has been a resident of California since his seventh year. He was born at Quincy, January 7, 1872, and in 1879 came with his parents to Oakland, Cal., where he received his education. At the age of sixteen he started to learn the baker's trade with Bowles & Wilson at San Jose, and from that time he has been engaged in this business. He first worked in different parts of the state, then in 1907 located in Tracy and opened a bakery of his own, on a capital of $150, which he had borrowed. Later he came to Stockton, built an oven and conducted the Independent Bakery on Fair Oaks avenue, and when he sold this out in 1917 he went to Vacaville, and then to Chico; in each he had a bakery. On his return to Stockton in the fall of 1919, he bought out the Polly Ann Bakery, and here he has built up a splendid business, both wholesale and retail; he has made many improvements in the plant, installing modern machinery, and now has a capacity of 3,000 loaves per day, his products being very popular.
At San Francisco, Mr. Cowen was married to Mrs. Susie (Tripp) Brown, born in Massachusetts, and they are the parents of five children: Harold L., who was born in San Jose, October 26, 1891, attended the Fremont and Lafayette schools at Stockton, after the family removed here. He first went to work as a clerk in Hall Bros. grocery, then was with his father in the bakery, and since 1919 he has been a partner in the business. Ralph and Ray, twins, are also associated with their father; the two youngest members of the family are Sadie and Grace. Mr. Cowen is a member of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce and the Merchants Association, and in every way tries to aid all movements for the building up of the city and county in which he has spent the greater and successful portion of his business career.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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