Lafayette Sowder, aged 92, extensive land owner of the Fall Lick pike, died at his home Monday morning at 7:15 o’clock.  He had been ill for two months and his death was attributed to infirmities due to his advanced age.

Mr. Sowder was born March 24, 1847 and reared in Bell County, a son of the late William and Sallie Brummit Sowder.  After attaining success as a farmer in his native county he bought a tract of land near Crab Orchard, in Lincoln County, in 1902, which he owned until a few years before his death.

Soon after buying the Crab Orchard acreage he bought the Cornett, Mahan and Pope tracts on Fall Lick pike, which three pieces of property join each other.  He did not leave Bell County, however, until 1905, when he moved to his holdings on Fall Lick pike in this county, where he made his home until his death.

In his younger days Mr. Sowder took quite an interest in public affairs and was always a leader in any movement that had as its object the betterment of the community and its farming interests.
A man of ready wit and jovial disposition, he was widely known and was respected as an upright citizen and a leader of men.  In his home he was regarded as a wise and loving husband and father, and in the entire community commanded friendship and admiration.

Mr. Sowder was united in marriage to Polly Davis, of Bell County, who predeceased him on April 20, 1928.

He is survived by seven sons, W.H., Reece, Grant, G.L. and Calvin, all of Garrard, John, Jellico, Tenn., and Jacob, Fonde, Ky.;  five daughters, Mrs. Allen Morris, Lancaster, Mrs. Elmer Hale, Fall Lick pike, Mrs. Millie E. Bolton, Tennessee, Mrs. Eliza Wooten, Cincinnati, and Mrs. Polly Drummond, Clearfield, Tenn.; ninety-seven grandchildren and eighty-seven great grandchildren; also by a brother, Reece Sowder, of Bell County.

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the grave in Lancaster cemetery, with the Rev. Mr. Carnes, of Crab Orchard, pastor of the Gilbert’s Creek Baptist church, officiating.

Pall bearers were six grandsons, Carl Morris, Gilbert Sowder, Warren Sowder, Billie Sowder, Floyd Sowder and Floyd Hale.   Acting as flower girls were six granddaughters, Alice Brickey, Nadine Morris, Ellen Delena Hale, Nora Hale, Thelma Sowder and Willie Macy Grider.  Funeral arrangements were in charge of Miller-Ball-Morgan.

Submitted by Charlene Potter at char@rocketmail.com