Clara Stover: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American businesswoman and chocolatier}} |
{{Short description|American businesswoman and chocolatier}} |
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{{Infobox person |
{{Infobox person |
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| name = Clara Stover |
| name = Clara Stover |
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| birth_name = Clara Mae Lewis |
| birth_name = Clara Mae Lewis |
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| birth_date = {{birth year|1882}} |
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| birth_place = [[Oxford, Iowa]] |
| birth_place = [[Oxford, Iowa]], U.S. |
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| death_date = |
| death_date = {{death year and age|1975|1882}} |
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| death_place = [[Kansas City, Missouri]] |
| death_place = [[Kansas City, Missouri]] |
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'''Clara Mae Stover''' (1882–1975) was the wife of candy maker [[Russell Stover]], and co-founder of [[Russell Stover Candies]]. A lifelong participant in the business, she ran the company for six years following Russell's death.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} |
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| ⚫ | Clara Mae Stover was born in [[Oxford, Iowa]], in 1882.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Coleman|first1=Daniel|title=Clara and Russell Stover, Candymakers|url=http://www.kchistory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/Biographies&CISOPTR=128|website=Missouri Valley Special Collections|publisher=Kansas|access-date=November 15, 2016|ref=2007}}</ref> She was raised on a farm with three sisters, and strongly influenced by one of her grandmothers{{which|date=January 2023}} to be self-reliant. |
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Clara and [[Russell Stover]] met as students at the Iowa City Academy in [[Iowa City, Iowa]].{{when|date=January 2023}} They were married in 1911. They bought a 580-acre wheat and [[flax]] farm in [[Saskatchewan]], Canada, but the heavy rains destroyed their crops. |
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==Career== |
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Russell Stover was hired by a candy company in [[Winnipeg, Manitoba]], Canada. Some years later the couple returned to the United States, where Russell worked for [[confectionery|confectioners]], in [[Des Moines, Iowa]] and [[Chicago, Illinois]], during the balance of the 1910s.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} |
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'''Clara Mae Stover''' (1882-1975) was the wife and co-founder of candy maker [[Russell Stover]] who created [[Russell Stover Candies]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bellomo |first=Rheanna O'Neil |date=2016-05-10 |title=12 Things You Need to Know Before You Buy Russell Stover Candies |url=https://www.delish.com/food-news/a47178/facts-about-russell-stover-candies-chocolate/ |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=Delish |language=en-US}}</ref> Clara Mae solely ran the company following Russell's death. |
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| ⚫ | Iowa schoolteacher Christian Nelson had the idea of enrobing a block of vanilla ice cream with melted chocolate. He partnered with Russell Stover, then studying chemistry at the University of Iowa, to develop a workable process of doing so without melting the ice cream. In 1921 a patent was granted, allowing Nelson's concept to be mass produced. At a dinner party, Clara suggested calling the novelty an "[[Eskimo Pie]]", which became a national sensation. Russell was soon offered licensing agreements, which he accepted, and buyout offers into the millions of dollars, which he refused; instead, he focused on suing imitators. Ultimately he waited too long, imitators thrived, the initial craze wore down, and licensed sales plummeted into the mere thousands of dollars.<ref name=":0" /><ref>[http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Russell-Stover-Candies-Inc-Company-History.html International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 12. St. James Press, 1996]</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Clara Mae Stover was born in [[Oxford, Iowa]], in 1882.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Coleman|first1=Daniel|title=Clara and Russell Stover, Candymakers|url=http://www.kchistory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/Biographies&CISOPTR=128|website=Missouri Valley Special Collections|publisher=Kansas| |
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Russell Stover was hired by a candy company, in [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]], Canada. Years later, the Stovers decided to move back to the [[United States]], where Russell worked for [[confectionery|confectioners]], in [[Des Moines, Iowa]] and [[Chicago]] [[Illinois]], during the 1910s. Throughout the process, Russell Stover became very familiar with the candy-making process. Everything, from the production to the sale, of chocolates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The woman behind Russell Stover Chocolates |url=https://www.kshb.com/news/womens-history-month/the-woman-behind-russell-stover-chocolates?_amp=true |access-date=1 May 2022 |website=kshb.com}}</ref> This began Clara and Russell's dream of a chocolate empire, that still thrives today. Clara Stover would actually dip the chocolates, herself in their apartment kitchen.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cristy |date=2022-02-10 |title=This Candy Store Filled With Samples And Freebies In West Virginia Is Chocolate Heaven |url=https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/west-virginia/russell-stover-wv/ |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=OnlyInYourState |language=en-US}}</ref> Russell Stover, would in turn, sell them to neighborhood druggists, on the weekends. |
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The Stovers relocated to [[Denver, Colorado]] and used their meager earnings to create their own confectionery company, "Mrs. Stover's Bungalow Candies". With success came factories in Denver and [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. By 1932 all operations were relocated to Kansas City, sales having increased from 20,000 to 11 million pounds.{{cn|date=January 2023}} In 1943 the company was renamed "[[Russell Stover Candies]]".<ref name=timeline>[http://www.russellstover.com/rsc-timeline Russell Stover Chocolates Timeline]</ref> |
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===Later years with the company=== |
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In 1954 Russell Stover died. At the time there were 40 company-owned stores and their candy was sold in 2,000 pharmacies and department stores nationwide.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} Clara took over and ran the business until 1960. That year Louis Ward, a box maker who had been supplying packaging materials to the company, purchased a controlling interest and [[initial public offering|took the business public]].<ref name=timeline/> |
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The Stovers used their meager earnings, to create their own candy company, in [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], known as "Mrs. Stover's Bungalow Candies". Through their successes and failures, they were now prepared to officially run a successful candy business. Russell and Clara Mae Stover began to build factories in Denver and [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. In 1931, the Russell Stover Company headquarters was moved to Kansas City,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clara Stover, chocolate pioneer |url=https://www.kshb.com/lifestyle/tasteseekc/womens-history-month-clara-stover-chocolate-pioneer?_amp=true |access-date=1 May 2022 |website=kshb.com}}</ref> increasing its output, from 20,000 to 11 million pounds, of candy production. In 1943, Mrs. Stover's Bungalow Candies was renamed "[[Russell Stover Candies]]".<ref>[http://www.russellstover.com/rsc-timeline Russell Stover Chocolates Timeline]</ref> |
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==Personal life== |
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==Mrs. Stover and Stover candy legacy== |
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{{Expand section|date=January 2023}} |
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In 1954, Russell Stover died, after leaving his significant contributions to the American candy industry. Russell Stover candy was sold in 2,000 pharmacies and department stores nationwide, and also, through their 40 company-owned stores. After his death, Clara Stover was the head of Russell Stover Candies for six years. |
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==Death== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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[[Category:American company founders]] |
[[Category:American company founders]] |
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[[Category:American women company founders]] |
[[Category:American women company founders]] |
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[[Category:Kansas Business Hall of Fame inductees]] |
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Latest revision as of 05:19, 5 January 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2023) |
Clara Stover | |
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| Born | Clara Mae Lewis 1882 Oxford, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | 1975 (aged 92–93) |
| Occupation(s) | Candy maker, company owner |
| Years active | 1910s–1960 |
| Known for | Co-founding with husband Russell Stover the Russell Stover Candies company |
Clara Mae Stover (1882–1975) was the wife of candy maker Russell Stover, and co-founder of Russell Stover Candies. A lifelong participant in the business, she ran the company for six years following Russell's death.[citation needed]
Early life
[edit]Clara Mae Stover was born in Oxford, Iowa, in 1882.[1] She was raised on a farm with three sisters, and strongly influenced by one of her grandmothers[which?] to be self-reliant.
Clara and Russell Stover met as students at the Iowa City Academy in Iowa City, Iowa.[when?] They were married in 1911. They bought a 580-acre wheat and flax farm in Saskatchewan, Canada, but the heavy rains destroyed their crops.
Career
[edit]Introduction to candy industry
[edit]Russell Stover was hired by a candy company in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Some years later the couple returned to the United States, where Russell worked for confectioners, in Des Moines, Iowa and Chicago, Illinois, during the balance of the 1910s.[citation needed]
Naming the "Eskimo Pie"
[edit]
Iowa schoolteacher Christian Nelson had the idea of enrobing a block of vanilla ice cream with melted chocolate. He partnered with Russell Stover, then studying chemistry at the University of Iowa, to develop a workable process of doing so without melting the ice cream. In 1921 a patent was granted, allowing Nelson's concept to be mass produced. At a dinner party, Clara suggested calling the novelty an "Eskimo Pie", which became a national sensation. Russell was soon offered licensing agreements, which he accepted, and buyout offers into the millions of dollars, which he refused; instead, he focused on suing imitators. Ultimately he waited too long, imitators thrived, the initial craze wore down, and licensed sales plummeted into the mere thousands of dollars.[1][2]
The Russell Stover Candy Company
[edit]
The Stovers relocated to Denver, Colorado and used their meager earnings to create their own confectionery company, "Mrs. Stover's Bungalow Candies". With success came factories in Denver and Kansas City, Missouri. By 1932 all operations were relocated to Kansas City, sales having increased from 20,000 to 11 million pounds.[citation needed] In 1943 the company was renamed "Russell Stover Candies".[3]
Later years with the company
[edit]In 1954 Russell Stover died. At the time there were 40 company-owned stores and their candy was sold in 2,000 pharmacies and department stores nationwide.[citation needed] Clara took over and ran the business until 1960. That year Louis Ward, a box maker who had been supplying packaging materials to the company, purchased a controlling interest and took the business public.[3]
Personal life
[edit]![[icon]](/enwiki/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2023) |
Clara Stover died in Kansas City in 1975, where she had lived with her husband. Her cremated remains are interred with those of her husband and daughter at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Kansas City.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Coleman, Daniel. "Clara and Russell Stover, Candymakers". Missouri Valley Special Collections. Kansas. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
- ^ International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 12. St. James Press, 1996
- ^ a b Russell Stover Chocolates Timeline
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