Clara Mae (Lewis) Stover (1882-1975) = Candy Queen. Entrepreneur. She was born to Lorenzo and Mary Ann (Jenkins) Lewis in Iowa on September 25.
She first met her future husband as a young lady in her early twenties, but did not marry Russell (1888-1954), son of John and Emma Stover until her late twenties (1911). Their first home was a farm in Canada, but they soon decided farming wasn't for them. They eventually returned to the United States and Russell found work in the food industry. As an industrious wife, Clara made homemade candies in her kitchen that he sold locally.
In 1921, before they moved to Denver, Colorado, Russell partnered with Christian Nelson (1893-1992) to sell Nelson's Eskimo Pie invention. Meanwhile, Clara continued making candy in the kitchen of their bungalow home. She mixed up candy in small batches in pots and hand-dipped cordial cherries into chocolate. She named her business "Mrs. Stover's Bungalow Candies" and she became known for them. Her business expanded from their home to several stores and a factory in Kansas City during the Great Depression and war years.
In 1921, before they moved to Denver, Colorado, Russell partnered with Christian Nelson (1893-1992) to sell Nelson's Eskimo Pie invention. Meanwhile, Clara continued making candy in the kitchen of their bungalow home. She mixed up candy in small batches in pots and hand-dipped cordial cherries into chocolate. She named her business "Mrs. Stover's Bungalow Candies" and she became known for them. Her business expanded from their home to several stores and a factory in Kansas City during the Great Depression and war years.
The couple took on the care of a distant relative's five children for several years and four years after adopting their daughter, Gloria (1928-1985), they relocated their headquarters to Kansas City, MO. In 1943, the company name was changed to Russell Stover Candies.
Clara carried on the candy business after Russell's death in 1954 until she retired and sold the business in 1960. She passed away at the age of 93 in 1975 and was buried next to Mr. Stover in the Mount Moriah Cemetery Mausoleum in Kansas City.
Mrs. Stover's Bungalow Candy Delivery Truck. c. 1927
1. Clara Stover of Russell Stover Candies. By Jane F. Flynn.
2. Dictionary of Missouri Biography. By Lawrence O. Christensen, William E. Foley, & Gary Kremer. p. 728. Retrieved from Google Books.
3. Russell Stover Chocolate History
4. Social Security Death Index: U.S., 1937-1998. Surnames from L through Z. Family Tree Maker CD by Broderbund.
5. Smithsonian
6. Russell Stover, Robinson Library
7. The Eskimo Pie Corporation Records, National Museum of American History
8. Kansas State Historical Society Trading Card
9. Missouri Women, Clara Stover
10. Candy Hall of Fame
11. "Dad-ventures: Historic Names and Cemeteries in Kansas City. By Shannon Carpenter. October 22, 2015. Visit KC
12. Russell Stover's Kansas Trading Card!
13. Johnson County, KS History
14. Findagrave #22317 and #21858
14. Findagrave #22317 and #21858
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Places to Visit:
1. Sweet Tooth Marker, Kansas City International Airport, 601 Brasilia Ave, Parking Lot C, Kansas City
2. Russell Stover Headquarters, 1206 Main St, Kansas City,
3. Russell Stover Candy Stores
2. Russell Stover Headquarters, 1206 Main St, Kansas City,
3. Russell Stover Candy Stores
4. Former Residences: (1935) 803 West 54th Terr., Kansas City and 5805 Mission Drive, Mission Hills, KS. (please respect the privacy of the homeowners)
5. Mount Moriah's Mausoleum, Holmes Road (south of 435 Hwy), Kansas City
5. Mount Moriah's Mausoleum, Holmes Road (south of 435 Hwy), Kansas City
