Stetson hats or Stetsons, sometimes known simply as cowboy hats, refers to a bran name and not a type of hat. The John B. Stetson Company of St. Joseph, Missouri, founded by John B. Stetson (1830-1906, USA), is the manufacturer of one of the more famous variants of the cowboy hat: a felt hat with a tall crown and very wide brim. It functions to protect its wearer's eyes from the sun, and can also double as a water bowl.