JOHN DOW

    JOHN DOW was numbered among the first settlers in Roxand township and was one of those noble pioneers who left a definite impress upon the early history of Eaton county, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred, at his home, in Sunfield township, in the year 1885. From a history published in the year 1880 the following reference is made to this honored citizen, who was then living: "John Dow, a native of Bridgewater, Somerset county, New Jersey, and afterward a resident of the state of New York, came to Eaton county in October, 1837, and after spending some weeks in what is now Sunfield, settled on section 19, in Roxand, on land purchased from the government. He was the first in the locality, having no neighbors in the township within several miles. Roxand was then a part of Vermontville, and from 1839 to 1943 it was a part of Chester, of which later township Mr. Dow was one of the first justices of the peace and the first supervisor, by appointment, in place of Robert Wheaton, who had been elected but who was afterward found to be ineligible to the office. Mr. Dow was subsequently supervisor of Roxand for several years, and since his removal to Sunfield, in 1851, has been supervisor of the latter township until now, with the exception of one year. He is, without doubt, the veteran supervisor of the state, and it is improbable that any state in the Union can produce a man who has held that office an equal length of time. He has several times represented the board of supervisors on the state board of equalization." John Dow was the fourth child of John D. and Catherine (Vannest) Dow, both natives of New Jersey, where the former was born in 1775 and latter in 1778. His grandfather, Richard Dow, was born in Holland. John Dow was born in Somerset County, New Jersey, in 1804, and to his excellent paternal lineage was added an inherent patriotism which was transmitted from his parental grandfather, who sacrificed his life in the cause of independence, as a soldier in the war of the Revolution. John Dow devoted his younger years to labor, his father having been a farmer and weaver, and he duly availed himself of the limited educational advantages available. At the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed to a shoemaker, whom he served three years. He thereafter followed his trade in an itinerant way, going from house to house, for a number of years. At the age of twenty-one years he was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Beekman, and they became the parents of six children-William, Henry, Peter, John C., Catherine and Susan. Both Peter and Henry were soldiers in the civil war, the former meeting his death at Pittsburgh Landing, while in the service, and the latter dying after a lingering illness, resulting from his army hardships. William resides in the state of California; John C. is the subject of the memoir following this article; Catherine is the wife of Noah Spaulding, and they reside in California; and Susan, widow of Silas Loomis, resides in Vermontville, this county. Mrs. Rachel (Beekman) Dow died in February 1845, and in November 1846. Mr. Dow married Miss Grace Sarles, daughter of Samuel Sarles, one of the very early settlers of Eaton County. Mr. Dow came to Michigan in 1837, making Eaton County his destination and concerning his labors and his standing in the community the opening lines of this sketch give ample detail. It should be added, however, that he held the office of supervisor for forty-three years and that he also served as representative of Eaton County in the state legislature. He was a man of lofty character and marked mental acumen, and his name merits a place of perpetual honor on the roll of the sterling pioneers of Eaton County.