John Dow's biography, Roxand Township, Eaton County, Michigan

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SUBJECT: John DOW
SUBMITTER: Janice Lubitz Sedore
EMAIL: am0773@a1access.net
DATE: May 30, 1999
SURNAMES: DOW, VANNEST, BEEKMAN, SPAULDING, LOOMIS, SARLES
PAST AND PRESENT OF EATON COUNTY
Page 283-284
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 Pittsburg 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.