William A. Dow of Waterford, Passumpsic, and St. Johnsbury: A Railroad Story

An extended period of sorting my late husband Dave Kanell's research turned up this wonderful photo this month, labeled on the back "William Dow's House." The photo was taken by Charles F. Shepherd (21 Main Street, St. Johnsbury, according to the 1890 St. Johnsbury directory), whose wife was Emma A. Smith (married August 7, 1884); the photographer also stamped his work "Passumpsic Vt," indicating he had a studio there. Note the buggy to the far right of the photo.

William A. Dow was born in Waterford, Vermont, in 1850, to Joseph and Lydia Jane (Keich/Keach) Dow. William worked for the Canadian Pacific Railroad, with some express agent labors, and as a Western Union agent in McIndoe Falls, say Dave's notes. In 1880 he married Mary Agnes Smith (1958-1908). His brother John K. Dow (1845-1853; wife Beverly, 1845-1913) was a member of Company H 13th Regiment Vermont Volunteers in the Civil War, John was born in Cabot; his death in 1863 was of "typhoid."

Dave's notes indicate that William also owned a home in Cambridge, MA.

As you can see from the newspaper article (St. Johnsbury Caledonian, November 10, 1915), William Dow's notoriety at that date came from his tragic death at the railroad crossing in East Ryegate. Mr. Howard Harris, one of two auto dealership partners in Boston, was driving Mr. Dow in his brand new automobile, purchased two days earlier in Boston. "Neither one had any idea that a train was approaching the crossing and the automobile was nearly over the track when it was struck near the rear wheel by the engine," the newspaper reported. A train, presumably the next one along the tracks, brought Mr. Dow to St. Johnsbury, and he was treated at Brightlook Hospital for concussion, by "Drs. Ross and Fitch," who failed to find other injuries; he did not survive the next day, dying of heart failure.

In addition to its ties to Waterford and Passumpic (presumably where the house in the photo stood) and St. Johnsbury, this material connected to today's Dow family in the region. William Dow's paternal ancestry goes to Joseph Down 1822-1905, Jacob Dow 1776-1831, Ebenezer Dow 1737-1817, John Dow 1695-1738, Thomas Dow 1653 (born in Hampton NH)-1728, Henry Dow Jr, 1615-1657. [Henry Dow Jr., in the small world of northern New England ancestry, is one of my 10-great grandfathers.]

An additional newspaper article in the St. Johnsbury Republican, also on November 10, 1915, adds that the car was a Regal; that William and Mary (who came from Littleton, N.H.) had an adopted son Earl Dow of Littleton); and that relatives called to town for the funeral included Mr. and Mrs. John Bacon of Danville (Mrs. Bacon was William's sister), Mr. and Mrs. George Smith of Littleton, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Smith of Hardwick, and Mr. and Mrs. B. R. Smith of Passumpsic, as well as A. J. Richardson and family of Littleton. William Dow's surviving brothers were Edward Dow of South Dakota and Dexter Dow, "whose whereabouts are unknown."