Neal Dow
Neal Dow was an American Prohibition advocate and politician. In 1880, Dow headed the Prohibition Party ticket for President of the United States. He saw alcohol as responsible for the downfall of individuals, families, and businesses. In 1855, his opponents rioted and he ordered the state militia to fire on the crowd.
About Neal Dow in brief
Neal Dow was an American Prohibition advocate and politician. Dow was born to a Quaker family in Portland, Maine. In 1850, Dow was elected president of the Maine Temperance Union. In 1880, Dow headed the Prohibition Party ticket for President of the United States. Dow continued to write and speak on behalf of the prohibition movement for the rest of his life until his death in Portland at the age of 93. In the 19th century, a typical American male consumed more than three times the alcohol of his modern-day counterpart. In his memoirs, Dow noted that a significant portion of a working man’s pay was in the form of daily rations of rum. He saw alcohol as responsible for the downfall of individuals, families, and businesses. In 1855, his opponents rioted and he ordered the state militia to fire on the crowd. One man was killed and several wounded, and when public reaction to the violence turned against Dow, he chose not to seek reelection. He was later elected to two terms in the Maine House of Representatives, but retired after a financial scandal. The next year, Dow met his future wife, Maria Cornelia Maynard, the daughter of a Massachusetts merchant. They married on January 20, 1830. Over the next twenty years, they had nine children, five of whom survived infancy. Their home, built at 714 Congress Street in Portland in 1829, stands and is now a museum memorializing Dow’s life and administered by the local chapter of the Women’s Christian Christian Union.
The couple had three children, of whom Neal was the middle child and only son. After his marriage, Dow’s father opened a tannery in Portland and soon became a successful business. After attending a Friends school in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and further schooling at Edward Payson’s Portland Academy, Dow followed his father into the tanning trade in 1826. He embraced technology, becoming one of the first in the city to incorporate steam power in the tanting process. He died in Portland on March 20, 1804, the son of Josiah Dow and his wife, Dorcas Allen Dow. His father was a member of the Society of Friends and a farmer originally from New Hampshire. His wife was a Congregationalist, and Dow attended services with her at Second Parish Church regularly, although he never became a member. In 1827, Dow lobbied the Maine legislature to reform the fire companies to increase their efficiency. That same year, he argued against his fire company serving alcohol at its anniversary celebration; the members compromised, and served only wine, not hard liquor. After being exchanged for another officer in 1864, Dow resigned from the military and devoted himself once more to prohibition. He later became a well-known author, playwright, and author of several books on the history of the American Civil War, including “The Battle of the Bulge” and “The Siege of Port Hudson” He was also known for his love of fine clothes, contrary to his Quaker faith.
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This page is based on the article Neal Dow published in Wikipedia (as of Nov. 03, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
