Background
He was the son of Solomon Dow (died 1822) and Phebe Dowager
He was the son of Solomon Dow (died 1822) and Phebe Dowager
He attended the common schools, and then became a store clerk.
The family removed to Hartland, Vermont, in 1811. And to a farm about nine miles from Batavia, New York in 1816. In 1827, he removed to Panama, and the next year to Silver Creek where he ran first a shoe and leather shop, then a hardware store.
In 1845, he removed to Randolph, and ran there a dry-goods store and a hardware store.
From 1860 on, he engaged in banking, and from 1881 to 1890 was President of the First National Bank of Salamanca. He entered politics as a Democrat, became a War Democrat at the beginning of the American Civil War, and remained a Republican thereafter.
He was buried at the Randolph Cemetery.
He was Supervisor of the Town of Randolph in 1851, 1853, 1856 to 1859, and 1862. A member of the New York State Assembly (Cattaraugus Company, 2nd Doctorate) in 1863 and 1864. And a member of the New York State Senate (32nd Doctorate) in 1874 and 1875.