The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-05-14
John Emery Dow. Jr.

On Thursday of last week the remains of this
young man were quietly laid to rest in Ever.
green Cemetery. He was son of John e.
Dow, Esq, an old and respectable citizen of
Portland, and there are many of our readers
who will now hear of his early death with sin.
cere sorrow. He was born in Sheffield, N, B.,
August 6, 1913, but came with his father s
family to Portland in 1852. He received his
early education in the Portland High School,
where he was fitted for Bowdoin College,
which he entered in 1860, and whence he was
graduated in 1864. After passing year with
his father in the insurance business, he decided
to study law, and entered the Cambridge Law
School, whence he was graduated in 1866. He
then entered the Office Of Silliman 8 Ander-
son of New York city, and subsequently, omen.
ed law office in connection with a college
class-mate, under the title of Dow & McKeen
Young Dow was at this time most fortunate in
circumstances under which he began his career
in labnrious and crowded profession. Blessed
with progressing personal appearance, gen.
lal manners, thorough training, and most
hopeful courage, it was not long before he had
achieved a success in business which was quite
exceptional. He had endeared himself to the
members of his profession. and to a large cir
Gle OF appreciative friends, and few that knew
him entertained any question that his career
would be honorable and useful, Alas, at the
very time when his path seemed opening into
brightest sunshine, the cloud was gathering
which was destined to obscure his horizon and
quench in darkness the brilliant promise of his
life. Without the slightest departure from the
integrity and purity of his habits, strange, in
applicable change came over him, resulting in
neglect or Encouragement of business, and the
alienation of some of his most valued friends.
In February, 1876, the reason of this change be-
came sadly apparent in the development of
symptoms of brain paralysis, SO marked and
unmistakable that his removal to the Mclean
Asylum of Somerville, Mass, and subsequent
ly to the State Asylum at Augusta, Maine, be.
came necessary. From the sad, hopeless and
constantly deepening gloom into which this
bright and beautiful life had been plunged, the
Mercful Father granted the deliverance of
death on the morning of May 7tb. His friends
will rejoice to know that from the earliest
touch of this mysterious disease to its termna.
ton in death, young Dow was spared the real
ization of his changed condition. The happy
temper that gave sunny glow to his unclouded
life, survived the sad eclipse. and served as
cheering light in the darkened chamber of
his ssul. Only week before his death he was
happy in his ability to recognize
bis father. and to respond in touching man
ner to the tender ministry of his young wife,
who was gracously permitted to close his eyes
in death.
There are many hearts that will be filled with |
sadness by the death of this young man, and
mere in the city of Portland, where his early |
life was spent, and where was developed the |
manly and beautiful character which endearsd
him to so many, in the city in which his later
years wers passed, his memory will be fondly
and his grave will be moistened by
.ealS of tender affection