The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-03
DEATH OF GEN. NEAL DOW
FATHER OF PROHIBITION GRANTED
HIS WISH TO BE FREE.
Conscious Before the Final Summons
Came-Gen. Minor Il. Thomas and
Major Ginter Also Dead.

PORTLAND, Me- Oct. 2.-Gen. Neal Dow
died at his residence in this city at $3.50
o'clock this afternoon. The end was peace
full, and he retained consciousness until an
hour before he died. recognizing his chill
dren, who were gathered at his bedside.
General BOWS death was due to the in
firmities of old age. A week ago to-day he
obliged to take to his bed His mind
was still clear, however, and only a few
days ago he called for the daily paper and
read portion of it. His great weakness
made talking difficult, but the little he
could say and the gestures with which he
made his meaning palmer made it clear
that he knew those about him and that he
was aware that the end was approaching.
Once he said: 81 am very weary. long to
be free" Last night he said to his nurse:
This is the end, and it is all right" At
another time he referred to his funeral,
and mentioned the names Of several of the
Portland clergy whom he wished to be
asked to participate in the service. He also
indicated his desire that the arrangements
should be simple.
General Dows death had been expected
at any time for week or more, and this
afternoon it became evident that he had
sunk into a state of weakness from which
he could not rally. Early in the afternoon
he lost consciousness and an hour later he
passed away. No definite arrangements
have been made for the funeral. A large
number of messages of coincidence from
verious parts OF the country have been re-
cefved
General Dow came from a long-lived
Quaker family. His father lived to be
ninety-five years old and his mother was a
centenarian. Up to the time of his last
illness he was in the habit of rising at 5
o'clock every morning and taking a long
walk. He would often drive twenty miles
Of an afternoon, and was remarkably active
for q man of his age. General Dow
achieved national fame as the father of the
Maine prohibition law. Since 1910 he was
the leader of the Prohibtionists in Maine,
and was oftentimes their champion in other
Commonwealths. He was perhaps the most
influential temperance advocate in the
United States. Twice he was called on to
go to England in the interest of the tenn
perance cause, and he spoke in all of
the large cities of Great Britain. He was
mayor of Portland several times and
served two terms in the State Legislature.
His bravery in the civil war won him the
rank of brigadier general.
Neal Dow was born in Portland March 90
1904. His father was a well-to-do tanner
After being educated in the academy the
son engaged in business with his father
Young Dow had always been taught to
abhor Liquor. On every occasion he used
his influence against the traffic, but it is
said that only by accident he was led to
take the field in an open fight for prohbi-
ton. A woman whom he knew asked that
he use his influence to keep her husband
from drinking, as he was about to lose his
position on that account. He was in the
habit of getting his liquqor from a certain
place, ana she thought il the saloon keep
would reform. Dow made the request for
her, but was rebuffed by the saloon Keep
er. This treatment led him to begin a
war on the traffic which resulted in driving
every liquor dealer from the State. In
1871 he gave up his business and started on
q campaigning tour through the State.
he travelled in a carriage in summer and
sleigh in winter, visiting every section of
the State, delivering speeches and leaving
a wide trail of temperance tracts behind.
When he had saturated the State with pro-
hibition sentiment he prepared a bill for
the Legislature which prohibited the man.
ufacture and sale of liquor in Maine 1t
driven out of the State. Mr. Dow was serv-
ing his second term as mayor of Portland
when the law was passed.
When the war broke out Mr.. Dow raised
regiment and went into the field as
colonel of the Thirteenth Maine Volunteers.
He rose to the rank of brigadier general.
During a whole winter he was confined in
Libby Prison, and in 1864 was exchanged for
General Fitzhugh Lee. He was twice
wounded in battle. In 1866 he spent some
time in England, working for the abolition
of the liquor traffic. OF late years he was
much at home, attending to MS business
affairs, reading much and writing some.