Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-03-12
DEATH COMES TO
DOW|EE WHEN
FOLLOWERS
DESERT
Self Styled Prophet, "Elijah
II" Dies at Zion City De-
nouncing People in De-
lirium Before Demise
ESTRANGED FAMILY
MAY ATTEND FUNERAL

Only Bedside Attendant Was
Member Of Voliva's Coun-
cil-Unusual Career of
Eccentric Character
Chicago, March 9,-John Alexander
Dowie is lead. He passed away at 7:40
o'clock this morning at the Shiloh house
in Zion City. There was present at his
demise only Judge D. N Barnes and
two personal attendants.
1t had been his custom to hold
religious services every Sunday after
noon in the parlor of the Shiloh house.
About $50 of his original followers re-
manned faithful and attended The SER
ceased and Dowie appeared no longer
in public, since that time Dowie has
gradually been failing.
Denounced People Before Death
Sohrtly before one o'clock this morn
ing Dowie became deIlrious. His talk
was the same as at the religious meet
ings in the days when he was in his
prime. He denounced the people with
his old time vigor and ordered the
guards to throw out the disturbers. He
gradually became weaker and weaker,
until the end. No arrangements have
yet been made for the funeral.
The death Of Dowie was unexpected.
Mrs. Dowie, Judge Dowie the prophets
father and his son Gladstone, who are
in Michigan have been notified and
are expected at Zion City today.
Family Will Attend Funeral
Judge Barnes, who was at the bed
side of Dowie, is q men,oer Of Voliva's
council, but remained friendly to Dowie
believing him to be insane and not re-
sponsible for his actions.
Dowie's wife, father and son, held
the same view. 1t is therefore believed
though they have been estranged they
will attend the funeral.
Dowle's Unusual Career.
Dowie was born in Edinburg, Sc,t-
land, May 25, 1847. In 1860 his par
ents removed to Adelaide, Australia,
where young Dowie in seven years as
a clerk in q business house saved
enough money to return to Edinburg
and take five years course in theo-
logy and the arts.
His Beginning as Prophet"
He forsook the UNCONVENTIONAL
church in 1873 and went to Melbourne
where he set up free Christian taber-
nacle, organized divine healing as
ISOLATION and gained fame by going
about the country during the prevail
ence of putrid fever and effecting
many cures by prayer and the laying
on of hands.
Successful in Chicago.
Dowie landed in San francisco in
1888 almost without funds and after
two years Of wandering along the
coast he and his family came to Chi
cago and not withstanding that during
the next five years Dowie was arrest
ed at least hundred times for viola
ton of the city ordinances relating NC
the care of sick, he established branch
churches in other cities and erected
a large hospital for healing the sicl,
in Chicago, organized college fol
| training missionaries and started 6
printing plant and bank.
Founding Of Zion City.
The Christian Catholic church ii
Zion City was the outgrowth Of the
oringinal International Divine Heal
ing association, formally organized II
1896, Dowie becoming general over
seer. Four years afterwards Dowi,
announced he was Elijah the restorer
Previous to this Dowie had marked
out his plans for Zion City and si1
| thousand acres Of land were purchased
in August, 1901. In Zion City as wei
as in the church Dowie was supreme
The title to 5000 acres bought witt
| the money of the sect rested in hin
and lots were leased by him for So
years.
Millionaire in Few Years.
+. In December. 1903, Zion City wa
placed under the control of fedora
receivership. which was dissolved
week later on Dowie's presentation Q
his ability to pay dollar for dollar 70
all his Indebtedness.
At that time Dowie estimated tn
value of his holdings in Zion City a
$25, 0O0,O 900. Since then the value G
the lace factory and other industrie
and holdings are believed to have IL
Icreased to $4,000, 900.
4 Church Gets Property.
| Eighteen months ago Dowie bega
the promotion of a second Zion Cit
in Mexico. While engaged in thi
undertaking his health failed and h
went to Jamaica While there he su
fered stroke of paralysis from whic
he never fully recovered.
! II was at this time that he appointe
Wilbur Glen Voliva as his first lieu
enant and genera! cyerseer of tn
church. A month after Voliva too
charge, ne. by the power of attorne
4 vested in aim by Dowie, Fad all th
lnrnnartv of tina church transfhrra