Born in New York City, October 9, 1832. The only schooling the boy received was at the public schools of Troy, New York, before the age of nine years. At the age of fourteen Stephen entered a machine shop in Troy, New York, to learn a trade. He was an energetic and diligent youth, mastered his trade, and then aspiring to a larger field, resolved to go west. He reached the city of Milwaukee in 1848 with seventy cents in his pocket somewhat uncertain if his future, but full of courage and willing to accept any honest employment. For many years his life was full of hardships. His first occupation was found in Badenoquett, Michigan, where he spent a year in a lumber camp working for twelve dollars per month. He then crossed the peninsula from Badenoquett to Lake Superior arriving at Marquette early in November, 1849. He worked in the first machine shops, ran the first engine and assisted in erecting and running the first steam hammer erected on Lake Superior. Two years later he returned to Badenoquett, where he again engaged in lumbering, remaining there until the spring of 1853. He then removed to Muskegon, Michigan, to become the superintendent of a lumbering establishment. Mr. Dows came to Cedar Rapids, April 12, 1855, to locate permanently. He became engaged in the saw mill and lumber business in Linn and Jones counties, and for a time was superintendent of the Variety Manufacturing Works at Cedar Rapids. In August, 1862, his patriotic ardor for the Union led him to enlist in Company I, Twentieth Iowa Infantry. Going to the front as First Lieutenant, he was appointed Acting Brigade Quartermaster of the First Brigade, Second Division, Army of the Frontier. After the war Mr. Dows engaged in railroad building under contract, and was now rewarded for his long career of honest enterprise and patient efforts by abundant success. He bought large tracts of land situated in eligible locations, at low prices, and has gained a large amount of capital by developing towns in Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota. He has invested largely in real estate in Cedar Rapids and the three Dows blocks are monuments of his public spirit and enterprise. He has also been interested in banking and manufacturing. Always a republican, Mr. Dows was elected from his district to the state senate in 1875, serving in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth General Assemblies. He is a member of the Second Presbyterian church of Cedar Rapids and an elder of the same. On the 31st of October, 1855, Stephen L. Dows was married to Miss Henrietta W. Safley at Sugar Grove, Linn County, Iowa.

Born in New York City, October 9, 1832. The only schooling the boy received was at the public schools of Troy, New York, before the age of nine years. At the age of fourteen Stephen entered a machine shop in Troy, New York, to learn a trade. He was an energetic and diligent youth, mastered his trade, and then aspiring to a larger field, resolved to go west. He reached the city of Milwaukee in 1848 with seventy cents in his pocket somewhat uncertain if his future, but full of courage and willing to accept any honest employment. For many years his life was full of hardships. His first occupation was found in Badenoquett, Michigan, where he spent a year in a lumber camp working for twelve dollars per month. He then crossed the peninsula from Badenoquett to Lake Superior arriving at Marquette early in November, 1849. He worked in the first machine shops, ran the first engine and assisted in erecting and running the first steam hammer erected on Lake Superior. Two years later he returned to Badenoquett, where he again engaged in lumbering, remaining there until the spring of 1853. He then removed to Muskegon, Michigan, to become the superintendent of a lumbering establishment. Mr. Dows came to Cedar Rapids, April 12, 1855, to locate permanently. He became engaged in the saw mill and lumber business in Linn and Jones counties, and for a time was superintendent of the Variety Manufacturing Works at Cedar Rapids. In August, 1862, his patriotic ardor for the Union led him to enlist in Company I, Twentieth Iowa Infantry. Going to the front as First Lieutenant, he was appointed Acting Brigade Quartermaster of the First Brigade, Second Division, Army of the Frontier. After the war Mr. Dows engaged in railroad building under contract, and was now rewarded for his long career of honest enterprise and patient efforts by abundant success. He bought large tracts of land situated in eligible locations, at low prices, and has gained a large amount of capital by developing towns in Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota. He has invested largely in real estate in Cedar Rapids and the three Dows blocks are monuments of his public spirit and enterprise. He has also been interested in banking and manufacturing. Always a republican, Mr. Dows was elected from his district to the state senate in 1875, serving in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth General Assemblies. He is a member of the Second Presbyterian church of Cedar Rapids and an elder of the same. On the 31st of October, 1855, Stephen L. Dows was married to Miss Henrietta W. Safley at Sugar Grove, Linn County, Iowa.