C.A. Dow, C. S. B.

In the 1800's travel was dangerous, to say the least Mrs. Dow was injured in a shipwreck on the Great Lakes, presumably at the time she moved from the state of New York, where she was born, to Cass County, Michigan, where she was married to Simeon in 1846. As a result of those injuries, and others suffered in a train mishap in Westside in 1883, Chloe Ann Dow studied to become a Christian Science Practitioner in accordance with the principles taught by the Rev. Mary Baker Eddy.

There have been no specifics found concerning the shipwreck, but a Denison newspaper article dated Thursday, September 27, 1883, sets out the train mishap:

Mrs. S.E. Dow and Mrs. N.A. Richards went as delegates to attend the meeting of the W.C.T.U. [Women's Christian Temperance Union] At Vail. When the train arrived at Vail it stopped and started again before the ladies could alight, and in attempting to step to the platform, while the train was in motion, both ladies were thrown down and seriously hurt. Mrs. Richards rolled to the edge of the platform, and came near falling under the sleeper. The spectators at the depot turned their backs to the scene, and as soon as the train had passed ran to their assistance, carried them into the station, and summoned medical attendance. The news of the accident soon spread over out town by a telegram stating their condition, and requesting relatives to meet them at train with mattresses and light carriages to convey them home. Many of our citizens went to the train, and all were surprised to find them injured more than they had anticipated. N.A. Richards went in the car and carried his wife out, put her in his buggy and carried her carefully home. Asa and William E. Dow and Mrs. Abner Graves were there to meet and care for their mother. Many friends assisted in hauling the carriage with Mrs. Dow in it, by hand carefully to her home on the hill above town. S.E. Dow being away from home at the time, Dr. DeWolf, of Vail, a physician from Denison, and some ladies from Vail came home with the sufferers to care for them. Dr. Beatty and Dr. Christy, of Dunlap, were called, and the railroad company had their physician from Council Bluffs in the evening. They had a consultation and examination. They reported to the anxious friends that no bones were broken, but that both ladies were seriously injured, and it would be some time before they would entirely recover from their injuries. At this writing both ladies are unable to be off their beds, yet there is some improvement in the condition of each. The railroad officials have been here wishing to come to a settlement for damages, but the parties here did not wish to settle at present. I understand that the conductor and brakesman have both been turned out for their neglect.

Mary Baker Eddy was a lifelong student of the Bible, who yearned from her youth to find deeper answers to the persistent question of human suffering, she turned wholeheartedly to God when she experienced a critical injury in 1866. As she read accounts of Jesus’ swift and powerful healings, a new sense of God, Spirit, as the only reality flooded her thought and healed her. Impelled to understand the Principle behind this experience, she continued to search for and find in the Bible the underlying laws of God that would form the basis of her teaching and practice of Christian Science. (From http://christianscience.com/what-is-christian-science).

When Chloe Dow took her Christian Science courses in Omaha and earned her Bachelor of Christian Science degree and special note of her success was recorded in the Christian Science Journal in April of 1887:

On account of Mrs. Dow's health the family, about the year 1850, decided to remove to California. On the way, various circumstances combined to make them take up their residence in Crawford County, Iowa, in the northwestern part of the State, near the Missouri River. Here Mr. Dow bought land of the Mormons, who were at that time leaving for Utah, and selling their estates for any price they could get. The settlement was soon named Dow City, after its founder, who is not only a large owner of real-estate, but is interested in mills, stores, a ranch, a farm, and in other enterprises. The people call him by courtesy, Judge; and he is a Deacon in his church.

Some years ago Mrs. Dow suffered greatly by shipwreck on one of the great lakes. A year or two since, she was badly injured in stepping from the railway train, at a station where she was to preside at a Temperance meeting. These sufferings, and other ailments, led her to look into Christian Science, and she took a course of lessons with Mrs. Fenn, in Omaha. Not only was she greatly benefited herself, but before the course was over, she began to heal the afflicted; and since then she has been very successful in her practice, especially with pulmonary and rheumatic cases.

One is specially noteworthy. In Denison, in the same county, a young lady's case had been given up as hopeless by the regular doctors. She was suffering with lung-fever. After Mrs. Dow's first treatment, the cough ceased, and the lady was able to sleep restfully. Six treatments effected a cure; and when Mrs. Dow called there, three weeks after her first visit, she found the patient cooking dinner.

Mrs. Dow offered her services as a healer for many years. This letter was penned by Mrs. Dow in April of 1896 when she was 71-years old and appeared in the Christian Science Journal above her business advertisement.

Dow City, Iowa, April 14, 1896.

REV. MARY B. G. EDDY

Dear Mother and Beloved Teacher: —

I have been thinking of you so often of late, and if it would not be asking too much of your precious time, I would love dearly to receive a letter from you.

I want to tell you how God has blessed my work. A little more than three years ago Doctor Carr, the Dow City doctor, asked me to treat one of his patients, who had been ill a number of weeks with typhoid fever, as the doctor said, and which terminated in quick consumption. Doctor Carr told me he had done all he could for him, and as he was a nice young man, he wished very much to see him get well and would consider it a favor if I would treat him. I gave him some treatments. Sabbath evening the family sent for the doctor, and a friend of the young man, and Doctor Carr said he could not live the night through. The nurse and his mother sat by his bedside, the nurse keeping her hand on his pulse and over the region of his heart. At a few moments past twelve o'clock the nurse said to the mother, "He is dead, he is gone." But not so, for in a few moments he began to get better, and in a short time he opened his eyes and looked around.

These circumstances I did not learn until two or three days after my experience this Sabbath night. I saw the young man, Mr. Tillett, at his home, as one dead; it was like a vision, if I may use that word. I took up the thought in my sleep, there is no death, Life is eternal, and then very quickly I saw him in perfect health. My husband was by my side and touched me, which wakened me. I said, "Oh! Mr. Dow, why did you waken me? I was treating Mr. Tillett and he is going to get well." My husband's watch lay on the bureau, I noted the time, and it was just a few moments past twelve; which fact was recalled to my mind upon being told what had occurred at the young man's home at the same hour. Mr. Tillett improved rapidly from that time on, and is in perfect health today and has been ever since.

I have also had other most wonderful demonstrations of the Truth as it is in Christ Jesus, for all which I bless God's Holy name.

What a precious and comforting study, the study of Science and Health is; it grows brighter and more precious all the time. Divine Love is the all power, "a very present help in every time of trouble." How I do enjoy reading your words of Truth, Love and comfort. When I fully realize what Divine Love has done for me in Christian Science and the human family, I feel to rejoice more and more. What added words of comfort, cheer and inspiration your Communion Address gave; it filled my heart with joy and gladness; also your loving words, "Repent; forsake sin. Love God and keep his commandments."

I have been an earnest seeker after Truth, and sought to have an understanding of a practical, spiritual Christianity, and from the inmost recess of my heart I acknowledge my gratitude to Christian Science and you as its Discoverer and Founder, for what it has done for me. It gives sweet rest, peace, joy, harmony, health and happiness that the world cannot give or take away. Oh, Divine wisdom and Love ever present, ever ready to do for us more than we can think or ask, healing our diseases, forgiving our iniquities, saving our life from destruction, and crowning us with mercy and loving kindness. What more can we ask or expect?

Your faithful student in Love and Truth.

C. A. Dow, C. S. B.