Los Angeles County
Biographies
ROSCOE H. DOW
DOW, ROSCOE H., Mayor, Santa
Monica, Cal., was born in Canterbury, New Brunswick Province, Canada,
Jan. 26, 1873, son of John Wesley and Hattie (Tibbetts)
Dow. He married Nellie K. Gillard at Bay City, Mich.,
Oct. 19, 1903.
Mr. Dow spent his early life in Booth Bay, Me., and
attended the public schools there until he was twelve years old, when his
father, who was in the lumber business, moved to Bay City, Mich. There he
attended public school and business college, later
spending two years at Olivet College (Mich.).
In 1891, Mr. Dow entered the employ of his father, who
was superintendent of a large lumber concern, and remained in that business
about two years. He was appointed Deputy City Clerk of Bay City when
19 years of age, serving four years, and also held a commission as Game
Warden of Bay County, Mich. In 1894 he was elected Justice of the Peace, being
the youngest judicial officer in the State at that time. He served the State in
several capacities during the administration of Gov. Pingree.
In 1903 he moved to Santa Monica, Cal., and entered the
employ of the Southwest Warehouse Co., later becoming local Mgr. there. He was with them about six years. In 1907, he was
elected to the City Council and re-elected two years later, serving second term
as Pres. of Council. In Nov., 1911, he was elected Mayor of Santa Monica as an
independent candidate, and appointed an Advisory Board of seven women to aid in
the city government.
Aside from his political activities, Mayor Dow is
interested in several business concerns, among them the Santa Monica Home
Builders and the Rose Spring Valley Water Co., of Inyo County, Cal., in both of
which he is a Director. He was one of the original advocates of the famous
Santa Monica automobile road race, an annual event.
He is a Mason, Mystic Shriner
and Elk.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
12 October 2011.
Source: Press Reference
Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 692, International News Service,
New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2011 Marie Hassard.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES