Dow was president of the Dover, New Hampshire, horsecar railroad,[1] and believed to be the first woman in the world to hold such a position.

[5] While in the West, she conceived a liking for the stage, because of her success in amateur theatricals, but the disapproval of friends caused her to abandon the idea.

[6] Five years after the death of Mr. Gray, she married Dr. Henry Dow, a physician of Dover, and a gentleman owning considerable property.

A Boston syndicate made overtures for possession of the whole stock, and with such success that the board of directors reached the point of voting to sell.

She at once decided that, if the stock were so low, and yet the Boston syndicate expected to make the road pay, any other able financier might reasonably indulge the same hope; that, if there were any profits to be obtained, they ought to be saved to Dover, and that she would try her own hand in the matter.

When the next meeting was called, it was supposed that the property would be transferred to the Boston party, but it transpired that Mrs. Dow acquired more than half the stock.

[4][7] After her election to the presidency, her first moves as general manager were to double the insurance on the property, inaugurate a system of cash payments, thereby avoiding debts, and getting on all bills a discount of ten per cent.

People who dealt with the road had not been accustomed to receive ready money from it, and the pleasant surprise caused them to make their discounts more liberal.

She also added to the receipts by using tickets with advertisements relating to a favorite brand of tobacco, and this little resort, although considered to be sharp business sense, was regarded as a poor choice for a woman.

At the close of the year, under Mrs. Dow's administration, the affairs of the road showed an improved condition, and a dividend of 11 percent was declared.

He was widely known also in journalism and as editor of the Dover Gazette and as contributor to the Herald, was one of the pioneer and progressive newspaper men of the area.