Genealogy of the Dow/Dowe Family

The Dow Family originated from Kumis, Virginia, near a town called Olaf, formerly known as Big Hill, Virginia. There was a farm in Big Hill owned by a family by the name of Kent. One of the slaves, Samuel Dow, was later sold in 1865 to a family in New Orleans, Louisianna. Before being sold, Samuel married Rebecca Edmundson from Christiansburg, Virginia. Rebecca, better known as "Betsy", was of mixed decent, Out of this union, Samuel and Betsy bore nine children. They are listed below according to birth records:

1. Charles Dow
   Sons: Bentley, William, Walter, Robert
2. Lewis Dow
   Sons: Lewis, Joseph, George, Gus
   Daughters: Annie, Alice, Nannie, Mary Sue
3. Elliott Dow
   Sons: Andrew, Charles, Samuel
   Daughters: Ann (Dow) Jackson, Laura (Dow) Turner
4. Susan (Dow) Washington
   Sons: General, Will
   Daughters: Lakie, Hattie, Susan
5. Betty (Dow) Jordan
   Sons: William, Lloyd, Kent, Asbury, Cornelius
   Daughters: Susan, Minnie Picola
6. Ann (Dow) Johnson
   No recorded children
7. Mariah (Dow) Willis
   Sons: Lucian, Matthew, Bruce, Clifford
   Daughters: Jenny, Martha Willis Whitlock
8. Unknown Sister: Taken by Slave Owners
9. James Dow
10. Sons: Charles, Earnest, Felix, Bentley, Ferninand, Lawrence, Melvin, Joseph, Albert, Horace, Leo
    Daughters: Ida, Letitia, Advin (Dow) Jackson, Valerie (Dow) Scott
11. 
    

James Dow; Elaine Carter's grandfather	Elaine Carter's Father's House

Valerie is the only grandchild of Samuel and Rebecca Dow who is living. Most of the history obtained, came from Valerie Scott's memory. To date, she is 91 years old. Other history was found in church records at First Baptist Church in Elliston, Virginia.

Text and images from "We Are Many But We Are One," the Dow/Dowe Family Reunion. Hosted by the Roanoke Valley Chapter, Roanoke, Va., July 21-23, 1995.