Wallace A. Dow Biography


	This biography appears on page 516 in "History of Minnehaha
	County, South Dakota" by Dana R. Bailey and was scanned, OCRed
	and edited by Joy Fisher, http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031
.

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DOW, WALLACE A., was born in Croydon, New Hampshire, September 21,1844. His father 
was a carpenter and building contractor, and the subject of this sketch attended 
the village school and worked at his father's trade during his youth. For awhile 
he was engaged by the War department in secret work, but before twenty-one years of 
age he engaged in the steam heating business. For three years he was learning what 
he could of this business with the view of aiding him in what he proposed to become 
his occupation for life, namely that of an architect.  For the next three years he 
was at work with a competent architect at Concord, New Hampshire, and then, until 
he came West, was engaged in architectural work and as a contractor and builder 
at Newport, N. H.  In the fall of 1880 he came to Pierre, in this state, and the 
following February was appointed by the Governor one of the board of directors 
having in charge the building of the state penitentiary at Sioux Falls.  He was 
chairman of the board four years, and during that time the penitentiary was built 
and put in operation.  Since the completion of that institution he has been engaged 
principally in architectural work, and has made the plans for nearly all the public institutions in the state.  He is undoubtedly the best known and most competent 
architect in South Dakota. Mr. Dow is a man of positive character, and any project 
that he may champion is sure of persistent, earnest support.  He is an enterprising, 
respected citizen.