Ok, I need to weigh in on the "e" of DOW.
Sometimes the "artsy" side of a line causes a child to "distinguish" themselves from all the rest of the family. Such was the case of a nephew of my gg grandfather Benjamin F. DOW of Bureau Co., IL. Perkin S. DOW (and sometimes as "Perkin S. DOWE) had 5 children - 3 of which picked up on his use of DOWE. All 3 were artists: Arthur W. DOWE, Lillie M. DOWE and Maude Amanda DOWE. Also, all 3 "artists" found their way to California where they set up their studios in the late 1880's and early 1900's.