Name: Dows, Gustavus D. (1828-1886)
Other Names: Dows, Gustavus Davis
Born: 10/26/1828
Birthplace: Billerica, MA
Died: 02/15/1886
Death Location: Boston, MA
Residence: Billerica, MA
Lowell, MA
Boston, MA 1858-1886
Nationality: American
Occupation: Druggist
Patent Medicines (Jamaica Ginger Cordial)
Inventor of first ornamented (marble) American soda fountain and of various improvements.
Father: Dows, Joseph
Mother: Sprague, Mary
Relations: Sibling: Amos (his partner in druggist business in Lowell)
Spouse: Mary Jane Ballard (1834-1914), married December 31, 1854, Lowell, MA
Children: 1. Walter Gustavus, b. October 10, 1857, Lowell, MA
2. Joseph Henry, b. November 21, 1861, Boston, MA
3. Geworge Herbert, b. February 16, 1871, Sutton, Middlesex, England
4. Jennie Florence, b. July 19, 1872, Boston, MA
Notes: Dows is considered the father of the American soda fountain, which led to the creation and expansion of the enormous soda pop industry today. He experimented in the 1850's with making a machine that would produce fizzy soda drinks, to provide at his pharmacy in Lowell, MA. He introduced his soda fountain in 1858 and patented it in 1861. He obtained additional patents, including one in 1863 for a marble soda fountain ornameted with eagles for the handles. He had these produced and sold them for $225 each; accoding t o one source, he was hardly able to keep up with demand.
He also produced a highly regarded "Jamaica Ginger Cordial," with its own marked cordial glass; also advertising tradecards for same.