Charles Dow (1851-1902), with his partner Edward Jones, founded Dow Jones & Company and The Wall Street Journal, in order to present business news in a simple, unbiased way. The paper became the most respected financial journal in the world. Dow also developed several stock averages and the Dow theory, based on his personal observations of the relationship between the stock market and general business activities.

Charles Henry Dow, born in Sterling, Connecticut on November 5, 1851, was the son of a farmer who died when his son was six years old. The family lived in the hills of eastern Connecticut, not far from Rhode Island. Knowing that he did not want to be a farmer, the tall, stooped, bushy-bearded Dow decided to try journalism.

Dow did not have much education or training, but he managed to find work at the age of 21 with the Springfield Daily Republican, in Massachusetts. He...