John Alexander Dowie, one of the most colorful figures in White Lake’s history, was born in 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Like many of his countrymen, Dowie set out to seek his fortune, traveling to Australia and eventually arriving in America. Thirty years later, he found himself living like a king on the shores of White Lake.
Dowie’s journey to prominence is somewhat sketchy, but records show he traveled from Australia to San Francisco before finally reaching America, the Land of Opportunity. He gained attention at the Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago, where he showcased religious themes and became known for his charismatic speaking.
A controversial figure, Dowie was seen either as a saint or one of the smoothest con men in Chicago. Despite lukewarm success abroad, he found a dedicated following in the American Midwest. In 1901, Dowie founded Zion City, Illinois, a community situated on Lake Michigan, 40 miles north of Chicago. Proclaiming himself the First Apostle, he established the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church, with a mission to eradicate alcohol, tobacco, and sex.
At its peak, Zion City thrived with a population of 8,000 and was strictly governed by Dowie’s authoritarian rule. The city’s spiritual center boasted a large tabernacle seating more than 10,000 people, often filled with a great white-robed choir and the Zion City Band. During this period, Dowie was at the height of his power.
In 1900, during a visit to White Lake, Dowie purchased the expansive estate of James and Peter Dalton. The property, featuring a stately white house built in 1870, was nestled in an oak forest along the north shore outside Montague. Dowie renamed the estate Ben Mac Dhui, after his Scottish roots, and referred to it as “My Little Galilee.”
Dowie intended to bring his choir and followers to the estate every summer for a grand retreat. Thousands would gather at White Lake to witness the spectacle of Dowie’s robed choir and band, arriving by steamer from Chicago. The grand procession would move from the lakefront to a large tent overlooking the lake, where Dowie, now sporting a full flowing white beard and an impressive white robe trimmed in purple, would deliver his powerful messages to the masses. By this time, he was affectionately known as “Dr. Dowie.”
Dowie expanded the estate, adding an electric power plant and pumping station, years before Montague had such amenities. He even improved the Old Channel Trail, trading a clay pavement for the closure of a public road in front of his property. Locals often saw him guiding his black horses or riding in a two-seated cutter past the white picket fence that enclosed his estate.
Despite living like a king, Dowie eventually faced the common fate of many dictators—he was overthrown by younger men in his inner circle. In 1907, he suffered a stroke and died a broken man at the age of 60.
After his death, Dowie’s widow and son, Gladstone, continued to live at Ben Mac Dhui for a while, attempting to operate it as a summer resort. However, with Dowie cutting his son off with just $10, they eventually lost heart and left the area. In 1950, the entire estate burned to the ground, leaving only ashes of what had once been a small religious kingdom. All that remained were the great oaks and the silent waters of White Lake.
Researched by W. Lipka
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