Daniel W. Prows

Daniel Whitfield Prows (February 4, 1821 - April 25, 1898) was an American farmer in Dry Creek Valley near Healdsburg in Sonoma County, California who was taken into state custody at the Ukiah Insane Asylum during 1896, attributed in press reporting to be partly due to claims he had invented a perpetual motion machine, and more generally that he was "the conqueror of the sun."

Press Coverage

 * "D. Prowse, a leading farmer of this valley, was committed to the Ukiah insane asylum yesterday. For some time he has acted strangely, and claimed that he had invented a perpetual motion machine. Yesterday he was so violent that he was taken in charge with the above result."
 * "Daniel W. Prows is hopelessly insane and an inmate of the Ukiah asylum. Some three weeks ago he lost his mind and has been since a raving maniac. The unfortunate old man, who is a pioneer settler of this county and who owns one of the best farms in Dry Creek valley, was stricken with paralysis some six years ago. He rallied from the shock, but his mental faculties were rendered feeble and he never was the stout and robust man of former years. He was taken to Santa Rosa by Constable Norton Saturday morning and there adjudged insane by the Insanity Commissioners. He was examined and committed to the asylum at Ukiah, whither the same officer took him. Mr. Prows’ hallucination seems to he that he is the conqueror of the sun. There are no hopes entertained of the unfortunate man's recovery of mind, and in body he is becoming weak and helpless."