American Tobacco became American Brands, which then became Fortune Brands (FO:NYSE - commentary - research). Fortune sells everything from Jim Beam liquor to golf shoes and has revenue of nearly $7 billion, a market value of $12 billion and its dividend yields 2%. .

Chicago Gas is now called People's Energy (PGL:NYSE), a utility company that primarily serves the Chicago area. People's has a $1.7 billion market cap, $2.6 billion in revenue and a dividend yield of 5%.

Distilling and Cattle Feeding changed a simply great name and now is part of Lyondell Chemical (LYO:NYSE) The name is apt, though, as Lyondell does whats its name suggests -- makes chemicals -- and it has a market cap of $6.2 billion, revenue of $21 billion and a dividend of 3.5%.

General Electric (GE:NYSE) has basically been the success story of the original Dow. The giant has revenue of $160 billion, a market cap of $366 billion and a dividend yield of 2.8%.

Laclede Gas is still called Laclede Gas (LG:NYSE). Laclede has a market cap of $780 million, revenue of $2 billion and a dividend yield of 3.90%.

National Lead decided to shorten its name and is now called NL Industries (NL:NYSE). Like our friends Distilling and Cattle Feeding, NL primarily manufactures Titanium Dioxide. So between the old National Lead and Distilling and Cattle Feeding, the primary ingredient for almost all sunscreens is produced. NL's role in that effort produces revenues of $200 million, a market cap of $500 million and a dividend yield of 4.8%.

North American, a utility company, became Union Electric, which then became Ameren (AEE:NYSE), which operates primarily in Missouri and Illinois and generates revenue of $6.8 billion, a market cap of $11 billion and a dividend yield of 5.1%.