THEODORE M. GOWDY

BIOGRAPHY

AS RECORDED IN:

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES
PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903 P. 980

THEODORE M. GOWDY (deceased) was one of the prominent men of Somers, Tolland county, and in his lifetime exerted a wholesome influence in that town, where he died March 7, 1893, after a lingering illness of several months duration. He was a son of Robert and Anna (Henry) Gowdy, and a grandson of Robert and Content (McGregor) Gowdy.

To the parents of Theodore M. Gowdy were born the following children: Angeline; John; Emeline; Cindona; Leonora; John C.; Theodore M.; Anna Maria; Marion.

Theodore M. Gowdy was born Feb. 19, 1832, in Enfield, Conn., and was taken by his parents to Somerville when he was seven years old, where he attended the public schools for a somewhat brief period, and then became an apprentice in a woolen mill. There he remained until he was nineteen years old, when he was engaged in farming and carpenter work for the eight years ensuing. At a later period he became a manufacturer of Shaker hoods, and at one time had as many as 160 men and women working for him in this industry. Meanwhile he had purchased and improved a farm in Somerville, which in 1852 became his permanent home. A few years later he owned and operated the grist mill in Somerville, doing milling work for two years. When his health began to fail, Mr. Gowdy gave up the active work of the farm, and sought to preserve such measure of health as he enjoyed.

Mr. Gowdy was married Oct. 25, 1854, to Jane F. Billings, a daughter of Alpheus Billings, who is still living at Somerville, where she commands the respect and esteem of the community to a marked degree.

Mr. Gowdy was a Republican and in 1872 was sent to the General Assembly from Somerville, where he was chairman of the committee on Fisheries. Out of the sixteen years in which he was a member of the board of selectmen he was chairman eleven years. In the management of town affairs he displayed much ability, and everything with which he had to do was handled with admirable business skill. For eight years he was deputy sheriff. In his religious convictions he was a liberal supporter of the Congregational Church at Somerville, of which his wife is a member, and where he habitually attended.

Mr. Gowdy was a man of popular traits, upright and honest in his dealings, of a kind and jovial spirit, and was known as a friend to all.

Reproduced by:

Linda D. Pingel – great-great granddaughter of Cyrus White of Rockville, Ct.

Return to Main Page