E. Sheppard Gordy, manager and treasurer of The Underwriters Agency Company, at New Haven, and also doing a large general insurance business, was born in Salisbury, Maryland, November 22, 1858, a son of Elijah M. and Martha (Sheppard) Gordy, representatives of old southern families. Both parents were born in Maryland, where the father engaged in farming throughout his entire life, passing away on the old family homestead near Salis bury in 1902, when seventy-two years of age. His wife died in 1907, at the age of sixty-nine years.
     E. Sheppard Gordy was the fourth in order of birth in a family of live children. In early boyhood he attsnded the country schools and later continued his education in the Salisbury high school. He afterward took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for five years in the ountry schools near his home. He then resumed his studies at Wesleyan University in Mildletown, Connecticut, and was graduated from that institution in 1884. He afterward became principal and superintendent of schools at Ansonia, Connecticut, remaining in that connection from 1884 to 1890, or for a period of six years. He then resigned to take up life insurance in Boston, Massachusetts, as a representative of the Hartford Life Insurance Company, holding the position of state agent for three and a half years. In October, 1893, he came to New Haven to occupy a similar position, in which he continued until April, 1897, when he resigned to take the state agency for the Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Com-pany off Philadelphia and in that connection he still continues. In 1894, at Ansonia, he opened a general insurance office, representing four leading fire insurance companies. This business has assumed large proportions and he now has the distinction of being at the head of an extensive general insurance agency, representing thirty leading insurance companies. In January, 1911, he became treasurer of The Underwriters Agency Company of New Haven and in October of the same year he assumed the position of manager, in which connection he still continues. He has also been one of the directors of the Savings Bank of Ansonia, Connecticut, for many years.
     In July, 1888, Mr. Gordy was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Cotter, of Ansonia, Connecticut, a daughter of Samuel A. and Harriet S. Cotter, who were representatives of old New England families, the latter being a sister of the wife of Hon. Stephen W. Kellogg, of Waterbury, Connecticut. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gordy. Sheppard Bliss, who was born in Ansonia in 1889 and is a graduate of the Derby high school, afterward entered the Vale Sheffield Scientific School and won the Ph. B. degree in 1910. He com-pleted the mining engineer's course in the Yale Sheffield School in 1912 and is now with the Guggenheim Copper Company in Chile. South America. Lucia Hosmer Gordy, born in 1894 in Derby, Connecticut, is a high school graduate and completed the course in Vassar College with the class of 1915. Elizabeth Cotter was born in Derby. January 22, 1903. Charles Kellogg was born in Derby in April, 1905, and was graduated from the grammar school in 1917.
     In connection with his business interests Mr. Gordy has always found time to further public progress and improvement by cooperating with many plans and measures for the general good. He is, and has been, since its organization, a director and secretary of the Derby public library. He is also one of the trustees of the Griffin Hospital of Derby and was for four years chairman of the board of education. He was also president of the Young Men's Christian Association of Ansonia for five years and superintendent of the Congregational Sunday school of Derby for four years. He is a member of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce, also of the Manufacturers Club of Ansonia, and is a member of the Derby and Shelton Boards of Trade at Derby. He belongs to Psi Upsilon, a college fraternity. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he recognizes the obligations and responsibilities as well as the privileges of citizenship. In all things he standa for progress and improvement and is actuated by an onward spirit in everything that he undertakes.