THEODORE M. GOWDY BIOGRAPHY AS RECORDED IN: COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND
REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY 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 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. Biographies of Tolland County |