Anderson County Biographies
"Portrait and Biographical Record of Southeastern Kansas"
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1894
THOMAS P. GOWDY, an honored veteran of
the late war, is classed among the intelligent and enterprising farmers of Jackson
Township, Anderson County, who have contributed
so largely to raise it to its present high position as
a great agricultural centre. His farm is one of the
finest in the place, and here he has a comfortable
home.
Mr. Gowdy was born in Clarke County, Ohio,
December 21, 1834, to John and Ann (Steele)
Gowdy, natives of Kentucky, who married and
settled in Clarke County, Ohio, where they remained some time and then removed to Warren
County, Ill., in 1851. The former died in 1864,
and the latter in 1883. They had ten children:
James S., William C., Nancy C., Isabella, John,
Joseph, Robert, Thomas P., David and Sarah J.
Our subject spent the early years of his life in
his native county, going to Warren County, Ill.,
with his parents in 1851, and continuing with
them until the war broke out. Being of a patriotic
nature, young Gowdy enlisted in the service of
his country in July, 1862. He enrolled with
Company C, Eighty-third Illinois Infantry, and
remained on the field until the close of the struggle. In the battle of Ft. Donelson, in 1863, he
fought bravely, and when peace was declared, returned home to Warren County, where he resumed
his work on his father's farm.
In 1865, Mr. Gowdy was married to Miss
Nancy J. Caldwell, daughter of John and Mary
A. (Nichol) Caldwell, whose biographies may be
found in the sketch of Joseph Caldwell. Mrs.
Gowdy was born in Greene County, Ohio, September 24, 1841. She was twelve years old when she
went with her parents to Warren County, Ill.,
where she grew to womanhood and married our
subject. After their union, Mr. and Mrs. Gowdy
settled in Hale Township, the same county, and
there lived until the fall of 1869, when they came
to Anderson County, and located in this township,
on the land which he had previously bought. In
these years our subject has worked industriously,
improving his land, and from time to time, as he
was able, erecting the necessary outbuildings with
which to carry on farming successfully. He is
now regarded as one of the most sagacious and
prominent farmers and stock-raisers in this part of
the state, and is also a marked figure in its political
and social life. His farm comprises two hundred
and thirty-three acres of fertile soil, which yields
an abundant harvest of the various cereals each
season. Mr. Gowdy has never been an office-seeker,
but has been called to fill some important township offices, having served as Justice of the Peace
for two terms, besides filling other equally responsible positions. He is a stanch Republican and
takes an active interest in the political issues of
the day.
Mr. and Mrs. Gowdy are deeply interested in
religion, and are valued and consistent members
of the United Presbyterian Church. To this estimable couple were born three children: Brainard
W., Kiley Warren and Harry S. A law-abiding
citizen, possessed of good social qualities and excellent character, our subject is held in good repute by neighbors and friends.
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