Excerpts from the Centennial History of Rush Co, Indiana, Vol 2, 1921:
John Kennedy Gowdy, son of Adam McConnell and Nancy (Oliver) Gowdy, was born at Arlington in this county on 23 Aug 1843. In 1849, the family moved from Rush to Jasper Co, Indiana, where John K received his education in the public schools. His father, who was a public speaker of ability, attained prominence in politics and was elected a delegate to the second state constitutional convention which met at Indianapolis in October 1850, and a member of the legislature for the legislative district then composed of Jasper, White and Pulaski counties.
When the Civil War threatened the life of the republic, John K Gowdy enlisted in Co. L, in the Indiana Volunteer cavalry at Lafayette, 17 Jul 1862 at the age of 18. After the war, he returned to Rush County. In 1866, Mr Gowdy joined the Methodist Episcopal church of which he remained a consistent and devout member. On 24 Jan 1867, he married Eve E Gordon, daughter of one of the pioneers of Rush County. To this union were born two children, Latta Theodore who died in infancy, and Fanny Alice who married Robert E Mansfield (American Consul General to Chile) on 17 Apr 1906.
In 1870, Mr Gowdy was elected Sheriff of Rush County, to which office he was re-elected two years later. In 1882, he was elected to the office of Auditor of Rush County for a term of four years, then was renominated and served another eight years. In 1892, he was elected chairman of the Indiana Republican state committee.
Soon after the inauguration of President McKinley in March 1897, Mr Gowdy was appointed Consul General to Paris. Mr Gowdy was the recipient of many honors and compliments from several societies and organizations in Paris, and from the French government he received the decoration of Officer of the Legion of Honor, being the first American consular officer to have that distinction bestowed upon him. Among the special and distinguished acts was his assistance in locating the body of John Paul Jones, the American naval hero, whose remains were found in a Paris cemetery, disinterred, and returned to his native country under naval escort and buried in Annapolis with naval honors. [Jones was born John Paul (he added "Jones" later to hide from persecution) on the estate of Arbigland near Kirkbean in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright on the southwest coast of Scotland. His father, John Paul, Sr., was a gardener at Arbigland, and his mother was named Jean McDuff (1708-1767)]. (wikipedia)
On 3 Jul 1900, Consul General Gowdy delivered the address presenting the statue of George Washington, at Place d'Iena, Paris, a gift of the American people to the French government. After eight and a half years of official residence abroad, Mr Gowdy resigned his position as consul general and returned with his family to his home in Rushville to resume his business and to live among his neighbors and friends. His homecoming was made a gala day by old friends who gathered at Rushville in large numbers to receive and to extend a welcome to him and his family.
He died at his home in Rushville on 25 Jun 1918.
John Kennedy Gowdy, son of Adam McConnell and Nancy (Oliver) Gowdy, was born at Arlington in this county on 23 Aug 1843. In 1849, the family moved from Rush to Jasper Co, Indiana, where John K received his education in the public schools. His father, who was a public speaker of ability, attained prominence in politics and was elected a delegate to the second state constitutional convention which met at Indianapolis in October 1850, and a member of the legislature for the legislative district then composed of Jasper, White and Pulaski counties.
When the Civil War threatened the life of the republic, John K Gowdy enlisted in Co. L, in the Indiana Volunteer cavalry at Lafayette, 17 Jul 1862 at the age of 18. After the war, he returned to Rush County. In 1866, Mr Gowdy joined the Methodist Episcopal church of which he remained a consistent and devout member. On 24 Jan 1867, he married Eve E Gordon, daughter of one of the pioneers of Rush County. To this union were born two children, Latta Theodore who died in infancy, and Fanny Alice who married Robert E Mansfield (American Consul General to Chile) on 17 Apr 1906.
In 1870, Mr Gowdy was elected Sheriff of Rush County, to which office he was re-elected two years later. In 1882, he was elected to the office of Auditor of Rush County for a term of four years, then was renominated and served another eight years. In 1892, he was elected chairman of the Indiana Republican state committee.
Soon after the inauguration of President McKinley in March 1897, Mr Gowdy was appointed Consul General to Paris. Mr Gowdy was the recipient of many honors and compliments from several societies and organizations in Paris, and from the French government he received the decoration of Officer of the Legion of Honor, being the first American consular officer to have that distinction bestowed upon him. Among the special and distinguished acts was his assistance in locating the body of John Paul Jones, the American naval hero, whose remains were found in a Paris cemetery, disinterred, and returned to his native country under naval escort and buried in Annapolis with naval honors. [Jones was born John Paul (he added "Jones" later to hide from persecution) on the estate of Arbigland near Kirkbean in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright on the southwest coast of Scotland. His father, John Paul, Sr., was a gardener at Arbigland, and his mother was named Jean McDuff (1708-1767)]. (wikipedia)
On 3 Jul 1900, Consul General Gowdy delivered the address presenting the statue of George Washington, at Place d'Iena, Paris, a gift of the American people to the French government. After eight and a half years of official residence abroad, Mr Gowdy resigned his position as consul general and returned with his family to his home in Rushville to resume his business and to live among his neighbors and friends. His homecoming was made a gala day by old friends who gathered at Rushville in large numbers to receive and to extend a welcome to him and his family.
He died at his home in Rushville on 25 Jun 1918.
Excerpts from the Centennial History of Rush Co, Indiana, Vol 2, 1921:
John Kennedy Gowdy, son of Adam McConnell and Nancy (Oliver) Gowdy, was born at Arlington in this county on 23 Aug 1843. In 1849, the family moved from Rush to Jasper Co, Indiana, where John K received his education in the public schools. His father, who was a public speaker of ability, attained prominence in politics and was elected a delegate to the second state constitutional convention which met at Indianapolis in October 1850, and a member of the legislature for the legislative district then composed of Jasper, White and Pulaski counties.
When the Civil War threatened the life of the republic, John K Gowdy enlisted in Co. L, in the Indiana Volunteer cavalry at Lafayette, 17 Jul 1862 at the age of 18. After the war, he returned to Rush County. In 1866, Mr Gowdy joined the Methodist Episcopal church of which he remained a consistent and devout member. On 24 Jan 1867, he married Eve E Gordon, daughter of one of the pioneers of Rush County. To this union were born two children, Latta Theodore who died in infancy, and Fanny Alice who married Robert E Mansfield (American Consul General to Chile) on 17 Apr 1906.
In 1870, Mr Gowdy was elected Sheriff of Rush County, to which office he was re-elected two years later. In 1882, he was elected to the office of Auditor of Rush County for a term of four years, then was renominated and served another eight years. In 1892, he was elected chairman of the Indiana Republican state committee.
Soon after the inauguration of President McKinley in March 1897, Mr Gowdy was appointed Consul General to Paris. Mr Gowdy was the recipient of many honors and compliments from several societies and organizations in Paris, and from the French government he received the decoration of Officer of the Legion of Honor, being the first American consular officer to have that distinction bestowed upon him. Among the special and distinguished acts was his assistance in locating the body of John Paul Jones, the American naval hero, whose remains were found in a Paris cemetery, disinterred, and returned to his native country under naval escort and buried in Annapolis with naval honors. [Jones was born John Paul (he added "Jones" later to hide from persecution) on the estate of Arbigland near Kirkbean in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright on the southwest coast of Scotland. His father, John Paul, Sr., was a gardener at Arbigland, and his mother was named Jean McDuff (1708-1767)]. (wikipedia)
On 3 Jul 1900, Consul General Gowdy delivered the address presenting the statue of George Washington, at Place d'Iena, Paris, a gift of the American people to the French government. After eight and a half years of official residence abroad, Mr Gowdy resigned his position as consul general and returned with his family to his home in Rushville to resume his business and to live among his neighbors and friends. His homecoming was made a gala day by old friends who gathered at Rushville in large numbers to receive and to extend a welcome to him and his family.
He died at his home in Rushville on 25 Jun 1918.
John Kennedy Gowdy, son of Adam McConnell and Nancy (Oliver) Gowdy, was born at Arlington in this county on 23 Aug 1843. In 1849, the family moved from Rush to Jasper Co, Indiana, where John K received his education in the public schools. His father, who was a public speaker of ability, attained prominence in politics and was elected a delegate to the second state constitutional convention which met at Indianapolis in October 1850, and a member of the legislature for the legislative district then composed of Jasper, White and Pulaski counties.
When the Civil War threatened the life of the republic, John K Gowdy enlisted in Co. L, in the Indiana Volunteer cavalry at Lafayette, 17 Jul 1862 at the age of 18. After the war, he returned to Rush County. In 1866, Mr Gowdy joined the Methodist Episcopal church of which he remained a consistent and devout member. On 24 Jan 1867, he married Eve E Gordon, daughter of one of the pioneers of Rush County. To this union were born two children, Latta Theodore who died in infancy, and Fanny Alice who married Robert E Mansfield (American Consul General to Chile) on 17 Apr 1906.
In 1870, Mr Gowdy was elected Sheriff of Rush County, to which office he was re-elected two years later. In 1882, he was elected to the office of Auditor of Rush County for a term of four years, then was renominated and served another eight years. In 1892, he was elected chairman of the Indiana Republican state committee.
Soon after the inauguration of President McKinley in March 1897, Mr Gowdy was appointed Consul General to Paris. Mr Gowdy was the recipient of many honors and compliments from several societies and organizations in Paris, and from the French government he received the decoration of Officer of the Legion of Honor, being the first American consular officer to have that distinction bestowed upon him. Among the special and distinguished acts was his assistance in locating the body of John Paul Jones, the American naval hero, whose remains were found in a Paris cemetery, disinterred, and returned to his native country under naval escort and buried in Annapolis with naval honors. [Jones was born John Paul (he added "Jones" later to hide from persecution) on the estate of Arbigland near Kirkbean in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright on the southwest coast of Scotland. His father, John Paul, Sr., was a gardener at Arbigland, and his mother was named Jean McDuff (1708-1767)]. (wikipedia)
On 3 Jul 1900, Consul General Gowdy delivered the address presenting the statue of George Washington, at Place d'Iena, Paris, a gift of the American people to the French government. After eight and a half years of official residence abroad, Mr Gowdy resigned his position as consul general and returned with his family to his home in Rushville to resume his business and to live among his neighbors and friends. His homecoming was made a gala day by old friends who gathered at Rushville in large numbers to receive and to extend a welcome to him and his family.
He died at his home in Rushville on 25 Jun 1918.
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