Gowdy, Sophronia Smith – 1852-1937

DAVIS, DESPOD, GOWDY, SMITH

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:40

Mrs. Gowdy, 86, Dies Here Monday
Funeral Services to be Held in Newton Wednesday Afternoon
Mrs. Sophronia Gowdy, 86, resident of Newton for a number of years, died Monday night at 7:50 p.m. at her home, 514 East Fourth Street South. Death was attributed to complications developing from old age.
Mrs. Gowdy had been in ill health for several years and had been bedfast for the past month.
Funeral services will be conducted from the Morgan funeral home Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. by Dr. Leslie B. Logan, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church. Interment will be in the Logan cemetery, southwest of Melbourne.
Born in 1852
As Sophronia Smith, she was born Feb. 4, 1852 on a farm near West Liberty in Muscatine county, the daughter of pioneer settlers, John and Catherine (Davis) Smith. She was the last surviving member of a family of eight children.
She came to Kellogg when she was 18 years old to live with a sister, Mrs. Mary Whitney, and then moved to State Center where she remained until her marriage.
She was united in marriage to J. Riley Gowdy Dec. 28, 1876, and to this union four children were born, three of whom are living.
Lived Near Melbourne
Mr. and Mrs. Gowdy lived for the first few years after their marriage on a farm near Melbourne and then moved to Highmore, S.D., for seven years. They returned to Iowa to a farm near Vancleve, Ia., remaining there until Mr. Gowdy’s death Jan. 7, 1904.
In 1908, Mrs. Gowdy came to Newton with her daughter, Mabel who later became Mrs. Harry T. Smith. For the last 29 years, Mrs. Gowdy had made her home in the present residence on East fourth Street South, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith have lived with her since 1919.
Mrs. Gowdy was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Newton and was formerly affiliated with Newton Chapter No. 100, O.E.S.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Gowdy was preceded in death by a son, Charles.
Surviving relatives include three children, Robert J. Gowdy of Melbourne, Mrs. Jennie Despod of Mount Harris, Colo., and Mrs. Smith of Newton, 12 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.
Source: Newton Daily News; Tuesday, November 30, 1937

Conduct Rites For Mrs. Gowdy
Funeral Services for 86-Year-Old Woman Held in Newton
Funeral services for Mrs. Sophronia Gowdy, 86, 514 East Fourth Street South, were conducted from the Morgan Funeral home Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. by Dr. Leslie B. Logan, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Music was furnished by Mrs. Charles Schwartz, who sang “In the Garden,” and “The Old Rugged Cross.” Mrs. Redeen was the accompanist.
Interment was in the Logan cemetery, southwest of Melbourne, with the following serving as pall bearers: Everett Smith, Dick Kennedy, Ed Haines, Clyde Gorrell, W. W. Smith and Charles Schwartz.
Mrs. Gowdy died Monday night at her home, 514 East Fourth Street South, where she lived with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Harry T. Smith.
Surviving relatives include three children, Robert J. Gowdy of Melbourne, Mrs. Jennie Despod of Mt. Harris, Colo., and Mrs. Smith of Newton; 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Source: Newton Daily News; Saturday, December 4, 1937

Gowdy, Sophronia; born: 04 Feb. 1852; in Iowa; died: 29 Nov. 1937; Mother’s maiden name: Davis; Death Cert # C50-0109