THEODORE WILCOX -- 175th INFANTRY CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN A NEW YORK REGIMENT - Theodore Wilcox was born in Avon, CT, in 1837 and was living in Norwalk, CT, in 1850. His father, Stephen, was supporting his family as a hatter and working in one of the many hat factories there. Five years later, he married Mary Sheffield and in 1862, their first child was born. On September 5, 1864, Theodore enlisted in the 175th Infantry in Plattsburgh and gave his occupation as cooper. He was mustered in three weeks later and went to join his regiment which had spent the last two years in Louisiana and was in need of fresh troops. They were stationed with the Army of the Shenandoah in the Shenandoah Valley upon their return. Theodore was sent to the hospital in Harper's Ferry on October 9th, and never rejoined his regiment. On June 30, 1865, he was mustered out from the hospital in York, PA, about 100 miles to the northeast. He went back to Connecticut and the 1870 Census records him as being a retired grocer in Norfolk. In 1880 he was working in a hat factory to support his family of three. Two years later, Theodore died when he was almost forty-five years old, and was buried in the East Norwalk Historical Cemetery under a stone that reads, "Be thou faithful until death." Mary lived until she was almost ninety.
