THEODORE WILCOX -- 175th INFANTRYCONNECTICUT YANKEE IN A NEW YORK REGIMENT - Theodore Wilcox was born inAvon, 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 themany hat factories there. Five years later, he married Mary Sheffieldand in 1862, their first child was born.On September 5, 1864, Theodore enlisted in the 175th Infantry inPlattsburgh and gave his occupation as cooper. He was mustered in threeweeks later and went to join his regiment which had spent the last twoyears in Louisiana and was in need of fresh troops. They were stationedwith the Army of the Shenandoah in the Shenandoah Valley upon theirreturn.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 outfrom the hospital in York, PA, about 100 miles to the northeast.He went back to Connecticut and the 1870 Census records him as being aretired grocer in Norfolk. In 1880 he was working in a hat factory tosupport his family of three. Two years later, Theodore died when he wasalmost forty-five years old, and was buried in the East NorwalkHistorical Cemetery under a stone that reads, "Be thou faithful untildeath." Mary lived until she was almost ninety.
