J. Dowd, knife manufacturer, was born in Sandisfield, Berkshire Co., Mass.

The evidence

• “J. DOWD, knife manufacturer; was born in Sandistield, Berkshire Co., Mass., Oct. 24, 1833, and. came to Wisconsin May 11, 1877, locating' at Beloit; Mr.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/18-bios-beloit.md, PDF p. 740 / book p. 744

  Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources

  

• “Dowd Knife Works, of Beloit, Wis., and one of the prominent, publicspirited and enterprising citizens of that city, is a native of Sandisfield, Berkshire county, Mass. He was born on October 24, 1833, to Jared B. and Sally (Smith) Dowd, both families of whom were of English origin, settling in New England in early colonial days. The first representative of his father's family in this country was Henry Dowd, who emigrated from England in 1639 and settled at Guilford, Conn., where some of his descendants still reside.”

  1908-brown-rock-county/34a-biographical-1.md, Vol. 2, PDF p. 317 / book p. 815

  Brown, William Fiske, editor. Rock County, Wisconsin: A New History of Its Cities, Villages, Towns, Citizens and Varied Interests, from the Earliest Times, Up to Date. Chicago: C. F. Cooper & Co., 1908. 2 vols. archive.org/details/rockcountywiscon01brow, archive.org/details/rockcountywiscon02brow.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources