Obituary
Théodore Gégoux
Watertown Times, July 7, 1931
Times "Morgue", Watertown, NY
Prof. Théodore Gégoux, 80, Dies
Expires in South Pasadena, California
Well Known as an Artist
  Conducted studio on south side of Public Square here and attained fame in this section as a painter - He also was an able violinist. Prof. Théodore Gégoux, an artist who spent many years of his life in Watertown, died at the home of his daughter-in-law, Mrs Théodore Gégoux Jr., at South Pasadena, Cal., 3 July.  He was 80 years and eight months of age.  His funeral is being held here today and the body will be brought to this city for burial in Brookside cemetary.

  Professor Gégoux, a French-Canadian, was born in 1850, and in his youth he displayed a talent for painting and for music.  In his early manhood he began producing paintings in oil of unusal excellence, and as a violinist he also had much ability.  He established a studio in his living quarters in the second story of a building on the north side of Public Square in the general vicinity of the Alling Rubber company store and there painted many pictures, which made him famous in this section.  With his family, consisting of his wife, Mrs. P.A. Gégoux, and two sons, the late Théodore Gégoux, Jr., and Frank Gégoux, he resided there, giving lessons on the violin at times, as well as devoting himself to painting.

  More that fourty years ago he painted a full length portrait of the late Justin W. Weeks, for a long period court crier in supreme and county courts of this county.  The portrait has hung since it was finished on the east wall of the court room in the court house.  It is by far the finest portrait of the many in oil which hang in that room, and ranks with the finest products of the greatest portrait painters in this country.  It is lifelike to the most minute detail and is beautifully executed in every respect.  At about the same time that he made the painting of the veteran court crier he painted a picture of the old side-wheel steamboat, St. Lawrence of the famous white fleet of the Folger line, which plied the Thousand Islands region four decades and more ago.  In those days search light excursions were the past time par excellence of the people of this county, and the Gégoux picture showed the St. Lawrence throwing her powerful searchlight upon the white sail of a private yacht taking a moonlight cruise.  The picture became famous and was duplicated in the natural colors, being sold widely all over the country. However, those were only two of the fine works of Professor Gégoux.  He painted one of a brace of ducks hanging against the wall, which was a thing of beauty, and there were many celebrated portraits.

  But Watertown did not afford wide enough field for the French Canadian artist, and about 21 years ago he mysteriously left his wife, family and home, disappearing completely from the community.  Where he had gone remained a mystery to them and all of his friends for several years.  It developed that he went to the Pacific coast and there he painted portraits of many distinguished citizens which soon brought him reputation as one of the greatest artists in oil west of the Rockies.  He ultimately established a studio at Champoeg, Oregon, and there he spent six years absorbing the atmosphere for the picture which he regards as his great masterpiece.  To him the voting of the people of Oregon to join the United States May 2, 1843, was a magnificent theme for a great historic canvas.

  He studied the history attending the calling together of that little group of pioneers by Joe Meek in the old Mcloughlin warehouse at Champoeg on the historic occasion, and his whole soul went into the painting.  The picture is of enormous size and on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of the event, which it depicts, it was hung in the place of honor, and referred to by the Governor of Oregon and many of the speakers.  Mr. Gégoux was present at the ceremony.  But he did not make a fortune out of the great canvas, which is said to rank with the best of that type in the United States.  Instead he was allowed living quarters and a studio in the Champoeg Memorial building, where the picture was, and for some time made a living largely by charging 25 cents admission to see the picture.  In painting the picture he made a search for original participants in the historic meeting and found 26 out of the 102.  Professor Gégoux was a sulptor as well as a painter.

  He had taught at the great conservatories of Brussels, Belgium; Paris, France; and New York, and Montreal.  He was the maker of beautiful-toned violins of choice maple wood.  He was a great master of the arts.  Today it was said by those who have known of his last years' struggle intimately that he had given his mind much to an effort to perfect a super-flying machine, and that that in reality explained his leaving of Watertown, his home and family.

Besides his widow, he is survived by one son, Frank Gégoux of this city.
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