208. John⁵ VAN GUNDY (David Jr⁴, David Sr³, Peter Sr², Male¹) was born in Morgan Co, IL 1830. John died July 4, 1905 in Decatur, Macon Co, IL, at 75 years of age. His body was interred in Greenwood Cem, Decatur, Macon Co, IL.

He married twice. He married Sarah A SCOBEY in Scott Co, IL, September 25, 1854. Sarah was born in IL 1831. Sarah died April 19, 1904 in Decatur, Macon Co, IL, at 72 years of age. Her body was interred in Greenwood Cem, Decatur, Macon Co, IL. At 24 years of age Sarah became the mother of Mary Ann VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, July 21, 1855. At 25 years of age Sarah became the mother of James Douglas VAN GUNDY in Exeter, Scott Co, IL, September 22, 1856. At 26 years of age Sarah became the mother of Laura Jane VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, February 27, 1858. At 27 years of age Sarah became the mother of Daniel William VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, February 3, 1859. At 31 years of age Sarah became the mother of Mabel\Carrie VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, 1862. At 31 years of age Sarah became the mother of John Frederick "Freddy" VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, April 4, 1863. At 33 years of age Sarah became the mother of Elmer Henry VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, October 8, 1864. At 36 years of age Sarah became the mother of Infant VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, March 7, 1868. At 39 years of age Sarah became the mother of Charles E A VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, December 12, 1870. Sarah became the mother of Everett VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, after 1870. He married Martha (VAN GUNDY) 1905. Martha died in Decatur, Macon Co, IL. Her body was interred in Greenwood Cem, Decatur, Macon Co, IL. Following John's death, she continued to live in the house on Water St until she died, having her funeral there.

At 25 years of age John became the father of Mary Ann VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, July 21, 1855. At 26 years of age John became the father of James Douglas VAN GUNDY in Exeter, Scott Co, IL, September 22, 1856. At 27 years of age John became the father of Laura Jane VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, February 27, 1858. At 28 years of age John became the father of Daniel William VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, February 3, 1859. At 32 years of age John became the father of Mabel\Carrie VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, 1862. At 32 years of age John became the father of John Frederick "Freddy" VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, April 4, 1863. At 34 years of age John became the father of Elmer Henry VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, October 8, 1864. At 37 years of age John became the father of Infant VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, March 7, 1868. At 40 years of age John became the father of Charles E A VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, December 12, 1870. John became the father of Everett VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, after 1870. Our lineage continues with John. History records said he was a prominent and well known citizen. By the standards of the day, John and his family definitely lived a comfortable life. Residences and events: 1830 Scott Co, IL. He owned a large tract of land of at least 300 acres. 1850 Naples, Scott Co, IL. John had property = $6000/1000 and was a farmer in the census. A Joseph Schultz, farm hand from Germany, was living with them and next door was the Henry Vannier family, related through nieces and nephews who married Vanniers. 3/15/1855 He bought several pieces of land at Naples at auction. 1860 Scott Co, IL. At census time, he reported his property value the same as in 1850, $6000/1000 and Henry Vannier was still next door. 10/11/1869 John and Sarah donated land near Naples to be used for a school with the provision that the property reverted back to them if the school ever vacated the premises. Also in the deed were instructions to school trustees to build a "good substantial Board fence around said ground." 1870 Scott Co, IL. His property now = $8670/1980, Henry was still there next door. 11/13/1873 For $50 John sold all the downed and/or dead standing timber on a 2 acre plot to a Marshall Smith. 1873 Macon Co, IL, Milam Twp, near Decatur. In preparation for moving east with his siblings, John bought 238 1/2 acres in S31 T15N R3E, the same section as brother-in-law, Ellery Merris. However, John and his family did not move there for another couple of years. 1/18/1875 Scott Co, IL, was still their address when they sold 289 acres to Herman Vannier. They probably moved to Macon Co either the past fall or the following spring. The Vannier family passed this same land to descendants of John's brother, Adam, whose later generations still owned it in 1996. 1878 Milam Twp, Macon Co, IL. John was elected County Supervisor, re-elected in 1879. He was a farmer along with his political interests. 1896 1357 N Water St, Decatur, IL. Upon retirement, he moved to the city. The county history later said he "has since lived a retired life save that he has some financial interests and is now the vice president of the Macon County Telephone Company." 3/23/1897 Moultrie Co, IL. John bought county property by warranty deed from son, DW and Laura B, at S22 T14 R5. Perhaps he intended to move nearer the children but never did. It was probably the same land DW got back by warranty deed for $1 on 8/7/1905, about the time John died, being located at the same S22 T14 R5. 1899 Decatur, IL. When the telephone company was reorganized, John was again appointed vice president. He and D B Folrath were owners of the first Rambler cars in Macon Co. Until at least 1952, there was a Merris-Van Gundy reunion held in Decatur, IL, at Fairview Park on the 3rd Sunday of August for his descendants and those of sister, Nancy Merris.

John VAN GUNDY and Sarah A SCOBEY had the following children:

359 i. Mary Ann⁶ VAN GUNDY was born in Scott Co, IL July 21, 1855. Mary died July 29, 1855 in Scott Co, IL, at less than one year of age. Her body was interred in McCaleb Cem, Bluffs, Scott Co, IL.

+ 360 ii. James Douglas VAN GUNDY was born September 22, 1856.

+ 361 iii. Laura Jane VAN GUNDY was born February 27, 1858.

+ 362 iv. Daniel William VAN GUNDY was born February 3, 1859.

363 v. Mabel\Carrie VAN GUNDY was born in Scott Co, IL 1862. Mabel\Carrie died 1880 at 18 years of age. She was called Carrie in the 1870 census, there is no further record of her.

+ 364 vi. John Frederick "Freddy" VAN GUNDY was born April 4, 1863.

+ 365 vii. Elmer Henry VAN GUNDY was born October 8, 1864.

366 viii. Infant VAN GUNDY was born in Scott Co, IL March 7, 1868. Infant died March 7, 1868 in Scott Co, IL, at less than one year of age. His body was interred in McCaleb Cem, Bluffs, Scott Co, IL.

367 ix. Charles E A VAN GUNDY was born in Scott Co, IL December 12, 1870. Charles died January 15, 1871 in Scott Co, IL, at less than one year of age. His body was interred in McCaleb Cem, Bluffs, Scott Co, IL.

368 x. Everett VAN GUNDY was born in Scott Co, IL after 1870.

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