364. John Frederick "Freddy"6 VAN GUNDY (John5, David Jr4, David Sr3, Peter Sr2, Male1) was born in Scott Co, IL April 4, 1863. John died November 2, 1949 in Sarasota, FL, at 86
years of age. His body was interred November 6, 1949 in Macon Co Memorial Park, Macon Co, IL.
He married three times. He married Female (Van Gundy). This lady was John's 3rd wife and probably the
reason for the youngest step-son leaving home at age 20 to go to CA, never to communcate with the family again.
He married Ida WOODS in Winchester, Scott Co, IL, July 30, 1883. He married
Clara L WALKER in Macon, Macon Co, IL, about 1894. Clara was born May 31, 1876. Clara died February 4, 1938 at 61 years
of age. Her body was interred in Macon Co Memorial Park, Macon Co, IL. At 18 years of age Clara became the mother of
Everett O VAN GUNDY March 24, 1895. At 22 years of age Clara became the mother of Mable VAN GUNDY in Macon Co, IL, June
4, 1898. At 24 years of age Clara became the mother of Clarence Walker "CW" VAN GUNDY in Macon Co, IL, October 3, 1900. At 28
years of age Clara became the mother of Helen VAN GUNDY December 17, 1904. At 31 years of age Clara became the mother of
Fred VAN GUNDY 1907. At 34 years of age Clara became the mother of Dorothy VAN GUNDY 1910. At 41 years of age
Clara became the mother of John Francis "Junior" VAN GUNDY in Macon Co, IL, March 2, 1918.
At 31 years of age John became the father of Everett O VAN GUNDY March 24, 1895. At 35 years of age John became the
father of Mable VAN GUNDY in Macon Co, IL, June 4, 1898. At 37 years of age John became the father of Clarence Walker
"CW" VAN GUNDY in Macon Co, IL, October 3, 1900. At 41 years of age John became the father of Helen VAN GUNDY December 17,
1904. At 44 years of age John became the father of Fred VAN GUNDY 1907. At 47 years of age John became the father of
Dorothy VAN GUNDY 1910. At 54 years of age John became the father of John Francis "Junior" VAN GUNDY in Macon Co, IL,
March 2, 1918. Residences and events: 1870 Macon Co, IL. At age 7, he was not mentioned in the census with his parents' family but
perhaps it was due to a transcription error. Decatur, Macon Co, IL. John owned grain elevators at Macon and Walker, IL. In the county
atlas of 1896 was the following business advertisement: J. F. VANGUNDY Dealer in GRAIN COAL MEAL FEED Macon,
Illinois 1918 MO where son, John, was born. His residence and business there is unknown. Mid 1918 Decatur, Macon Co, IL. Son,
Everett, wrote a letter to his mother there in which he said he was glad his sisters liked their new home. 12/1941 Miami, FL, was his
residence when brother, DW, died. Brother, Elmer, also resided there at that time. Apparently John traveled between Decatur and Florida as
his obituary said he lived in Decatur both before and after his retirement, then moved to Venice. 1945 Venice, FL, was his retirement home.
John Frederick "Freddy" VAN GUNDY and Clara L WALKER had the following children:
476
i.
Everett O7 VAN GUNDY was born March 24, 1895. Everett died September 27,
1944 at 49 years of age. His body was interred in Macon Co Memorial Park, Macon Co, IL. He was a football hero in high school. He
never married. He served in WWI as Pvt in the US Army, being in France in 1918. On Sept 23 he wrote a letter to his uncle, Elmer, back
home who forwarded it to the newspapers. It stated: "I know you have seen in the paper about the big drive we made and you all wondered
if I was in it. I surely was in it and am yet, I guess. We are today at rest two miles from the firing line and may be called to go back
again at any moment. Our company had been distinguished for bravery in this drive and it was some drive over hills and streams and wading
through mud and water to our knees. I guess we drove them about (deleted) miles back. I cannot tell you about the fight as I want to forget
it, but get 'Over the Top' and read it. Dad asked me for a German helmet. you tell him I could have gotten 100 but I don't want any and we
have all we can carry. We could pick up field glasses, pistols, knives, anything you could think of but I am afraid to pick them up as one
of our men picked up a canteen and opened it and it blew his hands off. So you see a person cannot be too careful of the Boche. So I would
rather be careful and come home myself than bring a lot of things home for my friends to look at as they would not do anybody any good. I
would surely like to see the new home, but maybe I can come home some time next summer if we can keep them on the go all the time. I have
given up the thought of coming home this year because I don't think the American people want us to quit now until the Germans are whipped
almost to death." The newspaper article also included a paragraph about France" from another letter a few days later. The letter was
written on YMCA stationary with the following letterhead: On active service with the American Expeditionary Force. The letter, dated
9/29/1918, was addressed to his mother at Box 197, Decatur, IL, and stated: "My Dearest Mother: I am dropping you these few lines as I
know it will be ten maybe fifteen days before I will (get) to write again as we start to the (edited out), so dont worry if you do not hear
from me for a few days because I will be (edited out) and wont have time to write. Tell Helen and Dorothy that I got their letters and was
glad to get them and want them to write again and am glad they like their new home and I bet they do have a good time with their new friends
and when school starts is when they will have the big time and I hope they like it better than at Macon. Well Mother I have seen and read
about Sunny France but it can rain more here in a day than it can rain in a month back home, but the mountains here sure are pretty but I
dont think I would spent any money to come to the foreign land because Cal. as got it on any thing than I have seen over here. But they do
have a few historical things over here, as I was in the church the other day that Joan of Arc used to attend so you can see the age of some
of the buildings over here. It had the statue of her in it and sure is a fine peice of work, but the German Army is trying to destroy it as
that is what they are noted for. So Mabel thinks she is an old lady now does she just because she is twenty wed she is getting old fast
alright, and as to the bet Helen mentioned in her letter I dont know what she is talking about because I never made any bet as to age but as
to her getting married before I did, so tell her not to brag yet as she may lose yet. I'll bet you and Mabel have some time going to the
shows because you are where you can go so easy now but I suppose Junior objects to you going so Sis goes and you stay at home and keep him.
I'll bet he is a fat fine fellow now and I guess he will be over a year old by the time I get to see him from the looks of things, and he
dont know that he even has a brother so far away from home. Well I suppose you are worrying about Clarence again by now being brought home
hurt as I suppose he is playing football again and tell him to make good better than he did last year and it will help Freddie when he goes
into H.S. next year so much if he has a brother who has made before him. Mother I see in the paper where the Gov is going to allow Christmas
boxes to be sent over well dont send all my things as I cant carry them and I would sooner have the socks when I come home so dont send more
than two pair of socks anyway as I wont need any more of them, but the other things would be glad to have. Well I must close for this time.
With Lots of Love Your Soldier Son Everett" The letter was stamped "OK" by 2nd Lieut GD Wright, censor.
477
ii.
Mable VAN GUNDY was born in Macon Co, IL June 4, 1898. Mable died July 1, 1993 in Glen Dorado, Los Angeles,
CA, at 95 years of age. She married Ralph KINGSLEY. Residence: Kenosha, WIS
She resides 1949. Mabel's social security number was issued in IA so apparently she lived there at one time.
+
478
iii.
Clarence Walker "CW" VAN GUNDY was born October 3, 1900.
+
479
iv.
Helen VAN GUNDY was born December 17, 1904.
480
v.
Fred VAN GUNDY was born 1907. Fred died 1980 at 73 years of age. He married
Louise (Van Gundy).
He resides 1949. Brother, Everett, mentioned in a letter in 1918 the Freddie was starting high school next year.
481
vi.
Dorothy VAN GUNDY was born 1910. Dorothy died 1951 at 41 years of age. She resides 1949. Apparently
Dorothy never married as she is simply called by name in her father's obituary while the other girls' husbands are mentioned.Residence:
Belleville, IL
+
482
vii.
John Francis "Junior" VAN GUNDY was born March 2, 1918.
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