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63. David Jr4 VAN GUNDY (David Sr3, Peter Sr2, Male1) was born in PA October 9, 1790. David died September 1, 1861 in Scott Co, IL, at 70 years of age. His body was interred in McCaleb Cem, Bluffs, Scott Co, IL. He married twice. He married Mary Ann COONROD in Madison Co, IL, June 29, 1822. Mary was born in VA September 4, 1796. Mary died April 24, 1853 in Scott Co, IL, at 56 years of age. Her body was interred in McCaleb Cem, Bluffs, Scott Co, IL. At 25 years of age Mary became the mother of Nancy A VAN GUNDY in Madison Co, IL, June 29, 1822. At 28 years of age Mary became the mother of Mary Jane VAN GUNDY in Madison Co, IL, January 31, 1825. At 30 years of age Mary became the mother of George W VAN GUNDY in Madison/Morgan Co, IL, 1827. At 31 years of age Mary became the mother of Daniel VAN GUNDY in Madison/Morgan Co, IL, 1828. At 33 years of age Mary became the mother of John VAN GUNDY in Morgan Co, IL, 1830. At 34 years of age Mary became the mother of Adam VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, March 5, 1831. At 35 years of age Mary became the mother of Martha VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, 1832. He married Mrs Margaret A OHLER in Scott Co, IL, May 29, 1854. Mrs was born in PA August 14, 1795. Mrs died May 30, 1875 in Scott Co, IL, at 79 years of age. Her body was interred in McCaleb Cem, Bluffs, Scott Co, IL. At 31 years of age David became the father of Nancy A VAN GUNDY in Madison Co, IL, June 29, 1822. At 34 years of age David became the father of Mary Jane VAN GUNDY in Madison Co, IL, January 31, 1825. At 36 years of age David became the father of George W VAN GUNDY in Madison/Morgan Co, IL, 1827. At 37 years of age David became the father of Daniel VAN GUNDY in Madison/Morgan Co, IL, 1828. At 39 years of age David became the father of John VAN GUNDY in Morgan Co, IL, 1830. At 40 years of age David became the father of Adam VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, March 5, 1831. At 41 years of age David became the father of Martha VAN GUNDY in Scott Co, IL, 1832. David was the originator of the central Illinois branch of Van Gundys. His occupation was miller but he was also listed as a farmer in the census records. Residences and events in his life: 1791 Somerset Co, PA. 1801-1805 Ross Co, OH. Both of his parents' families, Van Gundys and Wisslers, moved from PA to OH. 1812 S Bloomfield, Pickaway Co, OH. His father bought the grist mill there on the Scioto River, near the bridge. 1820 David was not listed in the Ohio census so he was either still at home, on his way to New Orleans, or had already arrived and was counted there. His father, living in Harrison Twp, Pickaway Co, OH, at that time, had in his houshold, Ann Denny, a family friend and roundabout relative who apparently never married, and the neighbors were Coonrods. Abt 1820-1821 David and friend, next door neighbor, David Denny, took a flat-boat load of pork from below Chillicothe, OH, to N Orleans, LA, and never went back. He migrated back up the Mississippi to Madison Co, IL. David Denny became the captain of a river packet and later died in New Orleans of yellow fever. Abt 1821 Madison Co, IL. He arrived at the "American Bottom" near St Louis where he met Ohio neighbors, the Coonrods, who arrived in 1818. Shortly after, he married their daughter. 11/14/1823 Scott Co, IL, where David bought some land and moved his young family. The Bluffs, IL, Centenial book recorded his arrival: "Another early settler was David VanGundy who built a home and a mill. The mill was propelled by water furnished by the stream which comes down from Neeleyville-one branch of Wolf Run Creek. Across this stream, quite a distance above the mill, a dam was constructed which collected the water and preserved a supply to furnish the power for the mill." Another entry tells the story a little differently: "Among these (early settlers) was David VanGundy, father of 'Squire' Adam VanGundy and progenitor of the VanGundy family. He entered 80 acres on Sept.10, 1831, and on this site he built a home and a mill, which was a useful thing in those days." A family history written by a Vannier descendant states: "Paralee (it was actually Mary Ann, Paralee was Mary Ann's mother) was married to David VanGundy and they settled at the foot of the 'Mills' hill on an eighty acres of land without previously entering it, in 1829, Mr. VanGundy though he was a 'squatter' erected a mill on Killmormocks run and other improvements and had accumilated quite an extensive trade in supplying meal in the surrounding community, until one day along came a man from unknown parts with a title to said eighty acres, which also meant that all improvements were included. it was soon noised around about what a predicament Mr. VanGundy was in and the following evening a large gathering of the neighbors quietly gathered, loaded up the mill on ox-carts together with all other movable improvements and by day light the next morning Mr. VanGundy lived on his future homestead one half mile east of where Bluffs, Illinois now stands and the mill was quietly grinding away." The History of Morgan County in an article about the first railroad in Illinois, the Northern Cross, said "the division of the road beginning at the Illinois River, at this place, and extending to Van Gundy's, the first station east of here---about a mile east of where Bluff City now stands was subcontracted....." And again, "The work began at Meredosia, on the Illinois River. There were two passes in the bluff, called Taylor's and Van Gundy's. That by Taylor's was the cheapest and best, but it would not touch several tracts of wild land that belonged to some of the magnates, and it was located up Van Gundy's Run...." The same history in an article about Neelyville's coal mine says: "When the shaft was first opened quite a number of miners were employed. These men boarded at Van Gundy--a town which was near the present town of Bluff City, in Scott County." 1824 Morgan Co, IL. David voted in the Mauvaisterre Pct along with his in-laws: Adam, George, and William Coonrod. 1830 Morgan Co, IL. At census time his household consisted of 1 male 30-40, 3 males under 5, 1 female 30-40, and 2 females 5-10. Living next door was the Scobey family, future in-laws of son, John, and a few doors down was brother-in-law, Adam Coonrod. Living with David was Jonas Coonrod, orphaned brother-in-law. The George Ohler family lived 2 doors down. 1837 There was a country wide financial crash which completely demoralized values. We do not know the financial status of David before or after the crash but as with most settlers, he built his own house, raised his own food, and met his own needs. 4/14/1839 David sold 10 acres to John B. Merris for $50.00. 11/4/1842 He sold 134 acres to the State Bank of Illinois for $355.00. 3/5/1847 David bought the land of widow, Mary Troy at public auction with dower rights of $192.00/year each year of her natural life. 3/23/1848 He sold 40 acres of Mary Troy's land to his future son-in-law, John Smallwood, with the same dower rights. 1848-1849 George Van Gundy, a nephew and son of brother, Daniel, was sent to live with David following the death of his parents. His father, Daniel, had died in Ohio but the mother moved with the family to Piatt Co, IL, under the care of the oldest son, Charles Wesley, then only 19. She also died shortly thereafter, the children being distributed among family and friends to be raised. 1850 Scott Co, IL. David had property = $1000 in the census. Living with him were Coonrod children, Henry, 17, John, 10, and Sarah, 20; and of course, nephew, George, then 8. His daughter, Mary Smallwood, and her family lived next door while on other side was the Margaret Ohler family. Margaret would later become David's second wife and her daughter would marry son, Adam. 6/17/1851 David sold 134 acres to "Dederich Vautier" (actually Detrick Vannier) for $1850.00. Detrich married David's granddaughter, Ada Van Gundy. 11/22/1853 Scott Co, IL. David bought 40 acres of Federal land at S11 R13W T15N for $1.25/acre. His residence was also Scott Co at that time. 1860 Naples, Scott Co, IL. His property was valued at $2000/$1500 in the census. David may not have moved although his place of residence changed from county to county as the borders shifted throughout his lifetime. A rift must have developed among David's children, Adam vs the rest. They all sold their lands and were gone by 1870. George went to the next county, the rest travelling farther east, landing in various Illinois counties. Adam's family never again spoke of their relatives to later generations. David Jr VAN GUNDY and Mary Ann COONROD had the following children:
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