369. George Washington⁶ VAN GUNDY (Adam⁵, David Jr⁴, David Sr³, Peter Sr², Male¹) was born in Scott Co, IL October 31, 1852. George died December 28, 1925 in Scott Co, IL, at 73 years of age. His body was interred in Diamond Cem, Jacksonville, Morgan Co, IL.

He married Anna Louise VANNIER 1876. Anna was born in IL June 18, 1853. Anna died September 24, 1922 at 69 years of age. Her body was interred in Diamond Cem, Jacksonville, Morgan Co, IL. At 30 years of age Anna became the mother of Roy George VAN GUNDY September 6, 1883. Anna was a sister to Detrick, who married her sister-in-law, Ada Francis Van Gundy, i.e. brother and sister married sister and brother.

At 30 years of age George became the father of Roy George VAN GUNDY September 6, 1883. In a family history it states that George "has always taken a prominent part in modern enterprises in his community, incidentally accumulating a large tract of land. He has always possessed the Conrod characteristic of taking it 'a foot' as the saying is, when asked to ride, he replies, 'Oh, no, I'll walk, you see, I'm in a hurry." George inherited his father's land and kept the tracts intact for the next generations. These were rented out to tenant farmers and he also owned other businesses as well. He was a very wealthy man as a result of his endeavors. Residences & events: 1880 Scott Co, IL. At census time he apparently was a newly-wed, having no children listed. There was a Thomas Day, a 21 yr old farmer and probably his hired hand, living there and next door were his in-laws. Two doors down the road were the Brockhouse family who would one day become his son's in-laws. In an article for the Centennial of Bluffs, the buildings of downtown area were described: "The site eventually became the VanGundy block building for Andre & Andre Furniture Store with an upstairs room for the two telephone companies combined by George VanGundy, father of Ray (actually Roy), into one switchboard with 24 hour service. Prior to that switchboard service ended at 10 p.m. The plugs were pulled and all gossip stopped, except on the party lines which had as many as 25 patrons with different bell combinations. Example: two longs and a short; 1 long, 2 shorts; and as many as four shorts plus and plus. Each customer had a cardboard with names in alphabetical sequence and opposite that the length of their ting-a-lings. The cardboard was owner designed and would contain the special calls of friends and neighbors of the full line list if one wanted to listen in on all tingles. If too many receivers were raised when you called a party you might have to yell: 'Will half of you people please hang up! My dry cell batteries are not strong enough to get Mary. She's probably out on the porch.' " 1923 Pike Co, IL. George bought a telephone company, The Home Telephone Co, against the advice of his banker friend, for $8900. Although he wrote the check for the full amount, he was actually short of ready cash and borrowed $8000, using the old homestead as collateral. The company soon caused other trouble for him in the form of lawsuits. At the time of purchase, he told the 3 acquired telephone operators their wages would start when the lines were operational but they sued for immediate wages. The outcome of the suit is unknown. 10/28/1923 George was shot in the head by an unknown assailant while sitting in his living room. He was home alone and thought the radio he was listening to sparked and exploded, not knowing he had been shot until he felt blood on his head. When his efforts to stop the bleeding were unsuccessful he went to bed and called his son, who was at his girlfriend's house. There was an extensive investigation into the incident but no one was ever charged by the police. Son, Roy, suspected as the heir apparent, hired the Pinkerton Detective Agency to complete a full investigation as well, but no there was no evidence linking him to the crime. Although several people were suspected, authorities finally surmised that it could have been anyone. Among the suspects were a tenant farmer, a strong contender; he husband of one of the disgruntled telephone operators who had the suit against him; and the jealous husband of a lady in another town that George visited regularly, supposedly on business. George's sister, Margaret, said he told her, while still in the hospital, he knew it was the telephone operator's husband. 1/1924 George sold the telephone company to Messrs. Domke and Tucker of Jacksonville, IL. Great grandson, Eric Van Gundy, the only living relative in the area in 1993, told of finding silver and other valuables in the brick walls of the old family home when it was razed. They had apparently been hidden as a safeguard against theft and forgotten.

George Washington VAN GUNDY and Anna Louise VANNIER had the following child:

+ 484 i. Roy George⁷ VAN GUNDY was born September 6, 1883.

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