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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 thecensus records. Residences and events in his life: 1791 Somerset Co, PA. 1801-1805 Ross Co, OH. Both of his parents' families, Van Gundys andWisslers, moved from PA to OH. 1812 S Bloomfield, Pickaway Co, OH. His father bought the grist millthere on the Scioto River, near the bridge. 1820 David was not listed in the Ohio census so he was either stillat home, on his way to New Orleans, or had already arrived and wascounted down there. His father, living in Harrison Twp, Pickaway Co,OH, at that time, had in his houshold, Ann Denny, a family friend androundabout relative who apparently never married, and the neighborswere Coonrods. Abt 1820-1821 David and friend, next door neighbor, David Denny(half brother to Hannah Denny), took a flat-boat load of pork frombelow Chillicothe, OH, to N Orleans, LA, and never went back. Hemigrated back up the Mississippi to Madison Co, IL. David Dennybecame the captain of a river packet and later died in New Orleans ofyellow fever. Abt 1821 Madison Co, IL. He arrived at the "American Bottom" near StLouis where he met Ohio neighbors, the Coonrods, who arrived in 1818.Shortly after, he married their daughter. 11/14/1823 Morgan Co, IL was his residence when he purchased 80 acresin Scott Co, IL, for $80. The Bluffs, IL, Centenial book recorded his arrival: "Another earlysettler was David VanGundy who built a home and a mill. The mill waspropelled by water furnished by the stream which comes down fromNeeleyville-one branch of Wolf Run Creek. Across this stream, quite adistance above the mill, a dam was constructed which collected thewater 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 VanGundyand progenitor of the VanGundy family. He entered 80 acres onSept.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 (itwas actually Mary Ann, Paralee was Mary Ann's mother) was married toDavid VanGundy and they settled at the foot of the 'Mills' hill on aneighty acres of land without previously entering it, in 1829, Mr.VanGundy though he was a 'squatter' erected a mill on Killmormocks runand other improvements and had accumilated quite an extensive trade insupplying meal in the surrounding community, until one day along camea man from unknown parts with a title to said eighty acres, which alsomeant that all improvements were included. it was soon noised aroundabout what a predicament Mr. VanGundy was in and the following evening a large gathering of the neighbors quietly gathered, loaded up themill on ox-carts together with all other movable improvements and byday light the next morning Mr. VanGundy lived on his future homesteadone half mile east of where Bluffs, Illinois now stands and the mill was quietly grinding away." The obituary of son, Adam, mentioned the mill as well: "When a boyhe (Adam) tended the mill his father owned, and which was erected onthe old home place, it being the only mill at that time between Quincyand Springfield, people driving and bringing their wheat as far as 60miles to have it ground." The History of Morgan County in an article about the first railroad inIllinois, the Northern Cross, said "the division of the road beginningat 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 Citynow stands was subcontracted....." And again, "The work began atMeredosia, on the Illinois River. There were two passes in the bluff,called Taylor's and Van Gundy's. That by Taylor's was the cheapestand best, but it would not touch several tracts of wild land thatbelonged to some of the magnates, and it was located up Van Gundy'sRun...." The same history in an article about Neelyville's coal mine says:"When the shaft was first opened quite a number of miners wereemployed. These men boarded at Van Gundy--a town which was near thepresent town of Bluff City, in Scott County." 1824 Morgan Co, IL. David voted in the Mauvaisterre Pct along withhis in-laws: Adam, George, and William Coonrod. 1830 Morgan Co, IL, no township listed. At census time his householdconsisted of 1 male 30-40, 3 males under 5, 1 female 30-40, and 2females 5-10. Living next door was the Scobey family, future in-lawsof son, John, and a few doors down was brother-in-law, Adam Coonrod.The George Ohler family lived 2 doors down. Orphaned brother-in-law,Jonas Coonrod, was counted at David's house but according todescendants he was living with his Uncle Adam Coonrod at that time. 9/10/1831 He continued amassing land in Scott Co but still lived inMorgan. On this date he bought another 80 acres at S15 T15N R13W,paying $100. 7/2/1836 and 7/29/1836 He added to his holdings in Scott Co, IL with2 more plats, each 40 acres and $50 apiece. They were located at S22T15N R13W and S11 T15N R13W. 1837 There was a country wide financial crash which completelydemoralized values. We do not know the financial status of Davidbefore or after the crash but as with most settlers, he built his ownhouse, raised his own food, and met his own needs. 4/14/1839 David sold 10 acres to John B. Merris for $50.00. 1840 Winchester, Scott Co, IL, was his address at census time. 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 auctionwith 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 futureson-in-law, John Smallwood, with the same dower rights. 1848-1849 George Van Gundy, a nephew and son of brother, Daniel, wassent to live with David following the death of his parents. Hisfather, Daniel, had died in Ohio but the mother moved with the familyto Piatt Co, IL, under the care of the oldest son, Charles Wesley,then only 19. She also died shortly thereafter, the children beingdistributed among family and friends to be raised. 1850 Scott Co, IL, no twp. David had property = $1000 in the census.Living with him were the last 5 children and the orphaned children ofJonas Coonrod: Henry, 17; John, 10; and Sarah, 20; and of course,nephew, George Van Gundy, then 8. His daughter, Mary Smallwood, andher family lived next door while on other side was the Margaret Ohlerfamily. Margaret would later become David's second wife and herdaughter would marry son, Adam. 6/17/1851 David sold 134 acres to "Dederich Vautier" (actuallyDetrick 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 atS11 R13W T15N for $1.25/acre. His residence was also Scott Co at thattime. 8/24/1854 He bought 40 more acres of public domain land, paying $50for the property located at S14 T15N R13W. 1860 Naples P.O., Scott Co, IL. His property was valued at$2000/$1500 in the census. David may not have moved although his place of residence changed fromcounty 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 thenext county, the rest travelling farther east, landing in variousIllinois counties. Adam's family never again spoke of their relativesto later generations. |
| A marriage license was issued to David and Mary on the date posted butwas not returned. According to a history of Macon County, IL, themarriage occured 1 year later on the same date as the birth of theirfirst child. |
| David spent his last days with his son, George. |
| The cemetery is a beautiful little plot on the top of a bluff, notvisable from anywhere below, surrounded by trees and farm land. Itcontains mostly family and friends from the area, nearly all namesbeing familiar. |