Richard was a brother to Anna Louise, who married his brother-in-law,G eorge Van Gundy, i.e. brother and sister married sister and brother.
Detrick was described in his obituary: "Mr. Vannier was of a cheerfuld isposition and has held several positions of trust, given him by thepe ople of his community. He was always willing to donate hisservices an d money to such institutions for the betterment ofhumanity."
He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, first inNeelyville, t hen Chapin, IL.
Residences & events:
On 1/18/1875 John Van Gundy sold 289 acres to a Herman Vannier. TheV annier family passed this same land back to descendants of John'sbroth er, Adam, whose later generations still owned it in 1996.
6/21/1900 Merritt, Scott Co, IL. That year at census time Richardwas r ecorded as a 41 year old farmer, married 18 years to Ada, 40,who had b irthed 4 children, all surviving and living with them: Ida,17, Albert 1 6, Lillian, 13, and Harry, 11.
4/17/1910 Same place. The census said Richard was 52, had beenmarrie d 29 years to Ada, 49, with 4 children, all living. In thehouse were L ily, 23, and Harry, 21. Richard was employed as ageneral farmer (did h e work for someone else?).
1/1/1920 Still there. Richard was a 61 year old farmer of his ownlan d that year at census time. Ada was 59. Neighbors were unknownnames.
Richard died of injuries received in an auto accident about 2 wksbefor e. His obituary described the fatality:
"The death certificate gives cause of death as symbolism, after adurat ion of eight minutes which is said to mean that a particle ofmarrow fr om the broken bone in the leg found its way into the bloodvessels and w as carried to the brain, with practically the sameresult as a clot on t he brain."
Details of the accident were also included:
He and Mr George Bruno, a friend from Meredosia, "were touring thecoun try with the intention of visiting in Madison, SD with old timefriends w ho were former residents of the Neelyville community. Theymade stops a t Bloomington, where they visited Mr Vannier's son,Harry, and also in P eoria, where they made a short visit at the homeof his daughter, Mrs T E B urrus (Ida) and family. From there theyproceeded on their way to Madi son, SD and had arrived within fourteenmiles of their destination, and w ere traveling over a newly graveledroad when they were met by four men t raveling at a high rate of speedin a Hudson car. Mr. Bruno, who was d riving, was unable to turn outquickly because his wheels were in a rut a nd the car crashed intothem, wrecking their car and throwing Mr. Vanni er and Mr. Bruno intoa ditch alongside the road. The four men in the c ar sped onwardwithout sopping to ascertain the extent of their injurie s. Mr.Vannier and Mr. Bruno were both severely injured, and were late rhelped from the ditch by a young lady who happened along, and who also secured assistance and had the injured men taken to the hospital fort reatment, where Mr. Bruno recovered rapidly."
Another article says he "sustained a badly crushed leg and cuts andbru ises, which were the direct cause of death."
Two of Richard's children, Ida and Albert, were at his side when hedie d.
Funeral services were held at the family residence at 2 PM on a Mondaya fternoon and were conducted by Rev LaVerne Barkley. Vera McCalebwas a mong the singers.
