Relatives said he never married but newspapers reported his wife'sacti vies and she was with him in the 1930 census. Apparently theynever ha d children.
Events in his life:
Events in his life were often recorded by the newspaper:
1/1903 Everett had scarlet fever.
3/14/1903 "Everett Van Gundy is on the sick list."
3/22/1903 "Everett Van Gundy, who has been very sick with pneumonia,i s improving."
1/8/1904 "Everett and (sister) Mabel Van Gundy have returned from avi sit with their grandparents, E. Walker and wife in Assumption."
He was a football hero in high school.
6/5/1917 Macon Co, IL. When he registered for the draft, he listedhi s address as the city of Macon, IL. His occupation was graindealter a t "Moueaqua," IL He was a single man and under exceptions,it says he v olunteered but was rejected. He was described as shortand stout with b lue eyes and dark hair.
He served in WWI as Pvt in the US Army, being in France in 1918. OnSe pt 23 he wrote a letter to his uncle, Elmer, back home whoforwarded it t o the newspapers. It stated:
"I know you have seen in the paper about the big drive we madeand y ou 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 maybe calle d to go back again at any moment.
Our company had been distinguished for bravery in this drive andi t was some drive over hills and streams and wading through mud andwate r to our knees. I guess we drove them about (deleted) milesback. I ca nnot tell you about the fight as I want to forget it, butget 'Over the T op' and read it.
Dad asked me for a German helmet. you tell him I could havegotte n 100 but I don't want any and we have all we can carry. Wecould pick u p field glasses, pistols, knives, anything you couldthink of but I am a fraid to pick them up as one of our men picked upa
canteen and opened it and it blew his hands off. So you see a personc annot be too careful of the Boche.
So I would rather be careful and come home myself than bring alot o f things home for my friends to look at as they would not doanybody an y good.
I would surely like to see the new home, but maybe I can comehome s ome time next summer if we can keep them on the go all thetime. I have g iven up the thought of coming home this year because Idon't think the A merican people want us to quit now until the Germansare whipped almost t o death."
The newspaper article also included a paragraph about France" fromanot her letter a few days later. The letter was written on YMCAstationary w ith the following letterhead: On active service with theAmerican Expe ditionary Force. The letter, dated 9/29/1918, wasaddressed to his mot her at Box 197, Decatur, IL, and stated:
"My Dearest Mother:
I am dropping you these few lines as I knowi t will be ten maybe fifteen days before I will (get) to write againas w e start to the (edited out), so dont worry if you do not hearfrom me f or a few days because I will be (edited out) and wont havetime to writ e.
Tell Helen and Dorothy that I got their letters and was glad toge t them and want them to write again and am glad they like their newhom e and I bet they do have a good time with their new friends andwhen sc hool starts is when they will have the big time and I hopethey like it b etter than at Macon.
Well Mother I have seen and read about Sunny France but it canrai n more here in a day than it can rain in a month back home, butthe mou ntains here sure are pretty but I dont think I would spent anymoney to c ome to the foreign land because Cal. as got it on any thingthan I have s een over here. But they do have a few historical thingsover here, as I w as in the church the other day that Joan of Arc usedto attend so you c an see the age of some of the buildings over here.It had the statue of h er in it and sure is a fine peice of work, butthe German Army is tryin g to destroy it as that is what they arenoted for.
So Mabel thinks she is an old lady now does she just because shei s twenty wed she is getting old fast alright, and as to the betHelen m entioned in her letter I dont know what she is talking aboutbecause I n ever made any bet as to age but as to her getting marriedbefore I did, s o tell her not to brag yet as she may lose yet. I'llbet you and Mabel h ave some time going to the shows because you arewhere you can go so ea sy now but I suppose Junior objects to yougoing so Sis goes and you st ay at home and keep him. I'll bet he isa fat fine fellow now and I gu ess he will be over a year old by thetime I get to see him from the lo oks of things, and he dont know thathe even has a brother so far away f rom home.
Well I suppose you are worrying about Clarence again by now beingb rought home hurt as I suppose he is playing football again and tellhim t o make good better than he did last year and it will helpFreddie when h e goes into H.S. next year so much if he has a brotherwho has made bef ore him.
Mother I see in the paper where the Gov is going to allowChristma s boxes to be sent over well dont send all my things as Icant carry th em and I would sooner have the socks when I come home sodont send more t han two pair of socks anyway as I wont need any moreof them, but the o ther things would be glad to have. Well I mustclose for this time.
WithL ots of Love
Your Soldier Son
Everett"
The letter was stamped "OK" by 2nd Lieut GD Wright, censor.
1920 Decatur, Macon Co, IL. At census time he was 24 and stillliving w ith his parents. His occupation was (unreadable) Agent.
7/1926 The newspaper said Everett shot a 38 at the Nelson Golf Courset o qualify for the city open. He shot a 79 in the tournament butdidn't w in. He also played at South Side Country Club where he wasmentioned i n results of several tournaments.
6/6/1927 The Decatur Herald reported an accident in which Elmer wasone o f the drivers:
"Frank Rehling of 335 South McClellan, his brother, LesterRehling , of 1210 East Prairie street, and Thomas Donahue of 328 WestEldorado s treet, were all severely injured when the car in which theywere riding , driven by E. VanGundy of 363 South William street, wasstruck by a ca r driven by Gus Karelas, 124 Merchant street, about 5o'clock Sunday ev ening.
The accident occurred at the intersection of Leafland and Calhouns treets. According to the report made at police headquarters,VanGundy w as driving south on Calhoun street, and Karelas was drivingwest on Lea fland. The VanGundy coach was struck in the rear leftside, and was ba dly battered. The car overturned and pinned Donahuebeneath. With the a ssistance of several passers the coach was liftedand Donahue was freed .
He was taken to the Wabash hospital in Moran's ambulance, whereit w as found that he had sustained a fracture of the jaw, and severelacera tions about the head. One of his ears was practically severedfrom his h ead. Monday he was reported much improved. There were nointernal inj uries.
Frank Rehling was taken to St Mary's hospital where anexamination r evealed a fractured collar bone. The injury was caredfor and he was t aken to his home later in the evening. LesterRehling sustained lacer ations and bruises."
6/5/1928 A year later, according to the newspaper, the accidentresult ed in Donahue being hospitalized for months. The passengersued the ot her driver and won a $7500 settlement, much less than the$25, 000 soug ht.
1930 W Leafland, Decatur. In that census he and "Gwendoleen" wereliv ing alone. He was 35, she was 32. His occupation was treasurerof a l umber retail company.
