He was instrumental in preserving much of his family's heritage,writin g a biography including information about his Van Gundyancestry as pos ted.
Descendant's account of the family history differs from Michael'sthoug h. They said Michael "was born and grew to manhood inSwitzerland. He a nd his five younger brothers decided to come to theUS to establish the ir homes. They arrived in the east, but onlyMichael and David remaine d there, while the other four brothers wentwest, one of whom settled i n California...."
Davis posted at Ancestry.com:
"(Michael) was 7 yrs. old when his mother died; he and his sister Maryw ere taken to their uncle, Joseph Nafkser (Nafziger), near thevillage o f Conotton, where they were kindly cared for till theirFather remarrie d. They were then taken home as were 2 other sisters."
Residences & events:
1848-1849 Wood Co, OH. He and Christiana lived there 18 monthsaccord ing to his obit.
8/25/1850 Monroe Twp, Harrison Co, OH. The census recorded Michael VG undy as a 27 year old farmer with $480 in property. He andChristiana, 2 2, had one little girl, Frances Jane, 1. Three doorsdown was the fami ly of sister Mary Johnston. Brothers David andJoseph lived in the sam e township.
Researcher Elaine O'Donnell wrote:
"Michael was originally a Republican, but became a Prohibitionist.Mich ael served for many years as Township Assessor, Trustee, andSchool Dir ector. His farm of two hundred and eight acres ofwell-improved land, a bout two miles from Conotton, was destroyed byfire in 1858."
7/19/1860 North Twp, PO Carrolton, Harrison Co, OH. In that censuswe re Mich'l Gundy, 37, with Christ'n, 32, Francis J, 10, John L, 8,Benj' n F, 6, Martha E, 4, and Joseph B, 1. Michael was a farmer, hisproper ty totaled $2500/400. They lived between the widow of brotherJoseph, E liza'h Gundy, 38, and old Uncle David Firebaugh, 73.
8/2/1870 North Twp, PO Tippecanoe, Harrison Co, OH. The census indexl isted him as Michael Gundry, 47, a wealthy farmer with a largeestate w orth $8000/1520. Living with him were wife Christianna, 41,and severa l chilren: Frances J, 21, Benjamin F, 17, Martha E, 13,Joseph O, 11, M artin A, 7, and James E, 3. Benjamin was a farmlaborer.
6/11/1880 North Twp, Harrison Co, OH. In that census Michael, 57,was s till farming. Christiana was 52 and 4 children were still athome, Mar tha E, 26; Martin A, 18; James E, 13; and Mary L, 7.Michael's father w as born in Pa, his mother in MD. Next door was sonBenjamin.
They had dinner with the family of daughter Frances at the home of hern ewly wed daughter Emma. In Twin City News (Uhrichsville, OH),12/7/189 9, was:
"Mr. and Mrs. Forsythe and son of Uhrichsville, and Mr. and Mrs.Michae l Gundy ate Thanksgiving dinner with Dr. Siegrists."
6/1/1900 Same place. At census time Michael V Gundy was 78 and stillf arming, wife Christina was 72. They had been married 52 years with8 c hildren, only 6 of whom still survived. Living with them wasdaughter M ary L Bucey, 27, her husband Albert, 25, and their sonBryon, 8 months. M ary and Albert had been married 2 years, she hadgiven birth to only Br yon. Also living there was laborer, RobertBingham, 16. Son Benjamin l ived 3 doors down followed by severalFierbaugh families. Son Martin w as in Bowerston, same county, livingbeside Michaels' granddaughter Emm a and Charles Siegrist. OtherGundy families lived in the same county.
His obituary with photo was in the Christian Conservator and said:
Rev. Michael V. Gundy was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, March 25,1822, and died in Bowerston, Harrison county, August 2, 1906, aged 84years, 4 months and 7 days. His great-grandfather, Peter, was a nativeof Switzerland. His great-grandfather Joseph was born in Lancastercounty, P ennsylvania, and was a Mennonite minister till he came toOhio, when he espoused the United Brethren faith. Benjamin, son ofJoseph Gundy, was perhaps twelve years old when they moved to nearConnotton, Ohio. He married Miss Mary Bower, a daughter of Barnhartand Mary Bower, of German nationallity. They settled near Strasburg,Ohio, and were the parents of twelve children. The mother died 1829,aged 38 years, and the father and children moved to Harrison county,Ohio. He remarried twice but no more children were born to him. Hedied in 1871, aged 70 years.
The subject of this sketch is the seventh child of Benjamin and wasseven years of age when his mother died. He and a sister were caredfor by an uncle, Joseph Nofkser, of Conotton, till his father marriedthe second time. In 1840, at the age of eighteen years he wasconverted at a campmeeting at Conotton, and joined the United Brethrenchurch. He labored on the farm with his father till maturity,receiving his education at the common schools and the New HagerstonAcademy. He taught school fifteen terms.
In 1848 he married Christiana Overholt and they resided in Woodcounty, Ohio, eighteen months. Then they returned to Harrison countyand in 1856 settled on the farm they still own consisting of 208acres. M. V. Gundy was licensed to exhort in 1861 and joined theMuskingum annual conference of the United Brethren church at Marietta,Ohio, in 1867. In 1880 he was ordained to elder's orders and has beenan indefatigable local preacher ever since. In 1872-3 he traveledCoshocton circuit and 1890 Crooked Run circuit. Rev. Gundy was anearnest logical preacher and he continued at his calling until lastwinter when his health failed. But his mind was clear and he devotedmuch of his time to writing and correspondence. He was a good writerand his letters were interesting to young and old. Bro. Gundy was aliberal supporter of the church. Few men of his means contributed asmuch to the various demands of the church as he. He was a good andkind husband, an indulgent father, a good neighbor, a friend to thepoor and honest in all his dealings. Truly a good man has departed.May his mantle fall upon some other.
The services were held in the M. E. church in Beech City, and J.Gonser of Strasburg. A large concourse of people attended the funeraland followed the remains to the Conotton cemetery where hisgrandparents his father and children rest.
M. B. Fierbaugh.
FindaGrave has his name as Rev Michael V. Gundy.
