Joseph at age 3, lived with older brother, Charles, and his new bride,R achel, following the death of their mother. Following Rachel'sdeath 4 y ears later, he went to Iowa to live with his 18 year oldsister, Amelia N eal, who had married 2 years prior.
He fought in the Civil War and was in the battle of Pea Ridge,Arkansas . It was there he was wounded in the leg one night. Thefollowing mor ning doctors decided to remove the leg and from thattime on, he used a w ooden leg. A niece remembered opening a closetdoor after he died and t he leg tumbled out.
It is unknown when he returned to the Monticello, Piatt Co, IL, areabu t most of his history can be found there where he is often called"Mr. V an Gundy."
6/1/1870 Monticello, IL was where the census taker found him at age25 a nd living with the family of sister, Mary and John Painter. Atthat ti me he was a teacher.
He had several other occupations in his lifetime:
He operated a grocery store which he later sold to A.B. Binder.
He was a druggist in partnership with a German immigrant named Bohn.
4/10/1872 He was the Treasurer of Monticello and also spent some timea s county clerk.
7/9/1873 He was a charter member of the Fraternal Encampment #145,I.O .O.F. Lodge and immediately elected as a presiding officer, thatof C.P . He was installed in the same office again 1/2/1882. Themembership a t that time totaled 30 and met twice a month in theOdd-Fellow's hall o ver J.A. Brown's store.
1877 He was listed as County Treasurer.
1880 Monticello Twp, Piatt Co, IL. In the census, he is listed as ad ruggist born in Ohio with parents both born in Germany. He had aboard er, Viola Walker, 20, living with him.
11/1899 From the newspaper:
"The following Odd Fellows from Monticello registered at the Piatthote l last night on their way home from the grand encampment inSpringfield .....J T VanGundy."
1898-1912 He seved as postmaster of Monticello.
On 12/26/1905 the Decatur Herald reported that "Postmaster Vangundyhas b een notified by the post office department that the two newrural route s will be installed January 2, 1906."
6/22/1906 "J T VanGundy spent Sunday with his sons in Ottawa."accordi ng to the newspaper.
Joe outlived his wife and young children so his estate was dividedamon g 34 nieces and nephews, $400 of which was received by John Neal.Owen V an Gundy said he received $200.
