Some family members said Benoni Raymond was Owen's birth name becauseh is mother died while giving birth. Others said he was named Owenbut c alled Benoni because his mother died during childbirth.Grandson Richa rd White finally settled it...his name was BenoniRaymond, Owen was his n ickname. He lived in Stockton, CA.
Residences & events:
6/13/1900 Hot Springs, San Luis Obispo Co, CA. At age 18, orphanBenon i R Van "Gudy" was listed as adopted boy living with old Williamand Ma rgaret Bailey family and worked as a blacksmith
4/29/1910 Fresno Ward 1, Fresno Co, CA. The next census takerrecorde d him as Owen V Vangundy, 28, married to Myrtle, 25, with 8moold daugh ter Doris. Also living there his widowed foster motherMargaret Bailey , 75, and her daughter Eva, 23. He still worked as ablacksmith but ha d his own shop.
1920 Where was the family that year at census time?
The CA Voter Registration List has:
Fresno Pct #47, Nov 2, 1920
Van Gundy Benoni R, Blksmth 248 Diana St Fresno,....Rep
U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
Name: Benoni R van Gundy
Residence Year: 1921
Street Address: 248 Diana
Residence Place: Fresno, California
Occupation: Blacksmith
Publication Title: Fresno, California, City Directory, 1921
U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
Name: Benoni R van Gundy
Residence Year: 1922
Street Address: 248 Diana
Residence Place: Fresno, California
Occupation: MacHinist
Publication Title: Fresno, California, City Directory, 1922
U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
Name: Benoni R van Gundy
Residence Year: 1923
Street Address: 2232 8 Railroad
Residence Place: Fresno, California
Occupation: MacHinist
Publication Title: Fresno, California, City Directory, 1923
CA Voter Registration lists of 1900-1968 recorded his manyresidences::
Hedges Pct-No date-
#302 Van Gundy, Benoni R, machinist.....M(ale) Fresno.....Rep.
Stockton, Third Ward, 53n5h Pct-
#113 Van Gundy, Benoni R, machinist, 528 E Church.....Rep
Stockton, Third Ward, Eleventh Pct-
Van Gundy, Mrs. Ethel, 1406 E Taylor St....Rep
Stockton--Fifth Ward, Seventhe Pct-
VanGundy, Owen, welder, 640 E Ninth St.....Rep
Van Gundy, Mrs Ethel, housewife, 640 E Ninth St.....Dem
4/18/1930 McKinley Tract, O'Neal, San Joaquin Co, CA. At year he wasl isted as Ben Van Gundy, a 49 year old divorced man, boarding withthe J ohn and Addie Kingery family? His occupation was back toblacksmith in a b lacksmith shop. Myrtle had remarried to ChesterBlunt and lived in Br ighton, Sacramento Co, VA along with Ben'schildren Velma, 15, and Haro ld O, 8.
1940 He was again missing from the census.
1941 640 E 9th, Stockton, San Joaquin Co, CA was his address when her egistered for the WWII draft at age 59. The original says he had nomi ddle name. He verified his birth date and place and said Mrs.Ethel Va n Gundy, same address, was the person who would always knowhis address . (so was he really divorced in 1930?) He was employed byJ R Gasser a t Holt Station, San Joaquin Co, CA but his job there wasnot recorded.
He was listed twice in SISKIYOU COUNTY DEATH REGISTER:
