Relatives say his name was Joseph but he was John in census records.
Residences & events:
6/19/1880 Lincoln Twp, Polk Co, IA. At census time John Van Gundy,23 , and Mercy, 17, were newlyweds, living alone. He was a farmer.John w as born in Ills, his parents both in OH; Mercy was born in IA,both par ents in Norway. Next door was the Hanson Haleck family fromNorway. H er father's family? John's parents were in the sametownship.
1885 Same place. In the state census the household consisted of JohnV an Grundy, 28, Mercy, 22, Anna, 3, and Lind A, 1, as well as John JMas on, 17. John was a school teacher, Mason was a farmer.
6/4/1900 Slater town, Palestine Twp, Story Co, IA. That census takerf ound John Vangundy, 44, had been married 20 years to Mercy, 36, whoha d birthed 8 children, 7 of whom still survived. In the house were:Ole y, 15, Willey, 18, Mary, 8, twins Ruth and Ruby, 2, and daughterAnna J ohnson, 18, with newborn son Ralf. The whole family had beenborn in I A, including John. John's occupation was ?ao Implement.
4/25/1910 Slater town, Palestine Twp, Story Co, IA. The censusrecord s John Van Gundy, 53, married 31 years to Mercy, 46, with 8children, 7 s till living. Children at home were William H, 22, MaryA, 19, and twin s Ruth V and Ruby, 12. John was a "comercial"salesman, William was a d itcher for drain tile, same as Oley, andMary was a public school teach er.
Son Oley lived next door.
His second marriage record says he was born in Knox Co, IL.
