VanGUNDY, David
Source: Emporia (Kansas) Daily Republican Fri 20 Sept 1895 p
1
David Vangundy died Thursday morning September 12, 1895 aged
76 years 2 months 14 days. Rev. WH Manary of Emporia assisted by Revs. Worley
and Harroun officiated at his funeral which was largely attended on Friday
afternoon at the ME Church in this city. Rev. Manary delivered a most eloquent
sermon and was befitting a man of so many sterling qualities as a pioneer,
David Vangundy. The beautiful casket form the Samuels undertaking rooms were
borne through the aisle of the church by six comrades of the GAR while the
Richardson quartette sang, Tell It To Jesus.
The floral offerings were appropriate and tastily arranged. Among them
was a small sheaf of sheat. The services were concluded at Mt. Hope cemetery by
Neosho Rapids Post No 233, GAR of which the deceased was a member. A number of
selections were sung at the funeral among them a favorite of Uncle David’s as
he was familiarly called, “Meet Me There, Farewell Father and Only a Few More
Years. It is fitting that we give a
short biography of one who so bravely has fought life’s battles and only
surrendered to death calmly, peacefully uncomplainingly.
David Vanguny was born in Ross County, Ohio June 28, 1819.
He was married to Miss Isabel Taylor of Fountain County, Indiana in 1839. She
died in 1867. Five children were born to this union. William F, John C, Rachel,
Jos T and Melissa are now living in Jackson Township. Mr. Vangundy married for
his second wife Miss Emily M. Brown of Indianapolis, Ind Nov 23, 1871 by whom
he has six children: Guy, Ell, Hugh, Ina and Lee all living. (Note only 5
listed). Mr. Vangundy left Ohio with his
parents when 13 years of age for Indiana residing there until 1849 when he went
to Illinois. He remained there three years and from there he moved to Texas and
remained there two years and then started to California, but reaching Ft Gibson,
Indian Territory two late for emigration he engaged in trading with the Indians
until the spring of 1855 when he came to Kansas and located about two miles
below the confluence of the Cottonwood River upon 160 acres of mostly timbered
land. This claim he afterwards preempted and has made it his home for 40 years.
He was a progressive man of strong convictions. He did not live for self. When
the cyclone tore down his orchards a few years ago, he immediately planted
another saying, “We must not live entirely for self.” His word was his bond. He
belonged to the old regime, and he had not outlived it, yet he loved to live
the old times over again. His boyhood
was spent where the woods were wide and waving with a wealth of trees; where
the hearthstones were broad and the fireplace could burn a cord of crackling
wood in a single merry evening; where the manners of the people were simple and
frank and were what they seemed. He was a product of a hospital (sic) era, when
the latch string literally hung out; when the “stranger within thy gates” was
welcome and the hostess took no inventory of beds, but of planks on the floor,
if a number of guests had to be entertained. His home was the home of the
stranger, none were ever turned away hungry from his door. For many years he
had been a pillar in the MP (sic) Church of which he was a live member., That
he had faults, none will dispute, but his many virtues so outnumbered them, we
say a good man has fallen but not without hope. He died in the triumps of a
Christian’s faith… CR Stone.