Gandy, Elias 1834-1919 & Lydia Ann Cunningham Family

GANDY, CUNNINGHAM, MEACHAM, DEFORD

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 5/7/2023 at 20:31:18

Gandy, Elias 1834-1919 & Lydia Ann Cunningham Family

This story was taken from pages 396-397 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg.

Mr. and Mrs. Elias Gandy moved to Ireton, Ia. In 1902 and resided in a home located at what is now 508 Main St. This residence was torn down.

Mr. Gandy was born to George W. and Mary Meachem Gandy on Oct. 24, 1834 in Union Co., Oh. He was one of seven children. When he was a year old he moved with his parents to De Kalb Co., Il. When he was 19 years of age he was converted and baptized by Elder Jackson and united with the Ohio Grove Free Will Baptist Church in De Kalb, Il. His membership was taken from that church.

On Nov. 30, 1856 Elias Gandy was married to Lydia Ann Cunningham at Burlington, Kane Co., Il. In 1866 they moved from IL. to Tama Co. near Montour, Ia. where they lived until 1902 when they moved to Ireton.

Mr. and Mrs. Elias Gandy were the parents of 10 children. They were: Laura Helen, Lottie Emetta, Willon Lincoln, Cecelia Deford, Edith Amanda (Mrs. Mike Grau), Lena Mae, George Washington, John, Lester Leroy, and Arthur Benton.

Miss Laura Gandy moved here with her parents in 1902. She lived here until her marriage to Lorants Anderson on Apr. 10, 1906 at Elkton, S.D.

Grandpa Gandy had a barn in back of their home where Deane and Helen Grau left their little mules that they drove into town everyday from seven miles north of Ireton to attend high school back in the years 1912-1915.

Mrs. Gandy passed away Jan. 26, 1913 in Ireton. Mr. Gandy passed away Mar. 27, 1919 in Ireton.

RESEARCH NOTES added by Wilma J. Vande Berg

Brief Life History of Elias found on www.familysearch.org
When Elias Gandy was born on 24 October 1834, in Leesburg Township, Union, Ohio, United States, his father, George Washington Gandy, was 30 and his mother, Mary Meacham, was 34. He married Lydia Ann Cunningham on 30 November 1856, in Burlington, Kane, Illinois, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 5 daughters. He lived in Sioux, Iowa, United States in 1905 and Reading Township, Sioux, Iowa, United States in 1910. He died on 26 March 1919, in Ireton, Sioux, Iowa, United States, at the age of 84, and was buried in Maple Hill Cemetery, Montour, Tama, Iowa, United States.

From a family report on ancestry.com from public member trees submitted by other family.

Elias Gandy was born 24 Oct 1834 Leesburg Union County Ohio died 26 Mar 1919 Ireton IA. His parents were George Washington Gandy 1804-1860 and Mary Meacham 1800-1876. He was married 30 Nov 1856 at Kane County IL to Lydia Ann Cunningham 1836-1913.

Lydia Ann Cunningham was born 25 Feb 1836 Delaware County IA died 26 Jan 1913 Ireton IA She was orphaned at 2 years, parents are unknown. Their children are listed below:

CHILDREN: Information from the family report on ancestry.com. Obit of a few of the children can be found on this web page under Obits, those are Willon ‘William’ Gandy, Cecelia Mrs. Leonard Grau, and Edith Mrs. Mike Grau.

1. Laura Helen Gandy born 14 May 1860 Maple Park Kane, IL died 15 Jan 1941 Toledo, Tama county IA. Husband Lorentz Anderson

2. Lottie Elmetta Gandy born 15 Jan 18862 Montour Tama Iowa died 11 Oct 1957 Maple Park, Kane, IL. Husband Daniel Dirsbaugh Henrie. Children Gertrude, Laura, Florence, Loren

3. Willon Lincoln Gandy born 6 Feb 1864 Cortland, De Kalb Co. IL died 29 Jul 1930 Ireton IA. He married Nellie G. Gamel, one son was listed Ernest Eugen Gandy.

4. Ceclia D. Gandy born 7 May 1865 DeKalb IL died 16 Nov 1904 Sioux City IA.
Husband Leonard Grau 1862-1942. They had two son Leonard, and Claude

5. Edith Amanda Gandy born 28 Apr 1867 Montour IA died 4 Apr 1953 Sioux County IA. Her husband John Michael Grau 1865-1935 children Ora, Paul, As, Cecil, Roger and Helen.

6. Lena May Gandy born 2 May 1869 Tama Iowa died 13 Aug 1944 Montour IA. Her husband Oliver Clayton Vreeland 1857-1938, one child listed as Zelma Vreeland 1895.

7. George Washington Gandy born 17 Jun 1871 Montour Tama Iowa died 24 Feb 1950 Blunt, Hughes SD. He married Pearl Permailia Levis 1879-1950. Their children were Vira, Iona, Alta, Edna, Marvin, Ralph, George, and Mildred.

8. John Adelbert Gandy born 19 Jan 1873 Tama Tams Iowa died 5 Mar 1873 Tama Iowa as infant.

9. Lester Gandy born 2 Mar 1874 Montour Tama Iowa died 14 Aug 1948 Toledo, Iowa. He married Isabelle John 1872-1948, one child listed June E. 1903.

10. Arthur Benton Gandy born 25 Nov 1876 Montour Tama Iowa died 14 Mar 1961 Independence IL. He married Elsie Louise Lauppe 1882-1941 One children listed as Edna Julia Blair 1890.

OBITUARY OF ELIAS GANDY
OBITUARY of Elias Gandy Hawarden Independent of April 3, 1919
Elias Gandy was born in Union County OH Oct 24, 1834, and died March 26, 1919 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. M. J. Grau of pneumonia. He was on the streets of the town only four days before talking to his friends. Young and old, in his happy style and when the news circulated of the dangerous illness people could hardly realize what it meant. Mr. Gandy was married to Lydia Cunningham on Nov 30, 1856, in Kane County, IL. Nine children were born to this union and all but one are living. They are Arthur, Henry and Lottie of Maple Park, IL; Lester of Toledo IA, George of Blunt SD; Mrs. Vreeland of Montour IA; Mrs. Laura Anderson of Brooking SD. and W. Gandy and Mrs. Edith Grau of Ireton. Mr. Gandy came to Tama County IA in 1866 living there until 1902; when he moved to Ireton where his wife died in 1913. Since the death of his partner through life he has made his home with his children. He spent the winter at Montour, Iowa, coming here about three weeks ago. He joined the Baptist church early in life and was a consistent follower of Christ. Funeral services were held at the Grau home. Thursday afternoon conducted by Rev. Neil Stewart, and following that the remains were taken to the railroad station where they were shipped to Montour, Iowa where they were laid to rest along side of his wife. We express our sympathy to the bereaved.

OBITUARY OF LIDIA ANN GANDY
Hawarden Independent of Jan 30, 1913
Mrs. Elias Gandy died at her home in Ireton last Sunday after an immediate illness of several weeks. Lydia Cunningham was born in Delaware County, Ohio Feb 25, 1836. She was united in marriage Nov 30, 1856 to Elias Gandy at Burlington, Kane County IL. Eleven children were born to them, two dying in infancy and one Mrs. Celia Grau who died at Ireton in 1901.
The surviving children are Mrs. Lottie E. Henrie and Arthur B. Gandy of Maple Park IL, Lester L. Gandy of Toledo, Iowa, Mrs. May Vreeland of Montour, Iowa; Geo. W. Gandy of Blunt SD; Mrs. Laura H. Anderson of Brookings SD; W. L. Gandy and Mrs. Edith A Grau of Ireton. She was left an orphan when only two years of age and was adopted and raised by Mary Deford, coming to Illinois in 1843. In 1866 she came to Montour, Iowa, with her husband, four children and her foster mother, where she resided until moving to Ireton in December of 1902. They have since made their home here. She untied with the Baptist church when 19 years of age and still retained her Baptist faith. Funeral services were held at the home Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. W. J. Creswell. The remains were taken to Montour where the final services were held Wednesday afternoon at the home of her daughter Mrs. Vreeland. The body was laid to rest in Maple Hill cemetery, Montour, adjoining the farm where she lived for 27 years. Mrs. Gandy has lived for a number of years in Ireton. She was a kind neighbor and leaves many friends to mourn her loss. The sympathy of the entire town and neighborhood goes out to the bereaved husband, wo is left to finish the journey of life alone.

The picture of Mr. and Mrs. Elias Gandy was taken from page 397 of the Ireton Centennial Book 1882-1982

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