BUNDY, John W. (1816-1890)

BUNDY

Posted By: Claudia Cole Meek (email)
Date: 3/5/2010 at 11:20:57

Biographical sketch of John W Bundy. By Rev.Bovell 1890

John W. Bundy was born in North Carolina February, 29, 1816; died August 19, 1890 at
Indianola, Iowa (Warren County) aged 74 yrs. 5 mo. 18 days. His grandfather came from
England in the year 1765 and settled in what afterwards became the state of South Carolina.
In the year 1766 the father of the subject of this sketch was born. In his sixteenth year, he enlisted with the
Colonial troops and served with distinction durin the las two years of the Revolutionary war.

After our Independence was gained he went again to North Carolina and live there until 1829. At that
time the son John W. being 13 years old the family removed to Wayne county, Ind. They resided in
Wayne and Henry counties, Ind. Until 1833 when they removed to Quincy Illinois.

Young Bundy comprehending the future prospects of this promising land crossed the Mississippi in 1844,
to be identified thereafter with this state. He first located in Van Buren co., (Iowa) where he remained till
1852. He then went to Oskaloosa, living there until he came to Warren county (Iowa) in 1855.

Mr. Bundy went into the milling business early in life and followed it with success, not only securing
an adequate maintenance for his family but contributing towared the prosperity of the county. He has
be identified with the milling interest of the county until the last three years during which he has lived upon
his farm two and a half miles west of town (Indianola).
Mr. Bundy was married on the 6th of May 1838 to Miss Sarah Delamater of Rensselaer Co. N.Y. With
her he lived in happy union till her death June 19, 1873. Mrs. Bundy was, though an Invalid for many years,
one of the active and useful women of the early days of Warren Co. To them were given eight children;
six of them still living; Cyntha, wife of John W. Barnes (my ggrandparents) of Warren Co., Emma, wife
of Edd R. Mc Kee of Indianola; Jane, wife of Mr. Joseph Thomas, of Missouri, deceased June 18, 1886;
Effa, wife of W P. Lucas of Indianola; George A. and Martin Luther of Holt Co. Nebraska; Mrs Mary Peck
died May 17, 1869, and W. E. (William E.) died April 6 1879. On Sept. 13 1874 Mr. Bundy was married
to his second wife Miss Sallay Maloy, with whom he lived till her decease June 3, 1884. To them were
born two daughters, Iva born Dec 21. 1875 and Lydia born April 2, 1881.

Mr. Bundy was always until the last two or three years of his life, on of the strongest and healthiest men
in the county. He seemed to possess and iron constitution and vast resources of physical power. This
magnificent indowment of physical strength was never wasted by dissipation of any kind. He lived a
remarkably well ordered and temperate life and as a result was free from disease and pain most of his years.
With the exception of some stomach trouble a few year… …the active supervision of his affairs up to nine
weeks ago tomorrow when he left his farm for the last time. (I'm missing a sentenc or two from this article)

In business matter he was upright and honest and did business on business principles. This which was
the habit of his life time, continued with him to the last. He foresaw the end and prepared for it, put his
affairs in shape so that he could die without owing a man a dollar.

Mr. Bundy was a man of public spirit and was always ready for anything that would build up the country
and improve the conditions of the living. He was always interested in public improvements and was willing
to give time and work to secure them. This being his spirit he was generally in demand when the interests
of his community demanded self-denying work.

He was one of the oldest Masons in the state and was an organic member of the local lodge of the
Masonic Fraternity. He was also one of oldest Odd Fellows in the state and was an active and useful
member in these orders, and was held in high esteem by both of these Brotherhoods.

He became a member of the M. E. Church early in life and was very active and useful in the cause of
Christ. His parents were N. C. Friends and gave him the early training in spiritual things that made him
what he was to the cause of early espoused. He was an efficient worker in the S. S. for many years teach-
ing a class of young men who are now men prominent in business here and elsewhere. He was also active
active and useful in all lines of christian enterprise. He was with Mr. Bundy went into the Baptist Church of
Indianola among the first ones after its organization in 1865, and has since been held in great esteem by
the members of that body. As a man he was plain in dress, stright forward in speech, some times blunt
in manner, but always warm-hearted and sympathetic in nature, a fair specimen of the better class of men
who made Iowa what it is today. He had many friends and was held in high esteem by them. He loved to
meet old friends and talk of the early days and their trials and successes; and he was just as hearty and
cordial to those of us whom he had known a shorter time.

As a Christian he was sincere and openhearted. His faith was very inplicit in the love and power of Christ
as a Savior--it was to an intelligent faith. He was more of a reader and thinker on Christian than most men
engaged in practical affairs. He like to talk and could talk intelligently with men whose lives are devoted to
the study of such things. There was nothing of the flippant or the superficial in his conversations on these
momentous interests. He lived with open heart toward eternity and confidently waited all the days of his
appointed time until his change came. He cam to town to the home of Mr. and Mrs. McKee 7 weeks ago
see page Two

Page Two John W. Bundy obituary

tomorrow and has been in bed most of the time since and at times a very great sufferer. This….

(I'm missing a sentence or two between page breaks)

During these recent days he has been to that came to see him an object lesson of trust in God, or
endurance and confident hope. He would talk just as calmly about his death and his prospects as he
did about any matters of business.

To show how his strength was drawn from the un-seen, hidden resource of the Most High, a single
incident. One day as one of his daughters and I were sitting by his bed, he being in unusually great
sickness, instead of murmuring as some of us would in like case, he exlaimed. "O faith and hope are
great things"

A single other incident to illustrate his confident courage and hope, and to deliver for my own part a
message he intrusted me with his old friends and neighbors. It was some five weeks ago and at a time that
he was disposed to doubt the correctness of the physicians diagnosis of his case. He said, "Brother
Bovell, the Doctor tells me I can't live. I do not believe this myself, I believe I will soon get around again. But
if I don't, when I am gone and my old friends gather around me, if there is no change in my feelings and con-
victions in regard to myself between this and that time I want you to tell them it is all right with John Bundy"

Those who were near him to the last know that there was no change. We may confidently solace our
hearts with the belief that "it is all right with John Bundy."

After seven weeks of suffering of cancer of the stomach the end came peacefully and quietly at 2 o'clock
a.m. Tuesday, Aug. the 19th , 1890.

"Servant ofGod, well;-done; Rest from thy loved employ."