Marion County IL Archives Biographies.....Bundy, William Kell May 4, 1827 - April 24, 1919 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Kim Randolph groovin@charter.net April 25, 2006, 5:50 pm Author: Brinkerhoff's History of Marion Co., IL The life of the early settlers in any community has ever contained much to interest and entertain us. There is something romantic about the ruggedness of their lives and the uncertainties they had to face which holds a gascination for us today. The family of the subject of this sketch were among the earliest inhabitants of the county in which they lived, and the hardworking lives they lived were much mroe eventful than the life of the average farmer of today. The life of William Kell Bundy, the subject of this sketch, has been an adventurous one. In early life the received the limited education afforded at the only available local institutions of learning--the subscription schools. He remained at home doing necessary work on the farm until 1847, when at that martial period he enlisted in Company C, No., 1, United States Army for the Mexican War. His military career began by his being sent to Alton, Illinois, and later to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and later participated in the march across the desert to Santa Fe. He was on the march sixy days, which was a tedious one. Later he took part in the advance upon old Albuquerque, the Mexican capital. Here he remained until 1848, where he did guard duty, and finally marched back. On his return he remained with his father superintending the old homestead until the latter's death, at which time he bought forty acres of it, on which he lived for fifteen years. In 1863 he changed to his present abode in section No. 6, Racoon township. At different times the area of his land increased until he had at one time three hundred and fifty acres; the greater part of which he has divided among his children. All the improvements on the place have been the fruits of his labor and supervision. He has principally raised stock on the farm, cattle, horses, sheep and hogs, and also evinced an interest in the fancy and finer breeds. William Kell Bundy was born section No. 1, Centralia Township, Marion County, Illinois, on May 4, 1827 and was the son of Frederick and Mary (Wilson) Bundy. He married first Mary Elizabeth, the daughter of Isaac and Sarah McClelland. Isaac was an early settler in Marion County, near Walnut Hill. On the death of his first wife, Mr. Bundy married a second time on October 20, 1887, Anna Mildred Gaines, of Sumner County, near Nashville, Tennessee. She was the daughter of Henry and Marian (Bradley) Gaines. They came to Marion County, Illinois in 1850, and settled in Stevenson township. There Henry Gaines and his wife farmed during the remainder of their lives. He died in 1850, and his wife in 1856. Though now in his eighty-second year, William Kell Bundy possesses a mind of unusual transparency. He is still able to review in detail the memories and exploits of a long and varied career. In politics the subject of our sketch is a life-long follower of the Democracy. His first vote for a presidential candidate was recorded years ago when it went to James K. Polk, who figured in an eventful election. In religion he is a member of the Christian Church, in the interests of which he has ever been active. He is now in the mellow period of a long life which has always been at the service of home and country. He has fulfilled the duties of a long life; he is surrounded by an affectionable circle of sons an daughters; he has the friendship and good wishes of a host of friends. Is not this as much as any of us can hope for in the evening of life? THE ABOVE WAS COPIED FROM BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS 1909, pages 256, 257 and 258. He died on April 24, 1919, he lived ten years after this was written. Additional Comments: William Kell Bundy was my great-great Grandfather. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/marion/bios/bundy655nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.4 Kb