The family sketches of the children of Andrew and Rebecca (Wooldridge) Bandy are a bit out of order, since I have already blogged about Samuel Coleman, Martha and Mary, children #2, 3, and 4, even though today’s subject, George, is the oldest of the eleven Bandy siblings.

George Bandy was born perhaps on Christmas, c1816, in Botetourt County, Virginia. While about half of his siblings left Lawrence County, Ohio for new homes, George spent his adult life there.

He married Elizabeth Caulley on 28 September 1838 in Lawrence County. Although the Bandys might have been happy together for a number of years, at some point, George walked away from their marriage and married not once, but two more times!

His second wife was Emma Stein, who he married on 16 November 1876. She was born c1854 in Ohio and may be the Chloe E. Stein living in Symmes Township in 1870 in the home of Adam and Mary Clarkson.

George and Emma were enumerated together in 1880 in Symmes Township. What became of Emma is unknown and no children were in their home.

George is not found in any other census records, but he married (3) Martha Copley, 20 May 1886, again in Lawrence County.

Elizabeth Bandy was enumerated in 1880, in Symmes Township, and noted as divorced. Elizabeth brought the divorce action against George in Lawrence County on 4 August 1876. she stated that on 1 June 1874, he committed adultery with Sarah (Wearen?) and “divers other women” since that time.

The divorce petition also stated that there were ten living children, but I’ve only ever documented four. However, all four were grown and married long before 1876.

The divorce was granted and Elizabeth apparently outlived George. She passed away on 20 November 1899 and is buried at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Lawrence County. Her gravestone is somewhat elaborate and a good size.

Two of George’s and Elizabeth’s children predeceased her and it may be telling of where the sympathies of the other two were, given that George has no stone and other than he died before 1900, nothing else is known of his death.

The family life of George and Elizabeth (Caulley) Bandy certainly had its ups and downs.

Lafe was a Civil War veteran (Co. I 18 OH Infantry), but also had a difficult life. His first wife apparently died soon and he died not long after his second marriage, leaving no known descendants.

It also seems that their first child, daughter Mary Jane, might have been one of those “first babies that come any time” while all the others take nine months.

That might not have set well with their parents and/or the community.

Children (All events in Lawrence County unless noted otherwise.):

1. Mary Jane, born 19 November 1837; died 4 April 1892; married Samuel Goff, c1853. Samuel was a Civil War veteran, born 15 July 1833, Missouri and died 19 July 1889. They had a large family and were the parents of three sons and five daughters – George Washington, Sarah Elizabeth, John, Julia, Emma, Archie, Effie J. and Alice.

2. Lafayette, born 28 August 1839; died 6 March 1871; married (1) Adelphia Jane Miller, 11 June 1861, Lawrence County, Ohio. She was born c1838, Ohio and died before 1870 as no further record is found for her after her marriage. (2) Elizabeth Worthington, 16 August 1870. Lizzie married (2) William Harvey Boggs, 23 March 1876 and had a large family with him. Lafayette has no known descendants. She was born 29 February 1852, Kentucky; died 19 January 1923, Clark County, Ohio. Elizabeth was the sister of Joseph Worthington who married Julia Bandy.

3. Julia A., born 5 November 1840; died 10 April 1919, Marion County, Ohio; married Joseph Worthington, 2 December 1866. He was born 26 June 1841; died 19 October 1923, Clark County, Ohio. In 1900, this family lived in Boyd County, Kentucky. They were the parents of four children – George, Archer, Anna E., and Winnie.

4. Malinda Adaline, born 20 September 1842; died 27 March 1917; married (1) William Brooks, 19 January 1862. He was reportedly born 1842; died 6 February 1874, possibly in Missouri, as daughter Chattie was born there in 1874. (2) James K. Brooks, 15 August 1876. The bride was identified as Malinda A. Brooks. He was born May 1829, Ohio and died after the 1900 census. The Brooks lived in Gallia County, Ohio at that time. Malinda was the parent of 8 children with 7 still living in 1910 – Lafayette, Elizabeth, Mary, Chattie, Effie, Ida and Jestia. The first four were children of William Brooks and the youngest three girls were with James K. Brooks.

Although George and Elizabeth Bandy have no descendants carrying the Bandy surname, they had nineteen grandchildren so there are descendants today.