Brother of Hiram Bandy.

Civil War Veteran - 1st Minn. Artil'y Co. K. Enlisted at age 18 (or so he claimed - actually 14 or 15). Mustered in Feb. 13, 1865. Mustered out Sept. 27, 1865.

The Headstones Provided for Deceased Union Civil War Veterans record for John O. Bandy says he died November 1894 and was buried in Evergreen (he actually died November 1893).

      The people of Gull River fear that John Bandy, of that place, who went in quest of deer some two weeks ago, is lost, as no word has been received from him since he left. (Brainerd Dispatch, 01 December 1893, p. 4, c. 3)

                 Suspects Foul Play
     A brother of John Bandy, who has not been heard of since about the 15th of November, is in the city looking up matters in regard to his brother's mysterious disappearance, and is of the opinion that foul play is at the bottom of the affair. John Bandy lived at Gull Lake and in company with two companions went to the Stony Brook country to hunt during the deer season. After the season closed his companions returned, but Bandy has not been seen since. The men who were with him stated that the day before the season closed Bandy took a rifle and compass and started out in quest of game, but did not return to the camp that night, and the next day they packed up and came home. Nothing was thought of the occurrence for two or three days, but when a week or two had gone by and he did not return to his family they became uneasy and made inquiries, but all search has been fruitless, and his whereabouts is still a mystery. He has a wife and five children, and his brother will go to their home to-day, and from there will endeavor to get some trace of him. (Brainerd Tribune, 26 January 1894, p. 4, c. 4)

           John Bandy's Body Found.
      On Tuesday the body of a man was found in the woods five miles from Stony Brook station by E. M. Osterlund and his wife who were hunting cattle. Their attention was called to the place by a terrible stench, and an investigation showed them that some human being clad in a black goatskin overcoat had met his death in that secluded spot. The authorities were notified and Deputy Coroner Losey went to the scene on Wednesday morning accompanied by several persons from Stony Brook. The remains were found as indicated by Mr. Osterlund, but in a bad state of decomposition. The man had evidently been overcome by illness and had endeavored to make himself a bed as a quantity of pine boughs had been gathered and placed beside a stump near the place where the body was found. A Winchester rifle lay some feet away, and a revolver was in the coat pocket. Nothing was discovered on the body that would lead to identification, although it was the general opinion of those present that the remains were those of John Bandy who disappeared in December of last year from a hunting camp in that vicinity. An inquest was held and the following verdict rendered:
      An inquisition taken at E. M. Osterlund's on the 9th day of May, 1894, before A. E. Losey, deputy coroner of said county, upon viewing the body of an unknown hunter lying there dead, by the oaths of the jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed, who being sworn to inquiry on behalf of the State of Minnesota, when, how and by what means the said unknown hunter came to his death, upon their oaths do say: That we, the jury, believe the above came to his death by wandering away from his camp and being overcome by cold was frozen to death; and we the jury believe him to be a hunter by the name of Bandy who came from Wheelock into this woods.
                        A. E. LOSEY,
                              DEPUTY CORONER.
                        E. M. OSTERLUND.
                        JOHN CARROLL.
                        J. R. LYNCH.
                        JOE ELLIOTT.
      J. E. Davis, a brother-in-law of Bandy's, went up to Stony Brook yesterday morning and had the body exhumed in order to identify the remains, and his examination proved beyond a doubt that the dead man was John Bandy. He recognized the fur coat and the rubbers the man wore were a pair he had given Bandy. A peculiarly shaped whetstone was also found which Mr. Davis had used many times. A peculiar formation of the teeth was looked for, Bandy having told Davis at one time that if he ever needed to be identified, his teeth would answer the purpose well, and at that time had him (Davis) examine them. This, if nothing else, proved the identity of the man. The remains were then re-buried where they will be allowed to remain a short time, and will then be removed to this city for a final resting place. The deceased was an old soldier.
      The story of John Bandy's disappearance, published in this paper at the time, is that at the beginning of the deer season last fall, he left his family consisting of a wife and five children at home at Gull Lake, and in company with two neighbors went on a hunting expedition, the camp being located in the Stony Brook neighborhood. A day or so before the season closed Bandy borrowed one of his companion's guns, having none of his own and started out alone. He did not return that night, and as an agreement had been made to go home the next day the two remaining men packed up and started, thinking Bandy had gone on home ahead hunting on his way down. As he did not return and the days lengthened into weeks, foul play was suspected by some while others thought he had left his family and gone to Dakota, but the discovery of Tuesday dispels any such theory, and as he was not healthy and was subject to sinking spells, it is evident that he was overcome and froze to death. His family have removed to Gray Eagle.
      The day the body was discovered a party was being made up to go in search of him, his son having arrived on Monday to join the search. (Brainerd Dispatch, 11 May 1894, p. 4, c. 4)

     A. E. Losey and J. A. Davis went to Stoney Brook the first of the week and took up the remains of John Bandy, who was found dead in the woods about a year ago, and brought them to this city for burial. Mr. Bandy was an old soldier, and burial services will be conducted by Pap Thomas Post G. A. R. on Sunday afternoon. (Brainerd Dispatch, 22 February 1895, p. 4, c. 4)

The original date of death in Evergreen records (which was actually the date of burial) was Feb. 19, 1895. He is buried along with several other veterans in a lot purchased by the Pap Thomas Post.

1857 MN Territorial census for Precinct 1, Brown county:
Bandy, Isac, 34, b. Indiana
Bandy, Louisa, 27, b. Indiana
Bandy, Minhard, 10, b. Indiana
Bandy, John, 7, b. Iowa
Bandy, Hiram, 6, b. Iowa
Bandy, Onel, 2, b. Iowa

1860 census for Leavenworth, Brown, Minnesota, family #433:
Bandy, Isaac, 37, b. Indiana
Bandy, Lydia, 30, b. New York
Bandy, Minor, 13, b. Indiana
Bandy, John, 8, b. Iowa
Bandy, Hiram, 6, b. Iowa
Bandy, Owen, 4, b. Iowa
Bandy, Horace, 2, b. Minn.
Bandy, Adelia, 2, b. Minn.

1870 census for Union Grove, Meeker, Minnesota, family #20:
Bandy, John O., 21, b. Indiana
Bandy, Judith, 18, b. Michigan
Family #52:
Bandy, Isaac, 50, b. Indiana
Bandy, Lucy, 39, b. Indiana
Bandy, Hiram N., 17, b. Iowa
Bandy, Owen A., 14, b. Iowa
Bandy, Ida L., 12, b. Minn. } Twins
Bandy, Horace, 12, b. Minn. }
Bandy, Alva H., 9, b. Minn.
Bandy, Eva L., 6, b. Minn.
Bandy, Ella L., 5, b. Minn.
Bandy, Frank W., 3, b. Minn.
Bandy, Fred A., 3/12, b. Minn.

1885 MN census for Grey Eagle, Todd county:
Bandy, John O., 36, b. Iowa
Bandy, Judith, 35, b. Michigan
Bandy, Sylva E., 14, b. Minnesota
Bandy, Annie L., 12, b. Minnesota
Bandy, Fanie V., 10, b. Minnesota
Bandy, George M., 7, b. Minnesota
Bandy, Clara, 5, b. Minnesota
Bandy, Amy A., 2, b. Minnesota
Bandy, Laurance S., 0, b. Minnesota

1895 MN census for Grey Eagle, Todd county:
Bandy, Judith, 44, b. Michigan
Bandy, Clara, 15, b. Minnesota
Bandy, Laurance, 12, b. Minnesota
Bandy, Olliver, 8, b. Minnesota
Bandy, Bertha, 4, b. Minnesota
Bandy, John, 1, b. Minnesota

1900 census for Grey Eagle, Todd, Minnesota, E.D. 192, family #132:
Bandy, Judith, Head, 48, b. Feb 1852 Michigan, widowed, 10 ch. 10 liv.
Bandy, Laurance S., Son, 15, b. Mch 1885 Minn.
Bandy, Olive A., Dau., 12, b. July 1887 Minn.
Bandy, Bertha J., Dau., 9, b. Apr 1891 N. Dak.
Bandy, John H., Son, 6, b. Jan 1894 Minn.

Civil War pension record:
08 Aug 1890: John filed as Invalid
19 May 1894: Judith filed as Widow
21 Oct 1901: Judith Doty filed for Minor