by Elgin Gandy
F.M. Gandy was born in Tennessee in 1833, and died in 1903. He was married to Louisa McCurry,
born in 1833, in Alabama, died in 1922, in Bosque County. They were married on 1854, being the
first couple to marry in Bosque County, This was before the county was organized, and they
obtained their marriage license in McLennan County. They were married by Jasper A. Mabray,
Justice of the Peace of McLennan County. They were married under a large oak tree believed to
be about where the Pool place is south of Clifton.
He is listed as a war veteran having seen services in Louisiana and Arkansas with the Confederate
Army.
Louisa (McCurry) Gandy was a charter member of the Meridian Methodist Church. Her husband
joined a short time later. As quoted in "Adventure of a Ballad Hunter" by John A. Lomax in
Boyhood in Bosque County he quotes:
"Frank's father (F.M.) was "powerful in prayer" and was called on to pray at climatic moments
when a little extra urging was needed. I remember one striking statement "Oh Lord", he would
plead, "finger around their heart strings with the finger of Thy Love".
To this family six sons were born: J.M., John, William R. (Billy), Frank, Tom and Horace, and one
daughter, Mandy.
Louisa (McCurry) Gandy's father was one of the five commissioners appointed in Austin to locate
the, Bosque County Seat. He was also the builder of the first court house. He is also listed as
purchasing the first town lot in Meridian.