Wilson Lundy
Born: October 11, 1864
Died: January 3, 1937
Dr. J. Wilson Lundy was born at Ardragh House, Carrickmacross, County Monoghan, Ireland, October 11, 1864. His father, David Richey Lundy, whose birth occurred on the same day as that of Queen Victoria, was an officer of the Crown, and for many years held the position of High Constable of the Barony of Farney①. Wilson Lundy was the next t
o the youngest of the eleven children and was sent, with his brothers and sisters, to the national grammar school at Corvalley, – then to model school at Bailieboro, and later, to the Academies at Carrickmacross and the Castleblaney, where he studied Latin and Greek in preparation for college. He graduated from Queen’s College, Galway, which has since become the National University of Ireland. While at college, he excelled in Euclid, which, he often said, helped him more than any other subject in his career as a public speaker. In 1882, he came to the United States and joined his eldest brother, David, who a number of years before, had established himself as a successful business man in San Francisco. In less than a year, he entered the Presbyterian Theological Seminary. It was then located on Haight Street and later removed to San Anselmo. He graduated as the youngest ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church. He had a burning desire at this time to travel and see the world. A few days later, he met the young woman who was soon to become his wife – Miriam Buteau, daughter of Dr. S.A. Buteau of Centerville②. They were married in July 1886, and the ticket to Australia was never used! It was probably exchanged for two tickets to Ireland, for he took his bride back to his old home on their honeymoon. During this stay in Ireland, he lectured and showed stereopticon slides of California. He often told in later years of the amazement and incredulity of his listeners, as he related the wonders of his adopted State. He was probably the first person to publicly advertise the beauties of California in the British Isles. His early pastorates were in Centerville, San Mateo and Marysville. During these years, his three children were born – Aileen, Bernita, and his son, Buteau. He was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Stockton for nineteen years and up to the time of his death, maintained a warm personal relationship with his many friends there. In 1916, he was called to the Howard Presbyterian Church of San Francisco where he remained for seven years. In 1922, he resigned from the ministry to organize the Lundy Travel Bureau. With the assistance of his son, he conducted many European and ‘Round the World Tours. His genial nature, coupled with a mind well stored in knowledge of far away places, made him unusually successful in this field. He passed away in Stanford Hospital on January 3, 1937.
① High Constable of the Barony of Farney. See website: http://www.libraryireland.com/articles/MonaghanCountyDirectoryThom1862/index.php
BARONY CESS COLLECTORS. Cremorne, John Francis Johnston, Millmore, Ballybay. Dartrey, James Lister, Dundrennan, Rockcorry. Farney, east, Wm. Henry, Mullinavanog, Carrickmacross. Farney, west, Richey Lundy, Ardragh, Carrickmacross. Monaghan, Joseph Fiddes, Clenamully, Scottstown. Trough, John Cargill, Aughalonghan, Glasslough.
② Centerville is currently Fremont, California. It was incorporated on
January 23, 1956, from the merger of five smaller communities: Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs. Buteau web search results:
Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society
The Richard N. Schellens Collection of Historical Materials
Surname Index from "Boyce to Butter"
http://www.l-ags.org/schellens/sch_surn_B3.html
Author: Buteau, S.A. Date: 1881
Subject: IOCF Centerville Council No. 34
Volume/Pages: 63:363
