Lundy, John R.

LUNDY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 13:31:51

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.714

JOHN R. LUNDY
In the history of Warren County and the men who have been its promoters and upbuilders it is imperative that mention should he made of J. R. Lundy who is one of the prominent business men of the county, a member of the firm of McGrannahan & Lundy, dealers in groceries and general merchandise at Indianola. He is, moreover, a native son of the county for his birth occurred at Palmyra, March 16. 1861. His father. Augustus Lundy was a native of West Virginia, born July 7, 1814, and his father was Samuel Lundy. The family is of English descent
and of Quaker faith. The original American ancestors came to the new world with William Penn and since that time the members of the family through succeeding generations have always borne an excellent reputation for faithfulness in citizenship and straightforward conduct in all life's relations. Augustus Lundy was reared in West Virginia and in 1851 arrived in Iowa, settling in Palmyra. He was married there to Jane Warnock, a native of Ross County, Ohio, born in 1829. Mr. Lundy was a carpenter and joiner and eventually engaged in contracting. He assisted largely in the building of Palmyra and later took up his abode on a farm in Greenfield Township, where he spent his last years. His death there occurred in March, 1878. His wife survived him and died in 1904. Their family numbered two sons and two daughters: James W., a business man of Indianola; J. R., of this review; Anna, who resides on the old home farm; and Minnie, the wife of Samuel Tomlinson of Maxwell, Iowa.
J. R. Lundy was reared in this county and was educated in the common schools. He is almost wholly a self-educated man, for his opportunities in youth were limited, but in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons and has also broadened his knowledge by reading and obser­vation. After arriving at mature years he engaged in cultivating the home farm and proved capable in his agricultural pursuits. He was married at Avon, Iowa, October 6, 1879, to Miss Hallie Walter of Altoona, Iowa. At the time of his marriage he was engaged in merchandising at Avon and carried on the business there for two years, when he sold out and removed to Spring Hill. Here he purchased a store which he conducted for seven years, on the expiration of which period he disposed of his stock and went to Bondurant, Polk County. There he purchased a business and also started a new store at Altoona. He conducted both stores for a time, but later disposed of those interests and went to Milo where he became a stockholder in the Citizens Bank and was made its cashier. He filled that position for one year when he dis­posed of his interests in the institution and removed to Indianola. While living in that city Mrs. Lundy died, August 20, 1902. There were four children by that marriage of whom three are living. Later Mr. Lundy returned to his old home on the farm and operated the fields for nearly three years. During that time, in 1904, he established his bank at Spring Hill and also opened a general mercantile store and until April 1, 1908, carried on business in these lines. He also erected a good residence in the town and a substantial brick business block and his labors have always been of a nature that promoted public progress as well as individual success. He also owns and operates a farm nearby.
On the 8th of March, 1905, Mr. Lundy was again married, his second union being with Miss Nellie Brand, who was born and reared in Warren County and is a daughter of Dewitt Clinton Brand, a native of Cattaraugus County, New York. He was one of the pioneers and farmers of Lincoln Township, living for fifty-two years oil one farm which lie had entered from the government. It comprises three hundred and forty acres and he transformed the wild prairie into a richly productive field. He was married in New York, return­ing there for his bride, after which he lived in the Empire State for two years. He then took up his abode upon his Iowa farm and for a long period was one of the best known and most respected agriculturists of the community. Mrs. Lundy completed her education in Simpson College at Indianola, and for over thirteen years or for thirty-three terms, was successfully engaged in teaching, being one of the best known instructors connected with the public schools of this part of the state. The children of Mr. Lundy's first marriage are Beatrice, Phillis and Dale, and he also lost a daughter, Gladys, when about a year old. There is one child of the second marriage, Marion.
Politically Mr. Lundy is a Democrat and has held some school and town­ship offices. He and his wife and two daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as a trustee, while Mrs. Lundy is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society. Mr. Lundy belongs to the Champion Lodge, No. 233, A. F. & A. M., and his wife was connected with the Eastern Star, while in the Odd Fellows lodge he has filled all of the chairs and is past grand. He is a well known business man of Warren County, whose com­mercial integrity is above question, while his enterprise has gained for him the position which he now occupies as a successful merchant of this part of the state. He has used the chances which have come to him, has neglected no opportunity for advancement, and at all times has placed his dependence upon perseverance, close application and unwearied industry.