JOHNSON CO. IA
Formed 1837 from Des Moines
 

1850 Johnson Co. IA Census
(No Duncan indexed; looking for McDonough Co. IL families)
Pleasant Valley Town
Pg.145, #26, Emerson MARLOW 12 IA w/family of
                  Isaiah B. HOLLINGSWORTH 34 Mos?
                  Martha J. 32 same
                  Elizabeth 10, Robert B. 8 IA
                  Martha E. 6, Henry W.4, Phebe J.2 IA
Penn Twp.
Pg.174, #45, Johnathan HAWK 54 PA & family
 

1860 Johnson Co. IA Census (and from Kathy Cawley 5/2001)
Iowa City
Pg.784, #2061-1955, Ezekiel CLARK 41 OH Pres State Bk $50,000-$30,000
                  Ogden WHITLOCK 19 IL printer
                  L.H. DUNCAN (m) 28 GERmany editor $500-$0
                  Chas. MASSETT 26 IN watch maker $2-$0
Pg.796, #2161-2048, Saml. DUNCAN 49 PA clerk $0-$0
                  Margaret 45 PA
                  Robert 20 PA speculator $0-$0
                  Jennie (f) 18, Kennedy (m) 15 PA
                  Minnie (f) 12, Samuel 9 PA
                  Mary HENN 18 GERmany domestic
                  (MAD: 1850 Fayette Co. PA census; 1870 Dubuque Co. IA census)
Pg.833, #4432-2527, Hotel, guests include
                  L.A. DUNCAN (m) 24 PA editor $0-$0
 

1870 Johnson Co. IA Census
Liberty Twp.
Pg.432, #69-70, DUNCAN, Corbus (m) 56 SCT farmer $3300-$700, parents of foreign birth
                  Sarah 43 CANada keeping house, parents of foreign birth
                  John 15, Duncan (m) 12 CAN, parents of foreign birth
                  Faquher (m) 10, Sarah 8 CAN, parents of foreign birth
 

CEMETERY RECORDS

"IA Cemetery and Grave Records, Jackson-Jones Counties" by WPA (FHL film 1,023,101; from Kathy Zehner 2/1993 with permission to share 7/2001)
      Johnson Co.: Duncan, Willie, 15y 6m, d. 23 Mar 1855, drowned in Iowa City.
 

HISTORIES before 1923

1880 "History of Berrien and Van Buren Counties, Michigan : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers" ed. by Franklin Ellis & Crisfield Johnson & others, pub. by D.W. Ensign & Co., Philadelphia (HeritageQuest image 2/2007, Local History Reel/Fiche Number 4587; FHL film 908,063 item 1 and 1,000,080 item 3)
      Pg.173-174, Berrien Co. MI, City of Niles: (indexed Lawson A. Duncan, b.1832) MAJOR L.A. DUNCAN was born in Columbus, Bartholomew Co. IN. His father was a native of Leesburg [Loudoun Co.], VA, and his mother of Chillicothe, OH. When two years of age his father died, and he, with his mother, went to Charlestown, Clarke Co. IN, to live with his grandfather, the late Judge James Scott. His grandfather and father being newspaper men and editors, he, it may be said, grew up in the profession.
      In 1856 he removed West, stopping in Iowa City [Johnson Co.], Iowa. In 1858, in connection with G.H. Jerome, he assumed the editorship of the Iowa City "Republican," and in 1861 was appointed, by the Governor of the State, one of the swampland commissioners to settle swamp-land claims of the State against the general government.
      While in Iowa he was instrumental in helping that veteran Abolitionist, John Brown, through the State to Harper's Ferry, though ignorant of his destination and full purpose.
      In 1862 he resigned his commissionership to enter the Union army. He was appointed adjutant of the 40th Iowa Infantry upon the formation of that regiment, and took part in the siege of Vicksburg and capture of Little Rock, AR; in the battles of Prairie D'Ann (where, when on staff duty and leading the 50th Indiana Infantry into action, he had a horse shot under him), Jenkins' Ferry, Little Missouri River, and several minor engagements. He was commissioned major March 17, 1865, this being the highest vacancy occurring in his regiment during the war. After the surrender of Lee he served some months in the Indian Territory, and was finally mustered out with his regiment at Fort Gibson, Aug. 15, 1865. Though he was three years in his country's service, he claims only an inconspicuous part in the war.
      In February, 1866, he came to Niles, and in connection with E.C. Dana, bought two newspaper establishments, - the "Niles Enquirer" and the "Berrien County Freeman," - which he consolidated under the name of the "Niles Times." At the expiration of two years Mr. Dana retired, and the name of the paper was changed to the "Niles Republican," since which time Maj. Duncan has been sole editor and proprietor. He claims to publish a good, clean, reliable, local paper, and his patrons and readers acknowledge the justness of this claim.
      In 1872 he was elected presidential elector for the Fourth Congressional District, and cast a personal vote for U.S. Grant and Henry Wilson. He served four years on the Republican State Central Committee, and was one of the board of visitors to the State normal school in 1879.
      Maj. Duncan, since the formation of the Republican party, has always been a warm supporter of that party and its principles. Prior to its organization he was a Whig, having been reared in that political faith.
 

END

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