WASHINGTON CO. IA
Formed 1837 (originally called Slaughter) from Wisconsin Territory
Keokuk formed 1837 from Washington
Iowa formed 1843 from Washington
Marion formed 1845 from Washington
 

CENSUS RECORDS

1840-1850 Washington Co. IA Census
      No Duncan indexed

1860 Washington Co. IA Census
Franklin Twp.
Pg.295, #1124-1082, Alex DUCAN 46 IRE farmer $0-$150
                  Lydia 43 OH
                  Wm. 25 PA carpenter
                  (MAD: one William H. Duncan mar. Margaret M. Coe 10/30/1855; one William Duncan mar. Angeline Brown 8/18/1864; 1870 Wayne Co. IA census as William S. 38 PA)
Pg.329, #1360-1319, Thomas MAXWELL 42 OH farmer $800-$550
                  Sarah J. 34 OH
                  Martha 7, John A. 5, Lydia M. 3 IA
                  Ella A. 7/12 IA
                  Jonathon DUNCAN 30 PA (blank) $400-$0
                  (MAD: one Jonathan Duncan mar. Rachel Cochran 8/23/1860; one Jonathan Duncan mar. (2nd?) Mary Tenant 3/7/1876)

1870 Washington Co. IA Census
Franklin Twp.
Pg.104, #147-141, DUNCAN, Johnathan 39 PA farmer $1800-$700
                  Rachel 39 IN keeping house
                  Anna E. 9, Charles 6 IA
                  James 3, Stella M. (f) 1 IA
 

HISTORIES before 1923

1887 "Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county" pub. by Acme Publ. Co. (FHL book 977.792 D3p)
      Pg.508-9: ALEXANDER DUNCAN, of Washington, is another one of the truly representative pioneers of Washington County, having made this his home since 1847, a period of forty years. He is a native of Ireland, born in 1813, and is the son of John and Elizabeth Duncan, both of whom were also natives of that country. When Alexander was about seven years of age, the family emigrated to America and located in Somerset Co. PA, where they remained eight years, and then moved to Washington County, in the same State. In 1833 they removed to Richland Co. OH, where Mr. Duncan died in his one hundredth year. Mrs. Duncan died in Coshocton Co. OH, from a cancer, in her 86th year. .... They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were among the first to embrace that faith in the days of John and Charles Wesley. Five children were born unto them, of whom two are yet living -- Samuel, now living in Missouri, and Alexander, in Washington, Iowa.
      Alexander Duncan was reared upon his father's farm, ... On the 17th of August, 1837, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Frederick, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Frederick, who were of German descent, their fore-parents being among the first to emigrate to America. Mrs. Duncan was born in Tuscarawas Co. OH, in 1817. She is a cousin of Hon. Ben Frederick, of Marshalltown, Iowa. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Duncan settled in Richland Co., Ohio, where Mr. Duncan opened two farms in the heavy timber. In 1847 they sold their possessions in Ohio and came to Iowa, being urged so to do by a brother of Mrs. Duncan, who had come to this State several years previously. The came across the country with teams and landed in Brighton in September of that year. Mr. Duncan first purchased land just across the line in Keokuk County, which he improved and upon which he lived two years, then sold out and bought and improved a farm of 137 acres in Franklin Township, this county. On this farm they continued to reside till 1865, when they moved to the city of Washington, where they have since continued to reside. ... Mr. and Mrs. Duncan were never blessed with chidren, but years ago they adopted Caroline Homel, who was then but two years of age. This child was given their name, and as Caroline Duncan, grew to womanhood under ... her foster parents, and is now the wife of N.N. Vinquest, an ice dealer of Kansas City. ....

1903 "A Genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa, illustrated" pub. by Lewis Pub. Co. (FHL film 934,949 item 4)
      Pg.277: JONATHAN DUNCAN ... has been in IA ever since 1854, locating in Washington Co. where he engaged in farming, and is one of the old and respected farmers of Keokuk Co., having lived here a good many years ago, and two years ago he removed here again from Washington Co. The grandfather of Jonathan Duncan was of Scotch descent, as the name indicates, and was a native of PA and lived during the struggle of the colonies for independence. William Duncan, the father of Jonathan, was born in PA in 1776, and was reared and educated on a farm ... farmer, politics of the old Whig party. His first wife was Jane Drennen, who was the mother of six children: William, James, David, Mary, Eliza and Eliza Ann, all of whom are deceased. His second wife, the mother of our subject, was Mary Kinsie, born and reared in PA. They had five children, of whom Jonathan was the eldest. The others were: Samuel (deceased), Hiram, Rachel (deceased) and Sarah (deceased), all born and reared in PA. Jonathan Duncan was born 30 March 1824; blacksmith; age 30 to IA in 1854 to a farm in Washington Co. for a short time, then to Keokuk Co. for 20 years on farm, then 1874 to Washington Co. for farming for some time, finally returned to this co. and has since been living in Keota. Mr. Duncan's first marriage was to Elizabeth Moore of PA, in 1861; she d. 1872, the mother of 4 children: William, Ida, Mattie and Charles. In 1875 he again married, his wife was Mary Tennent, b. NY City, to OH with parents when about 10 years old; her parents John and Mary Tennent were natives of IRE, to OH at early day, there died. ...
      (MAD: perhaps from Beaver Co. PA; unconfirmed statement that William Duncan who mar. a dau. of Judge Dreenan was son of James Duncan and Mary Marlin)
 

END

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