VERMILION CO. IL
HISTORIES before 1923
 

1879 "History of Vermilion County [Illinois] : together with historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources" by Hiram W. Beckwith, pub. by H.H. Hill (Los Angeles Public Library book R977.31 V52Be; FHL film 215,555 and 1,000,518 item 1)
      Elwood Township
      Pg.605: Mr. A.A. Sulcer b. Butler Co., OH, 28 Feb. 1839, married 12 Jan. 1870 to Mary J. Duncan, who was born in this county.
      Middle Fork Township
      Pg.807: Church at Marysville built 1870. Some of the most efficient and active members in the Sabbath school work are ... J.H. Duncan ....
      Pg.815: Wm. H. Copeland, b. 15 April 1821, married Rachel Stevens, b. 1823, ten children, 6 now living: Nancy E., now wife of William H. Duncan, of this township; ....
      Pg.815: James H. Duncan, Potomac, farmer, born Gallatin Co. KY, Feb. 12, 1818, married April 4, 1839 to Elisabeth Crabbe, ten children: Sarah J. m. David Partlow, Mary E. m. B.F. Marple of State Line City, Margarett E., John J., Asbury, Charles M., William H. The deceased are Asa, Emaline and Frank.
      Pg.818: Andrew Copeland, b. March 20, 1836, m. July 30, 1855, to Mary M. Anderson, b. Oct. 12, 1839. Six children ... (2) Emma M.C., now wife of C. P. Duncan of Marysville, ....
      Pg.821: John W. Duncan, Potomac, farmer, sec. 25, was born in Vermilion City, Ill. June 16, 1846. Mother died when he was two, lived with aunt and part of time with father until 21. Married Nancy A. Price Sept. 5, 1865. She was born in Vermilion Co. IL, June 30, 1849. Six children, Robert W., Samuel, Albert, Harry, Maggie, and Nellie. His parents were natives of Kentucky. His wife's parents of Ohio.
      Pg.833: Charles P. Duncan, post office Potomac, groceries, was born Fountain City [Wayne or Fountain Co.], Indiana, July 22, 1852. Married Mary A. Copeland, Aug. 16, 1876. She was born in Vermilion City, Ill. One child, Ernest C., born Aug. 1, 1878. His parents are natives of Penn.
      Blount Township
      Pg.892: Officers of Blount Township elected 1872, 1873: Assessor, Edward Duncan.
      Newell Township
      Pg.928: Arriving from Kentucky in 1828 were James Duncan and his sons Asa, Alpha, Darius, and James. (MAD: from Gallatin-Harrison Co. KY; son Benjamin stayed in KY)
      Pg.933: Blackhawk war - those who went from this township: Asa Duncan, Alpha Duncan, ....
      Pg.941: Myersville ... after 1852 ... matrons of the place ... Aunt Katie Duncan.
      Pg.943: Election April 1851 ... Asa Duncan, Supervisor.
      Pg.948: In 1868 Asa Duncan was elected trustee of a society of the Christian denomination church.
      Pg.959: Samuel Duncan, post office Danville, born Newell Township, Vermilion Co. IL, Nov. 23, 1840, son of Darius and Margaret (Newell) Duncan, married Sept. 23, 1869 to Eldora McDoel. One child, Henry McDoel Duncan.
      Butler Township
      Pg.1007: United Brethren church recently formed. Mrs. Duncan is class leader.
 

1903 "The Past and Present of Vermilion Co. IL" pub. by S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. (FHL film 1,000,518 item 3; from Donna Hertzog 5/1994; pages have heading "The Biographical Record")
      Pg.436: Darius Duncan. In days when Vermilion Co. was frontier, Darius Duncan became one of its residents. ... Mr Duncan became factor in agricultural circles, became quite wealthy, prominent & influential resident. Mr. Duncan was born Dec. 2, 1813, in KY; his father, James Duncan, was a native of Pennsylvania and removed with his family to KY at an early day, farming and stock-raising until his death. Subject acquired limited education in native state, assisted his father on home farm in KY until 1833, when he moved to Vermilion Co. IL, near Stateline. ... In 1865 he sold one farm and removed to Danville, later he sold another farm; in the city he purchased lot adj. the Temple on the north and erected a home, later sold ten feet of his lot to the Temple. In 1843 the marriage of Mr. Duncan and Miss Mary Caldwell, native of Circleville, OH, born March 22, 1829, daughter of James and Mary (Hoover) Caldwell, both natives of VA whence they removed to OH and later to Vermilion Co. IL. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Duncan were born two children, Irwin (clerk in a retail house in Danville, died June 20, 1892 at age of 32 years), Charlie married Miss Emma Day and resides on Lafayette Street in Danville. ... Mr. Duncan held membership in First Methodist Episcopal church of Danville. ... Mr. Duncan died Feb. 8, 1893. Mrs. Duncan is now residing at No. 129 Franklin Street ... (MAD: the 1880 census lists the father of Darius Duncan as born in KY and his mother as born in PA.)
 

1911 "History of Vermilion Co. IL, a tale of its evolution, settlement and progress for nearly a century" by Lottie E. Jones, pub. by Pioneer Pub. Co., 2 vols. (FHL book 977.365 H2j)
      Vol.II, pg.710-712: ASBURY B. DUNCAN. ... long associated with mercantile interests of Danville, now retired, representative of one of the old pioneer families of the county, his birth having occurred near Potomac in 1855. Educated in common schools of this county while spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, followed farming until about 20 years ago, when he turned his attention to the hardware and implement business. He still has agricultural interests in both Vermilion Co. and in IN and derives therefrom a gratifying and substantial income ... In 1880 Mr. Duncan mar. Miss Alice N. Price, dau. of William H. Price who was born in Pike Co. OH July 4, 1827. In Dec. 1830 he (William H. Price) became resident of Vermilion Co. IL ... Robert G. Price, grandfather of Mrs. Duncan, born KY July 27, 1788, ... early manhood to Pike Co. OH where mar. Nancy Howard who was born OH Feb. 27, 1793, farmed Pike Co. until 1830, then brought family to Vermilion Co. IL, near Danville, d. Jan. 1856, wife had died 1844. William H. Price youngest of 5 children, mar. Jan. 30, 1850 to Mary J. Cazott, b. July 4, 1833 Vermilion Co., dau. of Henry Cazott formerly of KY who d. 1891, then Mr. Price lived with a dau. in Danville for a year or two, then mar. Sept. 5, 1892, Mrs. Sarah J. Ellsworth. Mr. Price by first mar. had six children, Jerusha J. (b. 1851 mar. Henry Helmick who d. 1894 leaving two sons Charles E. & William Helmick), Lloyd H. (b. Dec. 2, 1852, mar. Mary Snyder in 1876 & lives at Nevada, MO), Emma B. (b. 1854 d. infancy), Emily M. (b. March 2, 1855, mar. 1878 to Guy C. Howard of Armstrong, IL), Charles R. (b. Jan. 30, 1857, mar. 1884 to Della Hatfield, 3 children Everett L., Elsie & Lola Marian), and Alice N., b. May 2, 1859, now Mrs. Duncan. By her marriage she became the mother of three children, but two died in infancy and the daughter, Lola, passed away in 1905, at the age of 17 years. Mr. Duncan a republican, Odd Fellows, Elks, Methodist Church, retired 1905. (MAD: nothing in article about Asbury B. Duncan's parents.)
 

"Portrait and Biographical Album of Vermilion [and Edgar] Co. IL, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of the state, and of the presidents of the United States." pub. Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1889, 766 pgs. (FHL book 977.365 D3p, 9/1994; LH10982, HeritageQuest images 4/2007; FHL film 215,556 and 1,000,518 item 2)
      Pg.259-260: WILLIAM COPELAND, son of Samuel who was also son of Samuel ... who came to US when young man ... mar. near Philadelphia, PA; in 1805 moved to Gallia Co. OH, his son Samuel being then a little boy. ... Like the grandparents, the parents of our subject reared a large family consisting of eleven children: William H., ... the four elder [children] were born in OH. In 1827, the parents of the subject of this sketch, with their family, removed to this county ... (MAD: almost no dates) The next step of importance was the marriage of our subject to Miss Rachael Sterns. Her parents were Zara and Mary (Smalley) Sterns. They too were pioneers in this county and came from near Clarkesville, OH, and were among the very earliest settlers. They died at an advanced age near Williamsport, IN. By his first marriage there were ten children: Mary (mar. James Wilson and died in 1860, Mr. Wilson enlisted in the war and was killed at the battle of Chickasaw. Their only surviving child, William H., was reared by our subject for whom he was named); Nancy, now Mrs. W.H. Duncan lives in this county; E.H.; Almeda is married to Frank Johns and died about 1875; Eli lives in MO; Andrew Z.; an infant son; Elizabeth now Mrs. John B. Chambers; George; Harmon; and Charles who died at age of 4 years. Mrs. Copeland died Jan. 27, 1831 (MAD: sic), member of Baptist Church. Our subject was married a second time to Elizabeth Kirkhart, Sept. 1885. Her parents were also early settlers ... Previous to her marriage with the subject of this sketch, Mrs. Copeland had been married to Stephen Lamb, who died in 1882. ...
      Pg.309-310: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SNOWDEN ... farms in Sidell Twp; William Snowden, the father of our subject, with his wife, formerly Miss Martha Pigg, were natives of Clark Co. KY where the paternal grandfather, Joshua Snowden, was also born and was the son of David Snowden, a native of VA ... Joshua Snowden a soldier in War of 1812; the Pigg family in VA owned lands and slaves, originally settled in KY. The father of our subject farmed, ... trade in fine horses, cattle and mules, born, reared, married and died in Clark Co. KY; his business relations extended to Bourbon, Fayette, Merritt, Esther, Powell and other counties of that state and other states, died April 17, 1884, age 67; the mother died July 1, 1883, age 65. Nine children were born to the parents of the subject: Benjamin Franklin of this sketch, Thomas J. (Cincinnati, OH), William N. (farming in Clark Co. KY), John W. (physician and surgeon in Clark Co. KY), Louisa (wife of Taylor Mansfield of Clark Co. KY), Joshua (farming, resides on Parkville homestead), Mary (wife of David B. Duncan, a farmer of Madison Co. KY), Melissa (died age 13), and Nancy (died age 3). Benjamin Franklin Snowden born Dec. 8, 1839, 14 miles east of Paris in Bourbon Co. KY, a child when his father's family removed to Clark Co., age 21 mar. Miss Amanda F. Craig of Estill Co. KY ... spring 1887 to this county. (MAD: info on Craig family and the Snowden children not copied here.)
      Pg.317-318: WILLIAM H. PRICE ... born Pike Co. OH July 4, 1827 (MAD: more on Pike family not copied here) mar. Mary A. Cazatt in 1850 (more on Cazatt fam.) ... six children: Jerusha J. (mar. Henry J. Helmick, two children), Lloyd H. (farmer, mar. Mary J. Snyder), Emily M. (mar. Guy C. Howard merchant in Armstrong, this county), Charles R. (farmer mar. Della Hatfield of this county, one child), Alice N. (mar. Berry Duncan, a farmer of this county, and they have one child, Lola), Emma B. (decd.).
      Pg.521-522: JOHN FLETCHER is one of the solid, substantial and trustworthy residents of Elwood Twp. He was born in Clinton Co. OH on May 20, 1815. His father, Henry, was a native of England, and a son of John Fletcher, who in turn was a son of Henry Fletcher. The latter was a wealthy officer in the English army and educated his son John -- the grandfather of the subject of this sketch -- for the army, but he joined the Quaker Church,, and was driven by his father to Ireland, where he was given 60 acres of land in that country. His son, Henry Fletcher, father of our subject, was obliged to leave Ireland or join the army, but being a Quaker, he refused to become a soldier and came to America, locating in Philadelphia. This was in 1793. He was on the ocean ... The father of the subject of this sketch, after landing, lived 3 years in Philadelphia, and in 1796 he emigrated to the Sciota Valley, OH, where he worked on a farm for one season, returning to PA and there remaining until 1804, when he went to Warren Co. OH and dug a mill race on Caesar Creek. He bought 200 acres of military land in Clinton Co. OH and then retraced his steps to PA, remaining there until 1806, when he returned to OH and improved his land. The Indians were numerous but peaceable, in the main.
            In 1806, the father of the one of whom we write this sketch, married Mrs. Sarah (Duncan) Taylor. They had four children of whom John is the youngest, and only one living. The others were: Mary, Hannah and Sarah. The sisters all lived to be over 70 years of age. John Fletcher came with his parents to this county in the fall of 1836, settling on the old homestead, where he now lives. He was married in Oct. 1836 to Rachael Ruth. They had 7 children, six of whom are living: Sarah J., Henry, Mary A., John W., Amanda and James. One son, William, died in his 23rd year. Mrs. Fletcher died Oct. 5, 1862 and her husband was again married on Nov. 1st, 1866, to Mrs. Lydia Haworth, widow of Eli Haworth, and dau. of Garrett Dillon, the latter a pioneer of Elwood Twp, and a native of Greene Co. TN. (MAD: more on Dillon family and Haworth children) The grandfather of Mr. Fletcher on his mother's side, Samuel Duncan, was a soldier in the Rev. War and participated in the battle of the Cowpens and others. He had holes shot in his clothes and buttons taken off by bullets, but was not wounded. He was known as the "fighting Quaker," and he sustained his reputation well. He was a teamster, and the Tories captured three of his horses, when he mounted the remaining one, and joined the American forces, afterward recapturing one of his horses. (MAD: more on descendants of John Fletcher, subject of the sketch, not copied here.) (MAD: Sarah was the daughter of Amos Duncan who was the son of Samuel Duncan & wife Sarah; Newberry & Edgefield Co. SC.)
      Pg.708-709: ROBERT ELLIOTT, owns and lives on a farm in Ross Twp situated on Sec.7 Twp 23, Ranges 10 & 11, which has been his home since 1868. He was born in Muskingum Co. OH, about 14 miles east of Zanesville, on Sept. 8, 1826, his parents being Francis and Jane (Hunter) Elliott. His grandparents on both sides came from the north of Ireland, and were of the excellent old Scotch-Irish Presbyterian stock, ... The paternal grandfather of the subject of this biography also named Robert, emigrated from Ireland many years ago, and after landing in America came direct to Muskingum Co. OH, then considered the Far West. He and his wife settled, years afterward Robert Elliott and one of his sons removed to Licking Co. OH, to a farm near site of present Newark, and there the elder Elliott spent remainder of his days.
            Francis Elliott, father of subject, born in Ireland, a year old when his parents brought him to America. He did not accompany his father to Licking Co., remaining in Muskingum Co. until his death in 1837, in the prime of life; he was married in Muskingum Co. to Miss Jane Hunter, b. Westmoreland Co. PA, her parents also from north of Ireland; after her husband's untimely death she devoted herself to rearing her family, saw them all happily married and settled, and then she herself mar. James Howell, an old friend and neighbor; she died in 1879 aged about 67 years. Francis and Jane Elliott had 8 children. The eldest, Eliza, mar. James Herdman, a civil engineer, died in Zanesville, OH where her husband is still living; William mar. Ethelinda Carter, he a blacksmith in Hamilton, MO. Next is Robert (sketch); (then) James who mar. Electa St.Clair, a farmer when he died; John a farmer in OR mar. Nancy Owensbey who died in that state; Mary Jane the wife of Johnson Morgan a carpenter of Danville, IL; Margaret Catherine died in girlhood, and Esther mar. Edward Dunkin, farmer of Middle Fork Twp, this county. Robert E., subject of the sketch, spent boyhood in Muskingum Co. OH, lived with parents until 21, then married and bought 80 acres about a mile from his old home where he lived until his removal to Vermilion Co. IL in 1863. Making a visit to this county in 1861 to his sister Mrs. Dunkin, who with her husband had settled here some years before, he determined to make (this) his future home. ... Mr. (Robert) Elliott mar. on 14 Sept. 1848 to Miss Nancy Morgan, dau. of Morgan Morgan and Nancy (Sisly) ... (MAD: Edward Duncan mar. Esther H. Elliott 10/7/1856 Muskingum Co. OH)
      Pg.731-732: REV. DAVID COAKE, farmer and preacher of the gospel, resident of Danville Twp, born in Carter Co. KY, Oct. 6, 1848 (much on Coake background not copied here), was in his 15th year when he accompanied his father and mother to this place. He married in 1875 Miss Ann Willim, a native of Carter Co. KY, daughter of Edward and Clara C. (Duncan) Willim. Of their happy wedded life one child has been born, Bertha. David Coake united with the Christian Church when 17 years of age and began preaching at 36. ....
 

1880, c1879, "History of Iroquois County [Illinois] : together with Historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources" by H.W. Beckwith; pub. Chicago: H.H. Hill and Co. (LH5437, HeritageQuest images 2/2007 & 5/2007; FHL book 977.364 H2b and film 924,665 and 825,578 and 934,987 item 3)
      Pg.630-631: Onarga Township. Benjamin F. Duncan, farmer and stock-raiser, Onarga, is a son of Asa Duncan, and was born in Newell township, Vermilion county, Illinois, August 9, 1835, and there lived with his parents, engaged in farming and attending school till about twenty years of age. The love of adventure then led him west, where he visited Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming. ... in the spring of 1861 when the war of the rebellion broke out, he returned home and enlisted in Co. B, 25th Ill. Vol. Inf. ... On returning home he at once came to Iroquois county to look after the family of his brother, who was still in the service. January 25, 1866, he married Miss Martha E. Drake, who was born April 26, 1848, in Vermilion county, Indiana, and is the eldest daughter of Jesse Drake, Esq., one of this county's early settlers. Mr. Duncan now has three children: Edward E., Jesse Elmer and George M., and is engaged in farming and stock raising in Onarga township.
 

1888 "KY, a History of the State" 7th Edition (Volume), by Perrin, Battle & Kniffin (FHL book 976.9 D3wt, and from Evelyn Sigler 7/1982)
      Pg.54 (pg.788). PROF. PASCHEL HICKMAN DUNCAN, of Glencoe, native of Gallatin Co. KY, born Nov. 13, 1845. His father, Benjamin Duncan, native of Harrison Co. KY, was born in 1807, and was well-to-do farmer; he settled on farm in Gallatin Co. in 1818, near Warsaw, KY, until his death on April 27, 1887. Baptist Church for many years, but at death was prominent member of the Christian Church. He married Miss M. Ellis, born near Richmond, Henrico Co. VA, a dau. of James Adams Ellis, also a native of Henrico Co. VA. Six sons and four daughters were born to their union, of whom the subject of this sketch is the 9th child. James Duncan, the paternal grandfather of P.H. Duncan, a native of Harrison Co. KY and a farmer, removed to farm near Danville, Vermilion Co. IL, where he died. The maternal grandfather of our subject, a native of VA, came to KY early in the present century, and settled near Warsaw, Gallatin Co., where he died; he took an active part in the war of 1812. Prof. Paschal Hickman Duncan lived on the farm until age 19, when he entered college; taught for several years; in 1880 he was appointed State Sunday-school evangelist by KY Christian Sunday-school Assn ... July 25, 1883, he married Sallie Orr, of Columbia, Adair Co. KY, a graduate of Ghent College, Ghent, KY, and a dau. of Vernon and Mary C. (Botts) Orr. Mrs. Duncan died Oct. 3, 1887, at Corinth, KY. Democrat, Christian Church. He owns property in Wichita [Sedgwick Co.], KS.
 

"The biographical record of Jasper County, Missouri" by Malcolm G. McGregor; pub. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1901, 521 pgs. (LH11535, HeritageQuest images 4/2007; FHL film 1,000,294 item 3)
      Pg.203-204: Thomas Folger ... returned home in 1864 ... two years later married ... to Jasper Co. MO 1883, in 1893 he returned to Kansas, locating at Lowell, Cherokee Co. ... Mr. Folger was united in marriage with Mary J. Cutler, the wedding being celebrated on the 27th of May, 1866. The lady is a native of Chautauqua county, New York, born January 19, 1848, a daughter of George and Charlotte (Duncan) Cutler, natives also of the Empire state. In his native state the father followed the profession of teaching, but in 1858 he removed to Vermilion county, Illinois, and engaged in the practice of medicine. His death occurred when he had reached the age of 62 years while his wife reached the age of 74 years. ... They became the parents of four children, of whom Mrs. Folger is the third in order of birth. The ... mother was a consistent and worthy member of the Presbyterian church.
 

"Portrait and biographical record of Johnson and Pettis Counties, Missouri : containing portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States." by J.T. Wilder; pub. Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1895, 653 pgs. (LH11533, HeritageQuest images 5/2007; FHL film 1,000,294 item 4)
      Pg.233-235: EDWARD HARDY, deceased, of Johnson County, born in County Antrim, Ireland, in August 1839, son of Ambrose and Mary (McNully) Hardy, also natives of the same county. There the father carried on farm pursuits all his life, and died in 1888, at the advanced age of 96 years. He was deprived of the companionship of his wife several years before. The original of this sketch was one of a family of ten children born to his parents, two of whom died in infancy. William is also deceased, departing this life in Chicago, Ill.; Ambrose still resides in the Emerald Isle; Nancy is deceased; Catherine is living in her native land; Maria is deceased; Bridget lives in Ireland; James married a Miss Duncan, and both died in Vermilion County, Ill.; and Alexander makes his home in Ireland. In the year 1857 our subject embarked on a vessel bound for the United States, where he had two brothers living ...
 

"Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or, Santa Clara County, California : containing a history of the county of Santa Clara from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future, with profuse illustrations of its beautiful scenery, full-page portraits of some of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day" by Horace S. Foote; pub. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1888, 743 pgs. (LH13760, HeritageQuest images 4/2007; FHL book 979.473 H2f & film 468,747 item 2)
      Pg.452-453: THOMAS OSBORN, of the Willows, was born in Franklin Co. Indiana January 1, 1824. He is the son of Daniel and Rebecca (French) Osborn, who are natives of Ohio ... On the 20th of October, 1847, he was married to Miss Margaret Harbaugh, who is a native of the State of Pennsylvania. They have eight children, four of whom were born in Indiana, and four in Wisconsin, they having removed to Dane Township, Dane County, of that State in 1849. ... 1858 returned to Fountain Co., IN; 1868 to Vermillion Co. IL; 1872 to Veedersburgh, IN. April 1873 to Tulare Co. CA. The names of their children, in order of their birth, are: Alice, wife of Isaac Waldrip, of Fountain County, Indiana; Joel S., engaged in stock business in Tulare County; Oliver D., a resident of Los Angeles; Eve, wife of William Duncan, a resident of Danville, Illinois; Elizabeth, living at her father's home, at the Willows; Daniel, an employe of the Southern Pacific Road; Mary M., a teacher and member of the home household, as is also Butler, the youngest member of the family. .... (MAD: Danville, Vermilion Co. IL)
 

Return to the Vermilion Co. IL Research File
 

END

Return to Index to Duncan Research Files in Illinois

Return to The Genealogy Bug's Home Page