FAYETTE CO. KY
HISTORIES before 1923
 

1922 "History of KY" Vol.IV, by William Elsey Connelley and E.M. Coulter, ed. by Charles Kerr (from John A. Duncan 8/1984)
      Pg.209: HENRY TIMBERLAKE DUNCAN ... is a member of the law firm of Allen & Duncan. He was born at Lexington [Fayette Co.], August 9, 1868, a son of Henry T. and Lily (Brand) Duncan. His father, born in Bourbon Co. KY, was trained by private tutors in his youth, pursued a course at Harvard College, and finally graduated from Transylvania College law department. For some years he was engaged successfully in the practice of his profession at Lexington, but finally turned his attention to journalism ... In 1893 Mr. Duncan had been elected mayor of Lexington, ... and was again elected to the mayoralty in 1900. ... Mr. and Mrs. Duncan were the parents of ten children: Maj. Gen. George B., one of the commanding officers of the American forces in France during the World war, now located at Spokane, WA; Eliza, the wife of Col. John R. Allen, of the firm of Allen & Duncan, attorneys of Lexington; Maj. Edward M., formerly with the Engineering Corps during the World war, now stationed at San Diego, CA, in the vocational service, Reserve Corps; Ellen, who died at the age of 16 years; Nana B.; Henry Timberlake; Lily; Margaret, the wife of A. Daingerfield; Daniel, a 2nd Lt. in the US Army who lost his life by drowning at Fort Sheridan, IL, in August, 1898; and Fanny. ... On March 12, 1914, Mr. (Henry Timberlake) Duncan was united in marriage with Miss Carolyn Goff, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Sudduth) Goff, natives of KY and residents of Lexington. ... To Mr. and Mrs. Duncan there has been born one son, John Allen, and one daughter, Nancy Griffith. (JAD: Older son, Henry, d. Sept. 1917.)
      Pg.376: DUNCAN GIBSON ... In the following paragraphs are sketched some of the outstanding figures in this old KY family, particularly those whose lives are not reviewed under other names.
            Richard Timberlake, son of Richard (JAD: John) Timberlake ... with his family moved to KY in 1790, locating four miles east of Cynthiana, in Harrison Co., and later to a farm five miles from Paris in Bourbon Co. His daughter Mary was born in Hanover Co. VA December 25, 1776. In 1793 she was married to Daniel Duncan on the Flat Creek farm in Bourbon Co.
            William Duncan, born in Scotland, April 17, 1672, immigrated to America, January 22, 1722, settled in Culpeper Co. VA and February 11, 1722, married Ruth Rawley, daughter of Matthew Rawley, a native of England, who settled in VA in 1719. Their son, Daniel, born in Culpeper Co., was educated in PA, and thence went to Bourbon Co. KY. He owned and resided on a farm near the Scott Co. line. (JAD: compare Ardery pg.17 and K.D. Smith pg.67; MAD: not the son of William Duncan and Ruth Rawley; see Cumberland Co. PA, not Culpeper Co. VA)
            Henry Timberlake Duncan, son of Daniel and Mary (Timberlake) Duncan, was born at Paris, Bourbon Co., March 20, 1800, and died at Ingleside, Fayette Co., in March 1880. He was educated at Dickinson College in PA, was a lawyer by profession, and in 1826 married Elizabeth Dunster Pyke, the beautiful daughter of Samuel Pyke, who with his wife, Hannah Orchard Woolley, settled in Paris, KY, about 1800, coming from England. ...
            After several years Mr. and Mrs. Duncan established a residence in Fayette Co., near Lexington, on the Maysville and Paris Pike, remembered by their generation as an estate of lavish and rare completeness, known as "Duncannon." ... Friends and associates were ... Justice Trimble, a kinsman.
            The oldest daughter of Henry T. Duncan was Mary Duncan, who was born at Duncannon, November 13, 1838. She was educated .... Mary Duncan ... until her death, at her home at Ingleside, May 22, 1910. On September 22, 1859, she was married to Nathaniel Hart Gibson, better known as Hart Gibson, who represents the Gibson family in KY ... born in Shawnee Springs, Mercer Co. KY, May 22, 1835, third son of Hon. Tobias Gibson and Louisiana Breckenridge Hart.
 

1847 "Historical Sketches of KY" by Lewis Collins (CA State Library, Sutro Branch, 1/1992)
      Pg.276-7, Fayette Co.: John Bradford b. Fauquier Co. VA 1749, married Eliza James, dau. of Capt. Benjamin James of said county in 1761 and had five sons & four daughters; served for a short time in the revolutionary army and came to KY for first time in fall of 1779. He was in battle with Indians at Chillicothe. In 1785 he removed his family to KY and settled about 4 miles north of Lexington on Cane run. In 1787, in conjunction with his brother Fielding Bradford (a venerable man who now lives about two miles nearly north from Georgetown), he established the "Kentucke Gazette", the first number of which was published in Lexington on 11 Aug. that year, under which title continued until 14 March 1789 when it changed to "Kentucky Gazette," in consequence of the legislature of VA requiring certain advertisements to be inserted in "Kentucky Gazette." Fielding Bradford remained a partner until 31 May 1788 when he withdrew, then it was continued by John Bradford until 1 April 1802, when he conveyed establishment to his son Daniel Bradford, who continued for many years, and is still residing in Lexington, an acting magistrate.
      (MAD: "Register of the KY State Historical Society" Vol. 30, 1932, pg.116, from files of Nancy Reba Roy, had query by Mrs. Linnie Wright Barrett, that John Duncan Junr. of Fauquier Co. VA & wife Dinah had son William, born 1750, who married Lydia Duncan, born 1756, "a cousin" and daughter of Rice and Elizabeth Duncan. William and Lydia Duncan removed from Fauquier Co. VA to Nicholas Co. KY about 1800 (now Robertson Co. KY). On the margin of a page in Collins' KY Sketches, published about 1845(?), opposite a biographical sketch of John Bradford who was b. in Fauquier Co. VA, my grandmother Malinda Elizabeth (Duncan) Barkley wrote: "He was own cousin to my grandfather William Duncan." John Bradford and wife Eliza James had a daughter Dinah. Was Dinah Duncan, wife of John Duncan Junr, a Bradford? Would like the names of the parents of John Bradford and of the sisters of his father.")
 

1878 "History of Kentucky" by Lewis Collins, Vol.II (TN Gen. Society Library #3233 from Evelyn Sigler 10/1982)
      Lexington, KY: One of first settlers was Capt. James Duncan.
 

1886 "The history of Kentucky : from its earliest discovery and settlement, to the present date, embracing its prehistoric and aboriginal periods, its pioneer life and experiences, its political, social and industrial progress, its educational and religious development, its military events and achievements, and biographic mention of its historic characters" by Z.F. Smith; pub. Louisville: Courier-Journal Job Print. Co. (LH8327, HeritageQuest images 5/2007)
      Pg.149: In April of this year (1781) the first permanent settlement of Lexington as an important station was made. A number of citizens of Harrodstown and vicinity came over to the north side of Kentucky river to locate and improve this place. Among them were ... James Duncan. (source: Collins, Vol.II, p.179; Ranck's History.) (MAD: Fayette Co. KY)
      Pg.614: ... Confederate cause ... One regiment had previously been organized, under Blanton Duncan, colonel, and incorporated in the army of East Virginia. ... (MAD: Fayette Co. KY)
 

1878 "The Biographical encyclopaedia of Kentucky of the dead and living men of the nineteenth century" pub. by J.M. Armstrong (from Evelyn Sigler 11/1984; FHL book 976.9 D3b)
      Pg.456: John Duncan, College Professor and Editor, born in Scotland Nov. 24, 1846; Studied Glasgow and England; in NY in 1870; became Professor of Agriculture and Botany at KY University in Lexington (Fayette Co. KY).
 

1885 "KY, a History of the State" 1st? Edition (Volume), by Perrin, Battle & Kniffin (FHL book 976.9 D3wt)
      Pg.20-1, Ballard Co. GEORGE W. HINES, born July 16, 1823 in Logan Co. KY where he was reared, and in 1856 came to Ballard Co. where he still retains his residence. His father, John Hines, a native of Halifax Co. VA, died in 1879 at the age of 83 years. He was the son of Edwin Hines of VA, a Rev. soldier who died about 1835. Subject's mother, Ann Duncan, was born near Lexington [Fayette Co.], KY. John Hines was twice married, and to him, by his first wife (unnamed) were born Mary (Daniel), James D., John and Bersheba (Mills). His offspring resulting from his espousal of Miss Ann Duncan are our subject, Preston A., Elizabeth (Duvall), Dr. Daniel C., Samuel G., Julia A. (Herrington), Jane (Riley), Lucy (Bailey), and Joseph C. On May 9, 1845, subject was married to Miss Frances K. (born in 1825), dau. of George and Patty (Rice) Bailey, of Logan Co. KY ...
 

1885-1888 "Kentucky, a History of the State" 5th or 6th Edition (Volume), by Perrin, Battle & Kniffin (FHL book 976.9 D3wt)
      Pg.33. JAMES J. BURCH was born Dec. 18, 1804, in King and Queen Co. VA, and is the oldest son of Henry and Katie (Jorden) Burch of the same county. His father, in 1809, landed in Nicholasville [Jessamine Co.] and located on a farm. He was born about 1765, and died in 1835. James J. was reared in Nicholasville ... read medicine, and has practiced in Jessamine and Fayette Cos. for about 45 years. He was married Nov. 3, 1831, to Miss Mary B. Robinson, of Jessamine Co. KY, born in 1812, and still living. They have two children living: Anna E. and Mattie B. Ed Hulett is the husband of the former, and J.W. Duncan of the latter. Members of Christian Church.
 

1896 "Biographical cyclopedia of the commonwealth of Kentucky : embracing biographies of many of the prominent men and families of the state" compiled and published by the John M. Gresham Company; pub. Chicago: J.M. Gresham Co. (from Ruth Robertson 1985; FHL book 976.9 D36bf; SLC 9/2007)
      Pg.115-116: HENRY TIMBERLAKE DUNCAN of Lexington was born in Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky, August 31, 1836; and is a son of the late Henry T. and Eliza (Pike) Duncan, natives of Bourbon County, Kentucky. (MAD: Lexington, Fayette Co. KY)
      His grandfather, Daniel Duncan, was a native of Pennsylvania, who left that state and settled in Kentucky in the year 1798, and was a merchant in Paris for thirty-six years -- 1798 to 1834.
      The Duncans came from the highlands and lowlands of Scotland. A branch of this Scotch family came from Dumfreeshire and settled in Virginia in 1694, and another branch settled in New York and Pennsylvania in 1735. In the history of Western Pennsylvania, the Rev. Joseph Duncan is spoken of as a Presbyterian minister, preaching in a log church in 1739. Whether this Scotch pioneer preacher was related to Henry T. Duncan or not, is not known. Tradition states, however, that the Rev. Joseph Duncan settled in Kentucky about the year 1789, leaving several sons, and one of his grandsons was at one time governor of the territory of Illinois. This grandson was a cousin of the subject of this sketch.
      Henry T. Duncan (father) was for many years a leading lawyer and manufacturer in Paris. He died in Lexington in 1881, at the age of 81.
      Samuel Pike (maternal grandfather) was a native of England, who erected the first cotton mills west of the Allegheny Mountains, and whose death occurred in 1838, leaving a fortune ...
      Henry T. Duncan was prepared for college by private instructors and at the age of seventeen years, entered Harvard College and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1859. After leaving college he became a student of jurisprudence under the late Chief Justice, George Robertson; and was admitted to practice in the courts after four months' study. In a short time after this he took editorial charge of the "Observer and Reporter" ... then returned to the practice of law, ... with Hart Gibson and J.J. Miller in 1870 founded the Lexington "Daily Press," which Mr. Duncan owned and edited until November, 1893, when he assumed the duties of mayor of Lexington. ...
      Soon after his election in 1893, the "Daily Press" was consolidated with the "Daily Transcript" and the two journals were succeeded by the "Press-Transcript," which was for one year edited by Mr. Duncan's son, Henry T. Duncan, Jr. ... Mr. Duncan ... resumed the practice of law ...
      In 1862 Mr. Duncan was a member of the State Guards, serving as adjutant on the staff of General James S. Jackson, who was killed at the battle of Perryville in October, 1862.
      Henry T. Duncan was united in marriage in 1860 to Lillie, daughter of George W. Brand of Lexington; and they had ten children, nine of whom still survive. His eldest son, George Brand Duncan, was graduated from West Point in 1886, and is now adjutant of the Fourth United States Infantry, stationed at Fort Sherman, Idaho. The second son, Edward, is now engaged in the revenue service; Henry T., Jr., has adopted the profession of law; Daniel graduated from West Point in the class of 1895. The daughters are: Eliza, wife of John R. Allen, county attorney of Fayette County; Nanny; Lilly, wife of George Otis Draper, son of Congressman Draper, and a wealthy cotton machine manufacturer of Hopedale, Mass; Margaret and Fanny.
 

1893 "Portrait and Biographical Record of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton and Linn Cos. MO" by Chapman Bros. (Los Angeles Public Library book R977.8 P853)
      Pg.253: JAMES A. DUNCAN, ... residing in Lawson, Polk Township, Ray Co. MO, ... a native of Missouri .... Our subject is one of a family of children born unto Thomas and Mary (Hall) Duncan. Thomas Duncan, the father of our subject, was a native of Kentucky, and was born near Lexington [Fayette Co.]. He came when he was but nine years of age with his parents to Missouri, arriving within the borders of the State in 1833. ... He and his good wife, who died in 1858, when our subject was but six months old, were ... Our subject was born in Clay County, near Smithville, December 26, 1858, ... In 1883, Mr. Duncan was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Miller, a daughter of Andrew Miller, who at the time of Mrs. Duncan's birth, in 1858, resided in Ray County, near Excelsior Springs. ...
 

1883 "The History of Henry and St. Clair Counties, Missouri : containing a history of these counties, their cities, towns ... biographical sketches ... statistics ..." pub. by National Historical Co. (FHL book 977.84 H2hh)
      Pg.569-70: Henry Co., Windsor Twp: WILLIAM L. DUNCAN was born February 18, 1828, in Boone Co. MO, twelve miles south of Columbia. His father, Samuel Duncan, a farmer by calling, was born in SC, October 23, 1801, while his mother, formerly Parilee Bass, was born September 10, 1816, in Nashville, TN. They had four daughters and two sons, of whom there are living three daughters and two sons. When a child Samuel Duncan emigrated from his native state with his parents to KY, locating near Lexington [Fayette Co.]. His wife had gone from TN to Boone Co. Kentucky, while yet quite young, and there they were married. (MAD: married 1831 in Boone Co. MISSOURI, not KY) In an early day he was engaged in distilling in Boone Co. for several years ... until 1853. Then he disposed of his farm and came to Henry Co. MO ... until his death, October 30, 1882. His widow is still a resident of that place (village of Windsor). William L. Duncan ... in 1853 came to Henry Co. with his parents ... enlisted as one of the Windsor Guards under Captain Gibbons (Civil War) ... He was at that time discharged on account of disability and went to Bloomfield, Nelson Co. KY, where he stayed until January, 1866. He was married January 3, 1866, to Miss Sarah A. McClaskey, of Nelson Co. KY. They have had two sons and a daughter, only one of whom, a son, is living and now residing with his parents. On coming to Henry Co. Mr. Duncan commenced farming with his father and continued with him for several years, when he returned to KY and engaged in milling with the father-in-law. After a few years he returned to Windsor and again resumed farming. ... to Texas one year, returned to MO ca 1874. M.E. Church South, Democrat.
 

1882 "History of De Witt County, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of the scenery, and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers" pub. by W.R. Brink & Co. (LH5033, HeritageQuest images 2/2007; FHL book 977.3585 H2b and film 934,981 item 2)
      Pg.150, City of Clinton and Clintonia Twp.? ... Another pioneer of the township was Thomas J. Rogers, a native of Bourbon Co. KY. He came with his family in the fall of 1835, and settled in Section 28. The summer prior he entered the west half of the southwest quarter of the aforesaid section. His wife's maiden name was Mary Hickman. They had but two children, Asa and Martha J. Their nearest neighbors were Samuel Curtwright, Mrs. Catharine Mills, John Warfield, Samuel Duncan, Alfred and Richard Murphy, Alex. Barnett, Lewis Hickman, and Solomon Weaver. Some of these, however, were not living in what is now Clintonia, but were scattered around in various parts of this section of DeWitt county. ... He moved with his family to Kansas several years ago, and is yet living.
      Pg.340, Partial list of Patrons, City of Clinton: Barnett, W.B., of Clinton, Dl'r in Sewing Machines and Farmer, nativity DeWitt Co. IL, settled [18]35; Sarah E. Duncan, of Clinton, wife of W.B. Barnett, nativity: Fayette Co. KY, settled [18]38.
 

19-- "History of Piatt County [Illinois] : together with a brief history of Illinois from the discovery of the upper Mississippi to the present time" by Emma C. Piatt; pub. Evansville, Ind. (LH12207, HeritageQuest images 2/2007; FHL book 977.367 D3p and film 1,000,510 item 1)
      Pg.495. Mr. WILLIAM VORHIES, a resident of Cerro Gordo Township, is a native of Kentucky. His great-grandfather came to Kentucky with Daniel Boone and was killed at the battle of Boonesborough. His grandfather was one of the early settlers of Kentucky, and his old home place still belongs to the family. He took an active part in the war of 1812 with Gen. Harrison and with Gov. Shelby, the first governor of Kentucky. Mr. William Vorhies, Sr., a very active gentleman of near eighty years of age, spends a portion of each year at "Breezeland," his son's residence in Piatt county. Mr. William Vorhies, previous to coming to Illinois, spent about four years in study and travel in Europe. The most of this time was spent in Germany. He was married in Kentucky in 1865, to Miss Ellen Duncan, the daughter of a prominent citizen of that state. They have had four children, Mary, Elizabeth, Lilly and Ida. Mr. Voorhies came from Lexington [Fayette Co. KY] to Illinois in 1865. At this time the place (the portion on which he now lives) of 3,200 acres was bought. This land was a part of the seven or eight thousand acres of land which Gen. John S. Williams, who was prominent in the battle of Cerro Gordo and who is now United States senator from Kentucky, owned at one time. Mr. Samuel Allerton, of Chicago, lately bought 2,000 acres of Mr. Voorhies' land. The whole tract of land is under cultivation and is still under Mr. Voorhies' control. The residence at "Breezeland" is somewhat in the style of Southern houses. It is a fine country seat, and at the time it was built was the only settlement south of the railroad.
 

1903 "History of Montgomery Co. KS" pub. by L. Wallace Duncan (CA State Library, Sutro Branch)
      Pg.504-5: JOHN DUNCAN; arrived 1880 Montgomery Co., born Fulton Co. IL 1852; parents were Solomon and Rebecca (Emerine) Duncan; parents originally from Blue Grass State and were farmers as were their ancestors. Maternal grandfather was resident of eastern KY, living where is now the city of Lexington [Fayette Co.], later removed to Montgomery Co. (KS). John Duncan married 1878 to Miss Allie Hart, dau. of Richard and Gertrude (Walker) Hart, born VT; Richard Hart native of VA, now deceased, wife still resides in IL at very advanced age. Mr. & Mrs. Duncan have 3 children: Homer, eldest son, m. Nellie Davis, dau. of John & Mary Davis, have child Bessie; Lottie, elder dau. residing at home; Edna, youngest, school girl at home. (MAD: Solomon Duncan mar. Rebecca Amerine 2/25/1845 Madison Co. KY; 1850 Fulton Co. IL census)
 

1910 "History of Wichita and Sedgwick County, Kansas : past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county" edited by Orsemus Hills Bentley; pub. Chicago: C.F. Cooper & Co., 1910 (LH1793, HeritageQuest images 3/2007; FHL book 978.186 H2h and films 962,505 and 1,000,040 items 1 and 2)
      Pg.767-768: SHELBY P. DUNCAN, attorney, of Wichita, Kan., is a native of Kentucky, where he was born in Fayette county on March 2, 1856. His parents were Harvey and Mary (Bowden) Duncan, natives of Kentucky, where they resided until the Civil War broke out, when they removed to Evansville [MAD: Vanderburgh Co.], Ind., where the father died. Mrs. Duncan died at Evansville, Ind. She was a sister of the late Judge Bowden, of the Supreme Court of Kentucky. Shelby P. Duncan was educated at the Canton (Ill.) High School and at the Peru (Neb.) Normal School. He taught in the public schools of Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, and read law while teaching and afterwards in the office of his uncle, the late Judge James H. Bowden, of Kentucky. He was later law clerk to George Gillhan, in Memphis, Tenn., having been admitted to the Russellville (Ky.) bar in 1875 and in Tennesse in 1876. Mr. Duncan opened an office at Fairview, Fulton county, Illinois, in connection with Charles H. Robinson, and there practiced law until 1884, when he moved to Kansas, locating in the village of Nescatunga, Comanche county, which was at that time a rival county seat. In 1888 Mr. Duncan removed to Coldwater in the same county, where he ... May 31, 1898, Mr. Duncan moved to Wichita, and after a time again took up the practice of law, which he has since continued. He was married in 1881 to Miss Kunegunda Kuehn, of Fulton county, Illinois. Two children have been born of this union, Nellie B. and Flora K. Fraternally Mr. Duncan is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
 

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