ORLEANS PAR. LA
HISTORIES before 1923
 

"History of the fire department of New Orleans from the earliest days to the present time : including the original volunteer department, the firemen's charitable association, and the paid department down to 1895" edited by Thomas O'Connor, 1895 (FHL film 961,711 item 1; SLC 12/2008)
      Pg.469: Picture of group, Hook & Ladder Co. #1, includes M.H. Duncan, Lieutenant
      Pg.486. Hook and Ladder Company No.I. The house of Truck I is located on Jackson Avenue, near Rousseau Street. The members of the company are: ...
      Lieut. Milton H. Duncan was born in New Orleans, March 5, 1858; joined Volunteer No.I May 2, 1876; 2nd Assistant and Sub-Delegate 1877; resigned and joined Jackson No.18 in 1879; was elected Vice-President May, 1879, and served three years; was chairman of committee to entertain Mayor Harrison and delegation of Chicago F.D., Feb., 1881, in conjunction with a committee from Mechanics No.6. Was present at the great Madison School fire in 1878 in which Hartnett and DeLehr were killed. Was appointed to Truck I as Ladderman Feb.9, 1894; promoted April 10 to Lieutenant. Occupation before appointment, levee clerk.
 

1880 "History of Sonoma County, California : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys and streams, together with a full and particular record of the Spanish grants, its early history and settlement, the names of original Spanish and American pioneers and biographical sketches of early and prominent settlers and representative men" by J.P. Munro-Fraser, pub. by Alley, Bowen & Co. (book qc979.418 H67, CA State Library, Sacramento; CA State Library, Sutro Branch, on SUTRO microfilm 115 Reel 22 Book 4536; FHL film 468,750 item 2 and 1,000,129 item 5 and 1,320,944 item 2)
      Pg.530: Ocean Twp; Duncan, Alexander, (portrait in book) native of Co. Tyrone, Ireland, born in August, 1821. An apprenticeship for 6 years at blacksmith & machinist trade; remained in Ireland till 1840, in May he landed in New York City; in the fall of 1840 he went to New Orleans, began operating his trade. In 1850, to California; in May he sailed for California via the Panama route, arriving in San Francisco June 15, 1850. Made specialty of making iron door & window shutters. In the fall of 1854, he joined his brother, Samuel M., in the milling and lumber trade at Salt Point, having purchased the interest of Joshua Hendy. He now resides in the village of Duncan's Mill on the banks of the Russian River. August 5, 1844, in New York City, he married Miss Ann Jane Halliday, a native of Ireland; she was born June 23, 1824. Eight children: Jeannie, Samuel M., Hugh, Sarah, Alexander, Alexander (twice), Rebecca and William. Now living are Jeannie, Samuel M. and Sarah. Of these, Jeannie, Samuel M. and Sarah are still living.
 

1875 "Sketches of Leading and Representative Men of San Francisco [CA]" by SF, London & NY Publishing Co. (no author given) (CA State Library book C920.0F99)
      Pg.815-819: JOSEPH C. DUNCAN, Esq. ... came to San Francisco in 1850. He left his home in Philadelphia (where his family have resided for 200 years), when a boy of 14, and made IL his residence until 1848. He edited the first literary magazine in that state, and was editor of political paper. In 1848 to New Orleans, editor of "New Orleans Crescent." To San Francisco as journalist, but fire of May 1851 destroyed printing and newspaper office. In 1856 resumed editorial chair, 5 years. In 1874 organized Safe Deposit Co. of San Francisco (several pages on Safe Deposit Co. and it's vault). Mr. Duncan is the Manager of the Pioneer Bank, and has built up that incorporation into a first-class institution. ... Mr. Duncan's forte is business, and ... his extra-ordinary success in business is due to his unconquerable energy and unbinding integrity.
 

1889 "Biographical souvenir of the states of Georgia and Florida : containing biographical sketches of the representative public, and many early settled families in these states" pub. by F.A. Battey (Los Angeles Public Library book R975.8 B615; FHL book 975 D3bg and fiche 6,088,141)
      Pg.249-50, Georgia: ALEXANDER B. DUNCAN, M.D., of Leesburg, Ga., was born in Lee Co. GA, February 10, 1849. He is the son of Alexander B. and Ellen A. (Holland) Duncan. Alexander B. was born in Philadelphia, PA, in about 1812, went to New Orleans when twelve years of age, where he was reared and educated. In about 1830 he moved to Albany, GA, where he lived for many years but died in Lee Co. in 1852. He was a farmer by occupation and one of the pioneer settlers in Dougherty Co. The mother of the subject was born in Jasper Co. GA, in about 1823 and died in 1883. She bore her husband two children, viz.: Alexander B. and Mary E.
            Alexander B. was reared in Lee Co. and was educated at Albany and Mercer University. In 1866 he commenced to read medicine ... he commended clerking (1873) in Albany, Ga.; from there in 1876 he went to Leesburg. He remained in Lee Co., farming and clerking, until 1878, when he returned to Albany ... January 10, 1877, he was married to Mrs. Addie H. Cooper, widow of W.C.H. Cooper (deceased), of Albany, Ga., and a daughter of Stephen Wright, of Knoxville, Ga. To their union were born five children, viz.: Mary F., George F., Edward, Pleman and Stephen A. His wife died May 28, 1883.
 

1921 "History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography" by Thomas M. Owen, 4 Volumes (Vol.III, pgs.516-519, from Donna Little 8/1982; and FHL fiche 6,048,243 to 6,048,246)
      DUNCAN, L. ALEXANDER, publisher, civil postmaster, city treasurer & city clerk of Meridian [Lauderdale Co.] MS, was born February 16, 1829, in New York City; son of William and Louise Augusta (Gardner) Duncan, the former a native of Glasgow, Scotland, who removed to Canada and later located in New York City, removed to Courtland [Lawrence Co. AL] in 1830, where he taught schools; took charge of Athens female academy, 1836-38, and opened a school for girls in Grenada, Miss.; became a merchant in 1840; grandson of Alexander and Mary (McFarlan) Duncan, of Scotland, who migrated to New York City about 1808, and of Hiram Gardner, a native of Carlisle, PA, who located in New York City, .... Mr. Duncan received his elementary education in Courtland and Athens, AL, and in Grenada, MS, and attended the Collegiate school in NY City which he left in 1846, a few months before graduation. He was a clerk in his father's store in Grenada, 1846-47, and during the latter year entered book & printing business in New Orleans, LA, where he was a joint publisher with his brother, Rev. Dr. Cecil Duncan, of the "Southern Baptist Chronicle" until 1850; he was a publisher in that city of the "New Orleans Baptist Chronicle" 1852-55, also issued a number of pamphlets; civil postmaster of Meridian, MS, 1863-64; city treasurer 1868, and city clerk from 1871 to present; Democrat, Mason and Baptist. married Jan. 21, 1856, in New Orleans, to Annie Battalie, dau. of Edward Conyers and Martha Turbeville (Battaile) Payne, who lived in Hayfield, VA, and later in Winchester, KY, granddau. of Hay Battalie of Hayfield, VA; res. Meridian, MS.
 

1907 "Mississippi, Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons; Arranged in Cyclopedic Form" planned & edited by Rowland, pub. by Southern Hist. Publ. Assn.; vol.1 A-K, vol.2 L-Z, vol.3 includes index & portraits, contemporary biography; vol.4 includes portrait, suppl. volume comprising sketches of representative MS'ans for whom special portraits have been executed on steel (FHL fiche 6,051,432 to 6,051,435 and FHL books 976.2 H2m)
      Vol.III, pg.218 and Vol.4, pg.91-92: L. Alexander Duncan, pioneer citizen of Meridian [Lauderdale Co. MS], native of New York City, born Feb. 16, 1829. Son of William and Louisa A. (Gardner) Duncan, the former born in the City of Glasgow, Scotland, the latter in the City of New York where their marriage was solemnized. The parents of William Duncan came to America when he was a boy, he was reared and educated in New York City where he lived until 1830, then to AL, in 1838 he took up his abode in Grenada, MS, taught in the female colleges in Courtland [Lawrence Co.] and Athens, AL, and also in Grenada, MS. Later he was in the general merchandise business, finally located in the City of New Orleans, where he conducted a book store for a number of years, and died in 1863 while on a business trip to New York. His wife died in 1847 in Grenada, MS, and he married again in 1848 to Mrs. Kate Easly of Middleton, MS, who died in 1892 at Meridian leaving no children. Of the children of his first marriage, only one, the subject of this review, is still living.
            L. Alexander Duncan completed his education in New York City, worked for his father in the New Orleans book store, then worked for a newspaper which ceased publication in 1850. In the Civil War, he was mustered into Confederate service in the regiment of Home Guards in New Orleans, and was discharged in the early part of 1862, then he came to Meridian, MS, in 1863, and in 1878 located in Memphis, TN, in 1879 returned to Meridian. On Jan. 21, 1856, he married Miss Annie B. Payne, daughter of Edward C. Payne of New Orleans, LA; she died 1893. (FHL fiche 6,051,434 and 6,051,435, MAD's extract; no reference to a Duncan in the sketch about the town of Meridian, county seat of Lauderdale Co., in Vol.II)
 

1896 "Memorial history of Louisville from its first settlement to the year 1896" [Jefferson Co. KY] by J. Stoddard Johnston, pub. Chicago: American Biographical Pub. Co. (FHL film 1,000,051 item 2; SLC 9/2007)
      Vol.II, pg.620-621: GARNETT DUNCAN, long a prominent member of the Louisville bar, was the son of Henry and Sarah (Shipp) Duncan, and was born in Louisville, March 1, 1800. Both of his parents were from Virginia, the former of Scotch descent through the Earls of March and Mar, and the latter of English descent. His paternal American ancestor was one of three brothers Duncan who came to Virginia in 1673. Henry Duncan died in 1814 and was one of the most prominent men of early Louisville. He established a hat factory near the present site of the Louisville Hotel and owned a large tract of land in that vicinity. The Duncan family have been generally farmers of good education and ample means, with many college graduates, good doctors and eminent lawyers. The family is to be found in all of the Southern States, with a few in the North. Thomas Duncan, of Nelson County, Kentucky, who lived to an advanced age, could trace its genealogy a thousand years. Its motto was "Aut Honor aut Mors," and he claimed that there never was a felon in the family to the remotest generation. They were all patriots in 1776, with not a Tory among them, and many serving in the army.
            Garnett Duncan was educated at Yale College, New Haven, where he was graduated with honor in 1821, with many others afterwards prominent in life. He embraced the profession of law and became eminent in its practice both in Kentucky and Louisiana. He practiced in Louisville, both in the State and Federal courts, with his residence in this city from the date of his admission to the bar until 1846. In that year he became the Whig candidate for Congress and was elected ... After serving one term, he moved to New Orleans and entered into partnership with Judge Ogden, building up a large business. After the death of Caroline Duncan, his wife, there in 1854, he retired from his profession, and, going to Europe, resided for some years in Paris ... He returned after several years to attend to the estate of John L. Martin as executor, and remained for several years on the plantation in Bolivar County, Mississippi. Upon the outbreak of the war and the shelling of the plantation by the Federal gunboats, he ran the blockade at Wilmington, N.C., and returned to Paris. Here he remained until, his health failing, he came to Louisville, where he died at the residence of his son, Colonel Blanton Duncan, in the spring of 1875. During the siege of Paris, Mr. Duncan resided on a leased farm inside the German lines and witnessed all the stirring events of the siege. ... (MAD: more not copied about his friends) His only son, Colonel Blanton Duncan, a lawyer by education, early raised troops for the Southern army, commanded a regiment in Virginia, and served afterwards ... established a large engraving and printing establishment at Columbia, South Carolina, where he printed, until the end of the war, the currency and bonds of the Confederate Government. For the greater part of the time since the war, he has resided in Louisville, taking active part in public affairs; but for some years past has lived in California, his home being at Redondo Beach, but always claiming his citizenship in Kentucky. (MAD: Charleston, SC, and Los Angeles Co. CA)
            In 1826 Garnett Duncan married Pattie, daughter of John L. Martin, a prominent citizen of Lexington, Kentucky, related by descent to the Washingtons, Taylors and Blantons. She died in 1828, leaving one child, Blanton, to whom reference has just been made. In 1831, Mr. Duncan married a second time, Miss Caroline Shipman, of New Haven, Connecticut, who died in 1854, leaving no children.
 

1893 "A Memorial and biographical history of McLennan, Falls, Bell and Coryell Counties, Texas : from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of the future prospects, also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens.." pub. by Lewis Pub. Co. (FHL film 1,000,605 item 1; and Houston, TX, library book 976.4 M, from Lucille Mehrkam 2/1984)
      Pg.378: Rev. JAMES A. DUNCAN, rector of the Parish at Temple and Belton, Bell Co. TX. Born at St. Andrews, Fifeshire, Scotland, the eldest son of David and Mary A. (Gregg) Duncan. ... James attended school at St. Andrews and when education was completed he entered the English Navy and served Her Majesty's goverment four years. At the experation of that period he resigned his position and emigrated to the United States. Here he settled in New Orleans, LA, in 1848. He resumed his study of theology. In 1849 he united with the Episcopal Church at Algiers. In 1853 he went to Canada but at the end of year returned to LA. The following year he purchased land in Grimes Co. TX and for 22 years made this his abiding place. .... Mr. Duncan has been twice married; at Watertown [Jefferson Co.], NY, he was united to Miss Marion Locke, daughter of Capt. Locke, a member of a Scotch regiment, who lost his life in the Island of Ceylon. Mrs. Duncan died in Dec. 1888 at Belton leaving five (sic) children: Silas A. Duncan, Eliz. wife of J.W. Martin, James E. Duncan, Alex Perry Duncan, Emma wife of Louis Eilers, and Louisa who died in Canada. Mr. Duncan was married Oct. 6, 1891, to Mrs. E.T. Young.
 

1878 "The United States biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of eminent and self-made men" (no editor given) Pub. New York. United States Biographical Pub. Co. (from Kathy D. Cawley by email 11/20/2005; also on FHL film 934926 Item 5)
      Missouri volume, pg.246, 246a (picture of Herman C. Duncan), 247, 248: REV. HERMAN COPE DUNCAN, KANSAS CITY [Jackson Co. MO].
      REV. HERMAN COPE DUNCAN is a native of Louisiana. On the paternal side he is a descendant of a long line of distinguished Scotchmen. His father's grandsire was an eminent promoter of the scheme to place Charles Edward, the last of the Stuarts, on the united throne of England and Scotland, and because of his prominence, after the disastrous battle of Culloden, he was banished and his estates confiscated. Reaching this country he settled in Massachusetts, and while residing there took part in the "Boston Tea Party." Subsequently he removed to Central Pennsylvania and afterward to Washington, Mason county, Kentucky. Several of his sons were distinguished in the Black Hawk war. His son David Duncan at one time resided near New Mardrid, Missouri Territory. Here Greer Brown Duncan, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born. His birthplace was annexed to the State of Kentucky by the violent earthquake of 1811, which changed the course of the Mississippi river. Greer Brown Duncan was admitted to the bar in Terre Haute, Indiana. Subsequently he removed to New Orleans, and won high rank in the social and political world. His universally successful defense of the property owners against the claims of the celebrated Myra Clark Gaines, and his advocacy of the rights of the cities of New Orleans and Baltimore in the matter of the McDonough estates, greatly distinguished him. Daniel Webster said, in addressing the Supreme Court of the United States in the latter suit, that Mr. Duncan was a zealous member of the vestry of Christ's Church, New Orleans, a prominent organizer in the diocese in the General (national) Convention. October 1, 1845, he married Mary Jane Cope, a native of Baltimore and daughter of Herman Cope, who was for many years treasurer of the General (national) Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Their only child, Herman Cope Duncan, the subject of this sketch, was born August 12, 1846. At an early age he was left an orphan, his mother dying January 10, 1856, and his father, June 25, 1858. He prepared for college at the Episcopal Academy, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was graduated with honors at the Pennsylvania University in 1867. Having given up the study of the law, for which profession he had begun to fit himself, he determined early in his junior year at college to seek holy orders; he deferred his application to be received as a candidate, however, until the latter part of 1866. He entered the Philadelphia Divinity School in September 1867, but soon after found that he could make greater progress in his studies by pursuing them in private. He accordingly applied for and received an honorable discharge from the seminary, and was enabled by due diligence to pass his examinations nearly two years ahead of his class. He received ordination as a deacon from the Bishop of Louisiana, J.P.B. Wilmer, D.D., in the Church of the Transfiguration, New York city, October 25, 1868. In the same year the Rev. H.C. Duncan was placed in charge of Emmanuel Church, New Orleans, where he officiated for fifteen months. He succeeded in paying off a large indebtedness on the parish and greatly increased the congregation. At the Diocesan Council of 1870 Mr. Duncan was made secretary of the diocese, to which office he was constantly reelected until he left the diocese. Several times mutatis mutandis the council adopted resolutions declaring
      "That the thanks of this council are eminently due and hearby tendered to the Rev Herman C. Duncan, for the faithful and able manner in which he was discharged his arduous duties."
      In December, 1870, he took charge of Calvary Church, New Orleans. He had to face another indebtedness, which was largely reduced during his ministration. In this parish, January 22, 1871, he was ordained priest by the Bishop of Louisiana, J.P.B. Wilmer, D.D. In April of the same year he was elected registrar and historian of the diocese. As to his administration, while in this office, the following resolution adopted by the Diocesan Council in 1876, after he had left the diocese, will speak for themselves:
      "Whereas, the Rev. Herman Cope Duncan, late registrar and historian, obtained and arranged a most complete and valuable collection of historical documents to be placed among the archives of this diocese; therefore be it
Resolved, that this council tender to its late registrar and historian its sincere thanks for his long, efficient and untiring service in that capacity."
      In 1872 he resigned the charge of Calvary Church and entered upon a missionary life in the Florida parishes of Louisiana. He spent twenty months in this work, filling eleven appointments each month. During this time he was instrumental in causing to be built three churches in Tangipahoa parish. The erection of the Grace Church, Hammond, one of the most ornate rural churches in the state, was the result of a stimulus of five hundred dollars procured by him from an unknown lady friend of New York city. Previous to this the people had felt unable to accomplish anything, nut with this help they succeeded in raising a sufficient sum to build a church valued at $3,500. His mission work, at this and other places in the field, was successful in laying the foundation for that permanent growth of the Church which is now being largely realized.
      In 1873 Mr. Duncan was elected a director of the Protestant Episcopal Association and also one of the diocesan board of trustees of endowment funds. He was at once elected secretary of the board, and while holding the office succeeded in inspiring a renewed zeal in the conduct of the board where before there had been so great a want of it that a meeting had not been held for several years. In 1874 he returned to his old field of labor in the Sixth District of New Orleans. In the meantime a new parish called St. Mark's Church had been developed from Emmanuel Church, and of this he took charge. The parish was overwhelmingly in debt, but he succeeding in reuniting the two parishes under the name of St. George's Church, and left it at the time of his resignation, October 1875, unencumbered. In April, 1875, Mr. Duncan was elected trustee of the Church Education Society of Louisiana and in the same year a member of the Board of Missions of the General (National) Church.
      In November, 1875, he removed to Illinois and became rector of the Bishop Whitehouse Memorial Church, Chicago, which position he held for some nine months, when he returned to New Orleans and took temporary charge of Christ Church, the parent parish of the Southwest. Here he remained during the summer. While in this charge he was called to the rectorship of Grace Church, Kansas City. He was personally unknown to any of the parishioners of this charge, and was elected entirely on the ground of his reputation. He accepted the invitation and entered upon his duties, October, 1876. He was almost immediately thereafter appointed by the bishop of the diocese, dean of the missionary district of Kansas City, embracing the counties of Jackson, Platte, Clay, Lafayette, Cass and Johnson. He organized the convocation in January, 1877. Grace Church is enjoying a great degree of prosperity under his administration.
      In 1870 Mr. Duncan was elected a fellow of the New Orleans Academy of Sciences, and subsequently was made chairman of the scientific section of philology, in which position he filled the usual lecture requirements. He is Past Master of Jefferson Lodge, No. 191, A.F. & A.M. of New Orleans, and Past M.E. High Priest of Kansas City Royal Arch Chapter. He has organized and is Thrice Illustrious Master of Palace Council, No. 21, Royal and Select Masters, Kansas City; Prelate of Kansas City Commandery No. 10, and is Past Grand Prelate of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Louisiana. He has held the office of Grand Chaplain of the Grand Council of the State of Louisiana, and has recently been elected to the same position in Missouri. During the existence of the McEnery government, from 1872 to 1876, Mr. Duncan was Chaplain of the Senate of Louisiana. During the winter of 1878 Mr. Duncan was elected Chaplain of Co. A. Jackson County National Guards.
      In character, Mr. Duncan displays great individuality. It is evident that he copies from no one, but hews out his own path. The legal acumen necessary in abstruse investigation he has evidently inherited from his distinguished father. Tenacity of purpose and boldness of enterprise he possesses in an eminent degree, and his record shows that he has remarkable executive ability. The chosen purpose of his life seized hold of his brain with the grip of doom. His power to achieve great things lay in his intense resoluteness, which made him proof against all confusing and diverting influences. He formed at the outset of his career a solemn purpose to make the most and best of the powers which God had given him, and to turn to the best possible account every outward advantage within his reach. This purpose has carried with it the assent of the reason, the approval of the conscience and the sober judgment of the intellect, and to-day we see few men of his age his equal and none his superior.
 

1890 "Biographical and historical memoirs of northwest Louisiana : comprising a large fund of biography of actual residents, and an interesting historical sketch of thirteen counties." pub. Nashville : Southern Pub. Co. (Chicago : Press of J. Morris Co.) (IN State Library fiche LH12073; from C.T. Duncan 12/2007)
      Pg.565-568: Rapides Parish. Ven. Herman Cope Duncan, Alexandria, La., is descended from a long line of illustrious Scotch ancestry, his paternal great grandsire being a leading promoter of the scheme to place Charles Edward, the last of the Stuarts, on the united throne of England and Scotland, and because of his prominence, after the disastrous battle of Culloden, he was banished and his estates confiscated. Upon reaching America he settled in Massachusetts, and while there took part in the "Boston Tea Party." Subsequently he removed to Central Pennsylvania, and afterward to Washington, Mason County, Ky., several of his sons becoming distinguished in the Black Hawk War. His son, David Duncan, at one time resided near New Madrid, Missouri Territory, and here Greer Brown Duncan, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born, his birthplace being afterward annexed to the State of Kentucky by the violent earthquake of 1811, which changed the course of the Mississippi River. Greer Brown Duncan was educated in Augusta College, Kentucky, and upon completing his course he studied law with Judge A. Kinney, of Terre Haute, Ind., and was admitted to the bar of that place in December, 1830. Subsequently he removed to New Orleans, and, owing to his fine mental qualities, he obtained a high rank in the social and political circles of that place. ... Mr. Duncan was a prominent member of the vestry of Christ Church of New Orleans, a prominent organizer of the diocesan councils, and a representative of the diocese in the general (national) convention. On October 1, 1845, he was married to Mary Jane, daughter of Herman Cope, of Baltimore, who was for many years treasurer of the general (national) convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Their only child is the subject of this sketch, who was born August 12, 1846. He was left an orphan at an early age, his mother dying January 9, 1856, and his father June 25, 1858. He was prepared for college at the Episcopal Academy of Philadelphia, Penn., and graduated with honors in the University of Pennsylvania in 1867. Having given up the profession of law ... latter part of 1867, entering the Philadelphia Divinity School in September of that year. ... He was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Louisiana, J.P.B. Wilmer, D.D., in the Church of the Transfiguration, New York City, October 25, 1868, and the same year was placed in charge of the Emmanuel Church, New Orleans, (MAD: more on his church and diocesan positions, not copied here) ... Rev. Herman C. Duncan ... In 1877 he resigned the charge of Calvary Church, and entered upon a missionary life in the Florida Parishes of Louisiana, spending twenty months in this work, ... In November, 1875, he removed to Illinois ... for nine months, when he returned to New Orleans ... Kansas City ... 1876, 1877, 1878, resigned 1880, to Alexandria, La., April 17, 1880. ... In 1888, after about twenty years' work in collation, he published the history of the diocese of Louisiana. ... He was married January 9, 1883, to Miss Maria Elizabeth Cooke, in St.John's Church, Washington, La., and the issue of their marriage has been two children, a daughter (who died at birth, in 1884), and Greer Assheton (who was born March 31, 1887). Mrs. Duncan is the daughter of the late Thomas Alfred Cooke, M.D., and of Frances Pannill. Dr. Cooke was a son of Thomas and Catherine Byrd (Didlake) Cooke, of Gloucester County, Va., and Mrs. Cooke was a daughter of David and Frances Assheton (Wikoff) Pannill, the latter being the grand-daughter of Ralph Assheton, a provincial councillor of Pennsylvania; and the first lawyer to settle in that province. ... (MAD: more on the ancestry of Frances Assheton Wikoff, not copied here) ....
 

1922 "History of McHenry County, Illinois" by special authors and contributors; pub. Chicago: Munsell Pub. Co. (LH12098, HeritageQuest images 4/2007; FHL film 1,000,504)
      Chapter IV, Land Titles, by George W. Lemmers. ... Pg.38-43:
About 4,000 acres of land in McHenry County and also in Boone and Winnebago, just over the county lines. William Taylor was sent to the country from Scotland to buy land and died here after many peculiar experiences. The language of the documents left in the recorder's office of McHenry County .... The first document bares no date of execution, but is a power-of-attorney given by David Chalmers, William Littlejohn, George Yeates, Robert Catto, Peter Williamson, Alex Fonlerton, Alexander Smith, Charles Chalmers, and Nathaniel Farquhar to one Alexander Ferguson to act as the agent for what was known as the North American Investment and Loan Company, of which they were the directors.
      The power of attorney (MAD's extract) that by contract dated 8th and 10th of May 1839, between parties of the first part as named above, and William Taylor who has since deceased, it was agreed that the directors of the company having engaged the said William Taylor as Manager of the Company's business in America for five years, Taylor to go to North America, and invest Two Thousand Pounds Sterling in the original Capital Stock of the company, and Taylor makes over to the company for the time being the whole property of whatever description which he may afterwards acquire in North America, ... that Taylor did go to the United States and purchased sundry tracts or parcels of land in the State of Illinois, and that titles to the land were taken by William Taylor in his own name and so remain of record, and that the said William Taylor has since departed this life; therefore this indenture made and entered into in 1844 between the parties of the first part and Alexander Ferguson, all the title to lands not already conveyed by deed from William Taylor to the parties above. And the parties direct that the executors, administrators or heirs at law of the said William Taylor, deceased, to convey to the said Alexander Ferguson whatever legal title they acquired to the lands. The parties appoint Alexander Ferguson their agent and attorney in fact. ... Document was acknowledged December 31, 1844, in City of Aberdeen, Kingdom of Great Britain.
      Conveyance by commissioner's deed which indicates that some litigation followed William Taylor ... (MAD's extract) Deed recites that, whereas David Chalmers, William Littlejohn, George Yeats, Robert Catto, Peter Williamson, Alexander Fonlerton, Alexander Smith, Charles Chalmers and Nathan Farquhar, as Directors of the Aberdeen North American Investment and Loan Company, on the 8th of February 1845 filed their bill of Complaint on the Chancery side of the said Circuit Court of Winnebago County against Isabella Taylor, George Taylor, William Primrose, and Elizabeth Primrose, his wife, George Porter and Elspet, his wife, Alexander Ferguson and the unknown heirs and devisees of James Duncan, deceased, therein setting forth, among other things, that one William Taylor, late of the City of St. Louis, deceased, as agent of the Complainant in the Bill of Complaint named, ... but in his own name, purchased all the tracts and parcels of land ... described. That after the purchase of the land, William Taylor died seized of the legal title, but as Trustee for the said Complainant, leaving as his heirs at law Isabella Taylor, George Taylor, Elizabeth Primrose, wife of William Primrose, Elspet Porter, wife of George Porter; that William Taylor in his (pg.42) last Will and Testament, devised all his real estate to Alexander Ferguson aforesaid and to James Duncan, now deceased, but then of the City of New Orleans, in said State of Louisiana; that after the admission of said Will to Probate the said James Duncan had died and that the names of his heirs and devisees were unknown to said Complainants; that the said Complainants also therein praying that the said Court of Chancery would decree the said Isabella Taylor, Geogre (MAD: sic) Taylor, William Primrose and Elizabeth, his wife; George Porter and Elspet, his wife; Alexander Ferguson and the unknown Heirs and Devisees of James Duncan, deceased, that each and every of them to convey and release by Deed the said several tracts of land to Alexander Ferguson, or to such other person or persons as the said Complainants might ... On the 21st day of April at the April term of said Court in the said year 1845, such proceedings were had that the said Court... fully established the said trusts in the said William Taylor in his life time and after his death in the said Isabella Taylor, George Taylor, William Primrose and Elizabeth, his wife, George Porter and Elspet, his wife, and the unknown Heirs and Devisees of James Duncan, deceased, by the 24th of April, aforesaid, by good and sufficient Deeds of Conveyance, to convey and release to the said Alexander Ferguson ... On the 26th day of April, by further order and decree of said Court ... appointed a Special Commissioner to make the deed. (MAD: see Winnebago and LaSalle Co. IL court case)
 

1905 "Biographical annals of Franklin County, Pennsylvania : containing genealogical records of representative families, including many of the early settlers, and biographical sketches of prominent citizens." (anonymous); pub. Chicago: Genealogical Pub. Co. (LH687, HeritageQuest images 4/2007; FHL book 974.844 D3b pt.1-2 and film 908,210 item 4; pg.638 from Kathy Cawley 11/2005)
      Pg.638-641: DUNCAN FAMILY. SETH DUNCAN (born in Scotland about 1724) went to County Donegal, Ireland, but about 1750 emigrated to Pennsylvania. He first settled in Lancaster county, but late in life removed to Abbottstown, York (now Adams) county. He was twice married. The name of his first wife was Reinhold, and she was of a noteworthy German family of Lancaster county. They had issue:
            1. JAMES was appointed second lieutenant in the 2d Canadian (Hazen's) Regiment, Nov. 3, 1776; he was promoted to be first lieutenant, April 8, 1777, and captain, March 25, 1778. He retired Jan. 1, 1783.
            2. MATTHEW was a volunteer in the Canada expedition, under Col. Benedict Arnold, in 1775, and was taken prisoner in the assault upon Quebec, on the last day of that year. While he was a prisoner he was commissioned, Jan. 5, 1776, captain in the 5th Pennsylvania Battalion, Col. Magaw, and was reported in the rolls of the 6th Regiment, Pennsylvania Line, Feb. 18, 1777, a prisoner on parole.
            3. WILLIAM (born in Adams county Oct. 14, 1772 - died Feb. 16, 1864) was a merchant in Philadelphia. He was superintendent of U.S. military stores at the Philadelphia arsenal in 1812, ... For many years he was a member of the Legislature from Philadelphia. He was surveyor of customs at the port of Philadelphia, 1829-38. He was one of the founders of Jefferson Medical College. He married (first) Oct. 31, 1792, Mary Moulder (died in 1818), daughter of William Moulder; (second), 1822, Sarah Moulder (died in 1832), sister of his first wife; and (third) Anna C. (Peale) Staughton, daughter of James Peale, and widow of William Staughton, D.D.
            4. ABNER L. was admitted to the Philadelphia Bar, Feb. 26, 1798; he removed to New Orleans, where he rose to eminence at the Bar. He was one of Gen. Jackson's aids at the battle of New Orleans, ...
            5. HANNAH married John Nicholson, comptroller-general of Pennsylvania, 1782-94, and escheator-general, 1787-95. He was an extensive landowner in Pennsylvania, ... ... the greater part of his land reverted to the Commonwealth. Among these were two tracts sold in Chambersburg July 15, 1807, the original warrants for which were in the names of Matthew and Seth Duncan. These tracts were described as on the "head waters of Conedwinnett." Mr. Nicholson died in the debtors' prison in Philadelphia in 1800.
            6. MARTHA married June 23, 1791, William Moulder. He was appointed an associate judge of the court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, Aug. 2, 1813, and he was treasurer of Philadelphia county, 1827-30.
            Mr. Duncan married (second) Christiana Bedinger (Bittinger), of Adams county; they had issue:
            1. JOHN (born in 1779 - died in 1851) was a physician; he lived at Duncan's Mill, on the Falling Spring, until late in life, when he removed to Adams county, where he died. He amassed a large fortune for that period, amounting to about $200,000. He never married.
            2. POLLY died in 1817.
            3. ADAM S.E. (II)
            (II) ADAM SETH ENOS DUNCAN (born in Adams county, in 1789 - died in 1840), son of Seth and Christiana (Bedinger) Duncan, served in the war of 1812 ... After the war he taught school for a while, and later returned to Adams county, where he was a farmer and merchant at Cashtown, in Franklin township. He married (first) Mary White, of Lancaster county; they had issue:
            1. MARY married (first) Moses B. Meals; (second) John W. Reges.
            Mr. Duncan married (second), in 1815, Mary Mark (born in 1798 - died in 1880), daughter of Peter and Anna Maria Mark; they had issue:
            1. MARTHA (born April 16, 1816 - died 1859) married Oct. 2, 1847, George Smith (born Feb. 16, 1818 - died 1898), son of Jacob and Margaret (Fleeger) Smith, of Adams county. He was a farmer. In 1852 he settled on the farm near Mount Alto, Quincy township, which he afterward owned. He also acquired the ownership of Duncan's Mill, on the Falling Spring, now known as Smith's Mill. ... (MAD: children not copied)
            2. SUSAN ELIZA, born July 8, 1819; died in infancy.
            3. ANNA MARIA, born Dec. 8, 1822, died Dec. 9, 1843.
            4. JOHN MONROE, born May 6, 1825, died Oct. 8, 1851.
            5. ABNER JACKSON, born Sept. 15, 1827, died in infancy.
            6. AUGUSTUS (III)
            7. CALVIN MARK (born May 28, 1831 - died March 22, 1894) was graduated at Franklin and Marshall College in 1856. He studied law in Chambersburg, and was admitted to the Franklin County Bar, April 12, 1858. He was elected to the State Senate in 1865, and re-elected in 1868. He married Dec. 16, 1858, Mary Grace Metzger (born in 1840), daughter of Jacob and Ana (Downing) Metzger, of Lancaster; they had issue: William Augustus, born Oct. 1, 1859, died Sept. 22, 1893; Calvin Mark, born Aug. 31, 1861; Francis Metzger, born Sept. 18, 1865; Robert Spencer, born Sept. 30, 1868; and John McClurg, born Nov. 9, 1874.
            8. JOANNA, born Nov. 21, 1833, died aged nine years.
            9. WILLIAM ADDISON (born Feb. 2, 1836 - died Nov. 14, 1884) was graduated at Franklin and Marshall College in 1857, and was admitted to the Adams County Bar in 1859. He was prosecuting attorney of Adams county, 1862-65, and 1868-71. He was elected to the XLVIIIth Congress in 1882, but died before the expiration of his term. He married Catherine Schmuker, daughter of Dr. Samuel S. and M. Catherine (Sheenberger) Schmuker; they had issue: Charles M., born April 2, 1864, a lawyer at Gettysburg; William M., born July 14, 1865; John S., born July 7, 1867; and Schmuker.
            (III) AUGUSTUS DUNCAN (born at Cashtown, Adams County, March 8, 1829), son of Adam S.E. and Mary (Mark) Duncan, is the only survivor of his family. He was educated in the public schools and in the preparatory department of Marshall College, at Mercersburg. In 1853 he came to Guilford township, where he took charge of the Duncan Mills, on the Falling Spring, which he conducted until 1860 ... After relinquishing the mill he removed to Chambersburg. In 1867 he became one of the purchasers of the "Valley Spirit" newspaper, which he conducted in conjunction with John M. Cooper and William S. Stenger, and later under the firm name of Duncan & Stenger, until 1876. Since the latter year he has led a retired life ... Mr. Duncan married, in 1853, Florence Rowan (died in January, 1860), daughter of Mrs. Catherine Rowan. Children:
            1. ANNIE HELEN died aged fifteen years.
            2. JEANETTE died aged three years.
            3. FLORENCE died when one year old.
 

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