Duncans in Houghton Co. MI

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Duncan research files of
Mary Ann (Duncan) Dobson
the Genealogy Bug

Last revised November 23, 2007

HOUGHTON CO. MI
Formed 1845 from Chippewa
Marquette, Ontonagon formed 1843 from Chippewa, Houghton
Schoolcraft formed 1843 from Chippewa, Houghton, Marquette
Keneenaw formed 1861 from Houghton
Baraga formed 1875 from Houghton
 

CENSUS RECORDS

1850 Houghton Co. MI Census
      No Duncan indexed

1860 Houghton Co. MI Census
Hancock Village
Pg.627, #251-273, Hotel
                  Austin DUNCAN 38 IRE engineer $0-$0
Pg.644, #328-355, John RIDDEN 30 "Bevaria" laborer & family
                  other laborers born "Bevaria"
                  John DUNCAN 28 Bevaria laborer
Pg.649, #352-380, Charles MARTIN 40 ENG carpenter
                  Elizabeth 30 MI
                  George 2 MI
                  miners, including
                  John DUNCAN 25 ENG miner
Portage Twp.
Pg.662, #398-427, Joseph STEVENS 28 ENG miner & family
                  other miners incl.
                  Thomas DUNCAN 20 ENG miner
Pg.662, #399-428, Thomas EAGEN 28 IRE laborer
                  Bridget 28 IRE
                  Ellen 6/12 MI
                  William DUNCAN 40 IRE laborer
                  George DUNCAN 45 IRE laborer
Eagle Harbor
Pg.781, #1000-1041, William DUNCAN 28 IRE copper washer
                  Mary 28 IRE
                  Phoebe 4, Mary 3 MI
Copper Harbor
Pg.801, #1113-1149, Morris DUNCAN (m) 30 CANada (blank) $0-$0
                  Mary 21 CAN
                  George 2 MI
                  Adolph LAPAYAR (m) 24 CAN (blank)
 

1870 Houghton Co. MI Census
Calumet Twp.
Pg.599, #34-40, DUNCAN, John 27 CANada carpenter $1000-$4000, parents of foreign birth
                  Mary A. 26 MI keeping house
                  Nellie G. 5 MI, father of foreign birth
                  Mary C. 3 MI, father of foreign birth
                  MOON, William 58 NY at home
Franklin Twp.
Pg.647-647R, #188-206, DUNCAN, Houghton (m) 41 ENG works in machine shop $0-$150, parents of foreign birth
                  Mary H. 27 ENG keeps house, parents of foreign birth
                  DUNCAN, Mary R. 7 MI, parents of foreign birth
                  Alfred J. 6/12 MI b.Dec., parents of foreign birth
                  COCKING, Angelina 15 WI (Wisconsin) at home, parents of foreign birth
Hancock Twp.
Pg.668R-669, #57-79, DEMCEN, Nicholas 36 PRUssia works in warehouse $0-$200, parents of foreign birth
                  Mary 29 FRAnce keeping house, parents of foreign birth
                  Annie (f) 8 MI, parents of foreign birth
                  Maggie 6 MI, parents of foreign birth
                  Lance (f) 4 MI, parents of foreign birth
                  DEMCEN, Lizzie 2 MI, parents of foreign birth
                  Cecilia (f) 4/12 MI b.Jan., parents of foreign birth
Pg.680, #211-245, EDDY, John 37 ENG blacksmith $2500-$0, parents of foreign birth
                  COCKING, Grace 25 ENG keeping house $0-$150, parents of foreign birth
                  John 4 MI, parents of foreign birth
                  James 11/12 MI b.July, parents of foreign birth
Pg.680, #211-246, DUNCAN, Nicholas 32 ENG works in foundry, $0-$0, parents of foreign birth
                  Julia 30 ENG keeping house, parents of foreign birth
                  Edward 28 ENG teaching school, parents of foreign birth
                  POLMAN, David 30 ENG carpenter, parents of foreign birth
 

HISTORIES before 1923

1903 "Biographical record, Houghton, Baraga and Marquette Counties [Michigan]" pub. by Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago (LH4951, HeritageQuest image 2/19/2007; FHL film 1,000,086 item 4, SLC 9/2007)
      Pg.179-180: CAPT. JOHN DUNCAN, who has been assistant superintendent of the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company since 1869, located in Houghton County in 1858. Captain Duncan was born in Canada, near St. Thomas, but was mainly reared in Michigan. He is a son of John and Mary Duncan, natives of Scotland.
      In his early manhood our subject began work on the Great Western Railroad of Canada and later drifted into Michigan, where he found employment on the Detroit & Mackinac Railroad. From there he removed to Houghton County in 1858, on the steamer "Montgomery," which was commanded by the late Captain Wilkinson, ex-superintendent of the Detroit House of Correction. The trip was the first one both for the vessel and its captain. For 10 years he was then associated with the Quincy mine in Houghton County, going from there to his present position.
      Captain Duncan has always been a stanch Republican and has been honored by his party on many occasions. He is one of the oldest continuous county commissioners in the State, having served as chairman of the board in Houghton County since 1866. He was identified with both village and township organizations and has exercised the influence of a level headed, responsible and just citizen. No man in Houghton County enjoys more universal esteem.
      On June 18, 1862, Captain Duncan married Mary A. Moon, a daughter of William Moon, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Mrs. Duncan became a resident of Houghton County at the age of 14 years. The children born to Captain Duncan and wife are: William, who is engaged in a hardware business at Calumet, where he resides with his family; Fannie, who married William Holman, an insurance man of Calumet, Michigan; and Helen, who is the wife of Fred E. Woodbury, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Captain Duncan has one of the finest residences at Calument, at No. 1025 Mine Street. He is a man of large means, a stockholder in the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company, and is financially interested in various commercial ventures. Fraternally he is very prominent in Masonry, having attained to the thirty-third degree. He was made a Mason in Houghton County and was formerly a member at Quincy until the lodge was transferred to Calumet. He is a member of Montrose Commandery, K.T., at Caumet, and the Marquette Consistory. It is with pleasure that we are able to state that a portrait of Captain Duncan may be found in this work, being presented on a foregoing page in connection with this sketch.
 

1883 "History of the upper peninsula of Michigan containing a full account of its early settlement" pub. Chicago: Western Historical Company (FHL film 485,331 item 1; SLC 9/2007)
      Pg.293: HOUGHTON DUNCAN, Mining Engineer and Draughtsman of the Lake Superior Iron Works, was born in Cornwall, Eng., March 2, 1830. He received an academic education, and fitted himself for the profession of a mining engineer. In 1848, he came to America; located in Canada, at the Bruce Mines. He left there in 1854, and came to Houghton County, Mich. (now Keweenaw). He erected the engines and stamps at the Keweenaw, Garden City and AEtna Stamp Mills; was engaged in that section three years. From 1856 to 1858 he spent in Pennsylvania erecting engines. He next went to Rockland, Ontonagon County, and erected an engine and stamps for the Adventure Mining Company; was also engaged at the Minnesota Mine; next, put up the engine and stamps for the Hancock Mine; was next engaged at the Portage Lake Foundry. He then took charge of the Pennsylvania Mine for three years; he also put up the engine and stamps for the Aztec Copper Company; from thence to Copper Harbor, where he erected an engine and stamps for a mine. He next started a foundry at Eagle Harbor, which he carried on two years. He then acted as agent for Mr. S.F. Hodge, of Detroit, one year; was engineer of the Huron Mine one year. In 1869, he superintended the construction of the Lake Superior Iron Works, for S.F. Hodge; spent two years at these works. He was next with the Portage Lake Iron Works two years. Then, in 1874, he returned to the Lake Superior Iron Works, where he has been employed to date. (MAD: nothing said of marriage or children, although some of the other biographies list them)
      Pg.303: Houghton Co. JOHN DUNCAN, assistant superintendent of the Calumet and Hecla Mines and general manager of surface and field operations, Mr. Duncan was born in Canada in 1836, and came to Lake Superior in 1859. He engaged with the Quincy Mining Company as foreman carpenter, and subsequently became general surface superintendent. He continued with that company nine years, when he left them to accept his present position with the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company in 1868. He has now filled this most responsible position some fourteen years, with marked satisfaction, both to the company and employes. Some idea of the importance of the duties and responsibilities of this position can be formed when it is known that there are over twelve hundred employes in and about this company's works, and that the monthly product of copper is valued at more than $620,000. Mr. Duncan has always taken an active part in all matters of local improvement and in the interest of good government. He has served as Supervisor of the Town of Calumet twelve years and as Chairman of the County Board of Houghton County ten years. Of his sterling qualities as an executive and mining officer, we are not allowed to speak. (MAD: nothing said of wife and children)
 

1921 "Montana, its story and biography : a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood" by L.E. Munson, ed. by Tom Stout; pub. Chicago: American Historical Society (LH12734, HeritageQuest images 5/2007 & 8/2007; FHL book 978.6 H2s v.2 and film 1,000,175)
      Vol.III, pg.1071-1072: FREDERICK ELWELL WOODBURY ... at one time vice president of the great Woodbury institution in Montana, the Great Falls Iron Works. ... was killed by an accident at Ironwood, Michigan, January 21, 1914. ... he was born at Nashua, New Hampshire, April 7, 1862, only son of Leander S. and Mary (Davis) Woodbury. .... Mr. Woodbury was married December 29, 1887, to Helen Grant Duncan, daughter of John Duncan, superintendent of the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company, Calumet, Michigan, who survives him. (MAD: Calumet, Houghton Co. MI; Great Falls, Cascade Co. MT)
 

END

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