BUCHANAN CO. MO
HISTORIES before 1923
 

1899 "History of Buchanan Co. and St. Joseph, MO" (The Daily News') by The St. Joseph Publ. Co. (FHL book 977.813 H2r; extract also from index cards of Kit Smith 8/1983)
      Pg.476: ALBERT B. DUNCAN, attorney at law, office in Crawford Theater building, was born on a farm near Dearborn, in Platte Co. MO, April 17, 1862. His father, Richard F. Duncan, was born in Culpeper Co. VA, and his mother, whose maiden name was Sara A. St.John, was born in Platte county. Our subject attended the public schools and went to William Jewell College, from which he graduated in June of 1886, ... (no marriage info given, but includes a photo).
 

"The Book of Missourians : the achievements and personnel of notable living men and women of Missouri in the opening decade of the twentieth century" ed. by M.L. Van Nada; pub. Chicago: T.J. Steele & Co., 1906, 483 pgs. (LH10659, HeritageQuest images 5/2007; CA State Library, Sutro branch, book F465 V26; FHL has copy of 1989 reprint by Library of Congress on FHL film 1,651,390)
      Pg.28-29: WILLIAM H. UTZ, lawyer, born July 28, 1864, in Buchanan county, Mo., son of John H. and Sarah E. (Duncan) Utz; father was a Confederate soldier in the Civil war. ... He is a member of the legal co-partnership of Duncan & Utz, composed of Albert B. Duncan and William H. Utz, established January 21, 1897. ...
      Pg.342,345. ALBERT B. DUNCAN, lawyer, born April 17, 1862, in Platte county, Mo., son of Richard F. and Sarah Ann (St.John) Duncan, and his ancestors were Revolutionary soldiers. Educated in the public schools, William Jewell College, 1880-1886, graduating in 1886 with degree of Bachelor of Arts. He was a member of the Phi Gamma fraternity at college. Mr. Duncan was reared on a farm, and after acquiring his education engaged in the practice of law, which he has continued until the present time. He is a member of the legal firm of Duncan & Utz, composed of A.B. Duncan and W.H. Utz, established January 21, 1895. Mr. Duncan was a member of the city council of St.Joseph, Mo., from April, 1891, to April, 1893; prosecuting attorney of Buchanan county from January, 1895, to January 1897; member of the Democratic State Committee 1898-1900; member of the General Assembly from January, 1901, to January, 1905; served as member of the judiciary and appropriation committee and as chairman of the committee on municipal corporations and enrolled bills. Was speaker pro tem of the General Assembly during the session of 1903. ... (MAD: more not copied) Democratic in politics ... Mr. Duncan was married, September 9, 1900, in St.Joseph, Mo., to Mrs. Emma Witherspoon. Business address, Lyceum Theatre building, southwest corner of Fifth and Jule streets; residence address, 1609 South Tenth street, St. Joseph, Missouri. (picture on pg.343)
 

1904 "History of Buchanan Co. and City of St. Joseph, MO and Representative Citizens, 1826-1904" by Christian Ludwig Rutt (Los Angeles Public Library book 977.81 B91Ru; FHL film 1,000,283 item 4; also see the website of Danielle Thompson http://members.aol.com/buchanancomo/frontpg.html)
      Pg.449: Hon. John H. Duncan, judge of the First District of the County Court of Buchanan County, from Crawford township, is a man of prominence in this section where he has lived for more than 55 years. He is a pioneer citizen and has performed his part in the wonderful transformation of this country from its wild state.
      Judge Duncan was born in Cherokee Co. AL, and is a son of Col. B.M. and Amanda (Lawrence) Duncan, his father being a colonel in the State Militia of Alabama, having held a commission under Governor Arthur P. Bagby. B.M. Duncan erected the first cotton gin and compress in the Cherokee Purchase of Alabama. In 1845, with his family, he came to Buchanan Co. MO, overland with ox teams and horses, a long hard journey. In this county he followed farming until his death in the early "eighties" at the age of 80 years. His grandfather came to this country from Scotland, and was killed during the Revolutionary War. His wife's uncle also served in the War of the Revolution. B.M. Duncan was a candidate for the Legislature of Missouri in 1860, but was defeated by a small plurality. Mrs. Duncan is now living with our subject at the advanced age of 90 years and is enjoying very good health. John H. Duncan had a half brother, who followed farming and milling in Kansas until death. He has five sisters, all living: Mrs. John Lockwood, of Columbia, Missouri, mother of Dr. William Lockwood of South St. Joseph, and B.M. Lockwood, an attorney of St. Joseph; Mrs. I.V. LaTourett, of Cleveland, Oklahoma, whose husband formerly was a stockman near Maryville, Nodaway Co. MO; Mrs. J.H. Utz, who lives near St. Joseph; Julia, wife of Richard Burch, of Bartlesville, Indian Territory, where he formerly was a teacher and school commissioner; and Mrs. C.M. Davidson, whose husband is a farmer near Dearborn, Platte Co. MO.
      John H. Duncan was five years of age when brought to Buchanan County, and here was reared and educated. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate Army and saw four years of hard service up to the time of his surrender at Baton Rouge. He was a non-commissioned officer most of the time, and being a fine drill master was offered a commission. After the close of the war, he returned to St. Joseph, and subsequently went to Kansas for a time. He resumed work as an agriculturist and continued with a high degree of success on his farm in Crawford township until 1902, when he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of judge of the First District of the County Court of Buchanan County for a term of two years. Judge Duncan was re-elected in November, 1904, for another term of two years. Until his election to the bench, he always engaged in general farming and stock-raising; his hogs were of the Poland China breed. The farm is now under the management and care of his son-in-law, W.D. Simmons.
      Judge Duncan was joined in marriage with Sarah S. Kirkman, a daughter of Squire William Kirkman, deceased, an early resident of Buchanan County. Mrs. Duncan was born in this county and died here in January, 1898, aged 44 .... (did not copy page 450).
 

"Portrait and biographical record of Buchanan and Clinton Counties, Missouri : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States." (anonymous "A Niece"); pub. Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1893, 658 pgs. (LH10646, HeritageQuest images 5/2007; FHL film 1,697,481 item 5 and 1,000,283 item 2)
      Pg.600-601: HORACE T. CONNETT, of Buchanan County, residence on section 28, township 56, range 35, after the father's death the sons bought out their sisters' interest, carrying on the business as S.S. Connett & Bros., Squire S., William C. and Horace T. being members of the firm. William C. Connett, Sr., our subject's father, a native of Lexington, Ky., born in 1800, was reared on a farm in Hardin County ... married Matilda Thornberry. Coming to Missouri in 1839 ... parents of nine children, who all grew to maturity. Three are living: Elzerie, Mrs. Samuel Wildbahn; Miranda, wife of Walker G. Reed; and our subject. Those deceased are Squire S.; Melvina, wife of Judge E.P. Duncan; Isabella, wife of Columbus Roundtree; William C., who married Perilla L., daughter of Judge Solomon L. Leonard; Matilda, wife of Martin Hughes; and Anderson, who died at the age of 17 years. The subject of this sketch was born October 10, 1832, near Lexington, Ky., and was only 7 years old when he came to Missouri; in April 1861 he married the third daughter of Judge Solomon L. Leonard, Miss Mary E., who died October 22, 1873. ... (more on children and second marriage, not copied.)
      Pg.638-639: EDWARD ALVA FIELD, among the well-known farmers and stock-raisers of Jackson Township, Buchanan County, owns a farm of 207 acres formerly the property of his father. To this place he removed in March, 1886, ... Mr. Field was born in Platte County, Mo., near the town of New Market, where his parents, Dr. George W. and Lucy E. (Duncan) Field, located about 1840, coming from Kentucky. The father, who landed in the county a poor man, owned at the time of his death in 1885 over 1500 acres, ... was a practicing physician ... Our subject is one of a family of eight children, of whom he is the second in order of birth. Desda, who died on the 15th of March 1893, leaving two children, was the wife of J.L. Cormack, now Judge of the Probate Court of Platte County; Paschal E. is a banker in Gower; William S. is a resident of Platte City; Lizzie E. became the wife of Edward L. Anderson, of Platte City; George W. is a practicing physician in Salt Lake City; John T., M.D., formerly a resident of St. Louis, is now Assistant Physician at Asylum No. 2; and Lulu E. is an attendant at the Columbia College. ... Our subject was born 7th of July 1857, in 1889 at the home of the bride's father William Royston, married Miss Annie Royston, who was born in Platte County, Mo., September 21, 1867 ...
      Pg.648-650: JOHN H. UTZ is one of the enterprising farmers of township 56, range 35, his farm being situated on section 19. ... Politically a Democrat ... Our subject, who is the only son in his parents' family, was born September 30, 1840, in Page County, Va., and was there educated in the public schools. He came to Buchanan County when in his sixteenth year, and went immediately to work on his father's farm, remaining at home until reaching his majority. In September 1861 he enlisted in Company A, First Missouri Cavalry, in the Confederate service. ...
            On February 24, 1863, occurred the marriage of our subject and Miss Sarah E. Duncan, whose parents, B.M. and A.M. (Lawrence) Duncan, were both natives of Tennessee. They came to Missouri about 1844, settling in this township, where the father's death occurred. His wife is still living in Crawford Township. Mrs. Utz was born in March, 1842, in Alabama, and is the mother of ten children, who are all living: William H., Silas B., Robert Lee, John A., Jane C., Amanda M., Annie S., Sarah E., Mary E., and Jessie V. Silas B. married Miss Bessie Cristal, and lives in this township; Robert Lee, who married Georgie Goodlive, is a resident of this township; and Jane C., wife of William Moore Jr., lives in Crawford Township. At the closing of the war Mr. Utz returned home but found it unsafe to remain there, and went to Kansas, being a resident of Marshall County for a short time. Later returning, he settled on his present farm, ... John H. Utz is a son of Henry and Jane C. (Forrer) Utz, natives of Warren and Page Counties, Va., respectively. (MAD: more on Utz family not copied) Our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, at Sparta, in which he is Trustee, ...
 

"History of Taylor County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. : a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Taylor County, constitution of the United States, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc." (anonymous), preface by "The Publishers", front matter has picture of Lyman Evans; pub. Des Moines: State Historical Co., 1881, 839 pgs. (LH11279, HeritageQuest images 4/2007 & 7/2007; FHL film 924,394 item 1 and 1,000,021 item 4; and FHL book 977.779 H2h 1975 and film 908,996 item 1)
      Pg.677-678: Dallas Township. DUNCAN, A., farmer, section thirty, post-office Hawleyville; born in "Calvary" county, Missouri, July 5, 1825. His early life was spent on a farm and when seventeen he moved to Buchanan county, same State, where he lived until 1852. At that date he came to Taylor county and located on his present farm which was then a wild tract devoid of the first evidence of civilization. Subject enlisted August 15, 1862, in company F, Twenty-ninth Iowa cavalry, Col. Benton commanding. He took part in the battles of Helena and Sabine River, and was captured at the latter engagement and held a prisoner ten months, after which he was paroled and returned to his home where he remained about six weeks and was then ordered to report at Saint Louis, which he did and was sent from there to Davenport, at which place he was discharged and again returned to his home. March 15, 1822 (MAD: sic), he married Miss Mary Jane Dillon of Nodaway county, Missouri. They have eleven children: Amanda E. (the first white child born in Dallas township), Elizabeth Jane, Martha Ann, Jno. Harry, Nancy Emmeline, Laura Eldora, William Grant, Silas Porterfield, Arizona May, Cora Arminda and Maud Alice. Mr. Duncan is located on a farm of 122 acres, nicely situated, good house, barn and orchard. Excepting Mr. Crout, he is the oldest settler in the township. (MAD: Alexander Duncan, b. Callaway Co. MO, not Calvary)
 

"Quincy and Adams County [IL] history and representative men" by Henry Bornmann; ed. by David F. Wilcox; pub. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1919, 1676 pgs. (LH13147, HeritageQuest images 4/2007; FHL book 977.344 D3w v.1&2 and films 924,750 item 2 and 924,751 item 1)
      Pg.934: FERDINAND F. GIEFING ... born in Quincy January 15, 1890, ... son of Ferdinand and Frances (Bennig) Giefing. ... In September 1913, Mr. Ferdinand Giefing married at St. Joseph, Missouri, Miss Ethel Gladys Carson. She was born in Albany, Missouri, but was reared and educated at St. Joseph, Missouri, where her parents Newton and Lucy (Duncan) Carson reside. .... (MAD: St.Joseph, Buchanan Co. MO)
 

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