Duncans in Baker Co. OR

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

Last revised March 10, 2007

BAKER CO. OR
Formed 1862 from Wasco
Union formed 1864 from Baker
Malheur formed 1887 from Baker
 

CENSUS RECORDS

1870 Baker Co. OR Census
Rye Valley
Pg.7, #32-28, DUNCAN, Jas. (m) 38 SCT mining (alone)
Humbolt Precinct, P.O. Humbolt Basin
Pg.32, #79-71, WAY, Patrick H. 35 IN mining
                  DUNCIA, Franklin 43 VT mining
Powder River Valley
Pg.33, #24-24, HALL, Thos. 28 CAN. W. miner
                  MULLEN, Wm. 31 KY miner
                  DUNCAN, N.E. (m) 32 IL miner
Pg.34, #44-43, KELLY, David 30 PA miner $0-$1500, mar. in May
                  Ellen E. 20 IA keeping house
                  SMITH, Danl. 32 "Kenn" (KY) miner
                  RANKIN?, David 32 "Kenn" miner
                  (MAD: indexed as David DANKIN)
 

HISTORIES before 1923

1893 "Illustrated History of State of OR, Containing History of OR from Earliest Period ..." by Harvey K. Hines, pub. by Lewis Pub. Co. (FHL book 979.5 H2hh)
      Pg.337-8: Charles H. Duncan. Business man of Baker City [Baker Co.], OR, whose long residence there ought to place him in the ranks of the pioneers of the State; probably he would be so reckoned but for the fact that he is a young man. He was born in Galawa (MAD: Callaway) Co. MO March 9, 1854, his father, Frederick Duncan, having been born in KY in 1815. The ancestors of our subject were Virginians. His father married Miss Annie Gibson (MAD: Elizabeth Gibson, 1839 Callaway Co. MO) and then removed to MO and in 1864, when our subject was but ten years old, crossed the plains and found a home in Union Co. OR, farmed, died in 1878 at age 63 years, his wife having died in 1866; she born her husband ten children, of whom our subject was the fifth. ... Charles H. Duncan ... shareholder in the Sanger mine, one of the best in the county, he sold opportunely and realized $40,000 for it. With his brother he was owner of a large flouring mill in Baker City, which burned down and entailed a loss of $7,000, but this did not cast him down in any way. Our subject married May 6, 1891, to Miss Bertha, dau. of Edward Reynolds, one of the forty-niners, he being on one of the first steamboats to run up the Columbia River. Mr. Reynolds is a native of NY, and has a large family of fine sons and daus. in Baker City where he resides. Mrs. Duncan is a native of Baker City, having been born there in 1872. Mr. Duncan is a prominent member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, ... Republican party, having received the nomination of that party for the Legislature and was elected in 1892. ...
 

1902 "An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Cos., With a Brief Outline of the Early History of the State of OR" pub. by Western Hist. Pub. Co. (FHL book 979.5 H2i and film 924,599 item 1; HeritageQuest image 2/2007, Local History Reel/Fiche Number 10474)
      Pg.667-668: N.E. DUNCAN. It is with pleasure that we are enabled to write concerning the estimable gentleman whose name is at the head of this article, since he has been one of the potent factors in the development of Harney county, has manifested wisdom and enterprise in all his ways here, has labored as a true pioneer in many other sections of the country and has always manifested the same unswerving integrity, moral uprightness and sound principles, having sustained a reputation as an exceptionally reliable man, and ever arraigned on the side of right.
      Mr. Duncan was born in Williamson county, Illinois, on March 27, 1838, being the son of Dudley W. and Elizabeth Duncan. On April 16, 1859, Mr. Duncan started to New Orleans on the Panama route to California. He had an adventurous spirit and was ready to grapple with the hard problems of pioneer life and has since proved himself of the right kind of stuff. He stopped five days on the way, at Havana, and then landed in San Francisco on May 16. He worked for wages until the fall of 1861, then went by steamer to Portland, Oregon. On April 16, 1863, he started to Auburn, Baker county, arriving there on the 16th of May, and for fifteen years he was numbered with the hardy and worthy miners of that vicinity. It was 1878 that he came to upper Willow creek and took up ranching. In 1884 he came thence to the vicinity of Drewsey, and there engaged in farming and stock raising. He took raw land, two hundred and forty acres, and made of it a fine farm, and was successful in raising stock. Later he sold the farm and neat stock and handled sheep and horses exclusively. In 1899 he sold his entire property holdings in this section and retired for a time from active business. He is at present continuing this retired life. Fraternally he is affiliated with the I.O.O.F., Drewsey Lodge, No.147. Mr. Duncan was nominated for county commissioner on the Republican ticket, and notwithstanding his protests he was elected, but refused to qualify. Mr. Duncan has never ventured on the matrimonial sea, but is enjoying the quieter placidity of the celebate. He is a man of unquestioned integrity and stands high in the estimation of the people.
 

END

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