WHITE CO. TN
HISTORIES before 1923
 

1887 "Histories of Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Warren and White Counties (TN)" by Goodspeed (SLC book 976.8 H2gs)
      Pg.804: The judges and clerks of the (circuit) court from its organization to the present have been as follows: .... Clerks - ... John J. Duncan, 1858-64 ....

1885 "History of McDonough County, Illinois : together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens; and History of Illinois ..." pub. by Continental Historical Co. (FHL film 1,000,503 item 2)
      Pg.90: In the fall of 1830, Joel Duncan, father of Russell and Charles, came to McDonough county. He made his home temporarily with his son Russell, and commenced the erection of a cabin, but before he had it finished, the great snow of that winter came on, so thirteen people were compelled to live all winter in that little cabin not over eighteen feet square. In the spring Joel removed south of his sons and opened a farm, where he afterwards died.
            Russell Duncan, was also a settler of 1830. He erected a cabin in which he installed his family on section 3, of Blandinsville. It was his intention to place it on section 4, but got it the wrong side of the line. He lived here until the spring of 1840, when he died very suddenly. With him came his brother Charles Duncan, who was a single man. He made his home sometime with his brother, but moved to Hancock county. Later he came back, but afterwards, during the time of the rush to California, he fell in with the tide of emigration, and moved to that Eldorado of the west, where he now resides.
      Pg.420 J.M. Duncan, physician in Blandinsville, was born in this county ... His parents were John and Margaret (Wright) Duncan. The former died March 4, 1873, in this county, and was buried in "Old Liberty" cemetery. The latter died in 1856 and was buried in the same place. The father of J.M., John Duncan, was one of the pioneers of the county, having emigrated from White Co. TN, in 1832, and settled in Blandinsville township, and followed farming until the day of his death.
      Pg.856: Blandinsville Township: On the 14th day of March, 1830, John Huston arrived from Morgan Co. IL, and took up a farm ... His family, upon their arrival, consisted of himself and wife and one child, now a practicing physician of Blandinsville. ...
      Pg.860: Russell Duncan also came in 1830. He occupied a part of Mr. Huston's house until he had erected one for himself and family on section 3, which, however, he intended to build on section 4, but by mistake it was put up on the wrong side of the line. He came from TN, and after his cabin was completed, he immediately moved into it. He lived there until the time of his death, which occurred very suddenly in the spring of 1840.
            Charles Duncan came about the same time. As he was a single man, he took up a claim with his brother, Russell, with whom he lived until his father came to the township. He afterward removed to Hancock county, but did not remain there a great while, returning to this township. He subsequently removed to California, where he now resides. (MAD: Yolo Co. CA)
      Pg.861: In the fall of 1830, Joel Duncan came from TN, and moved into the cabin with his son Russell, on section 4. He immediately commenced operations for the erection of a cabin for himself and family, but being overtaken in the week before its completion by the great snow storm of 1830-31, he was unable to finish it that fall. As a consequence 13 lived in a cabin 18 feet square, with one door, no windows, and but a loft for the accomodation of the many sleepers. He afterward settled on another place, south of there, where he died.
      The settlement after this date (fall of 1830) was very slow for a few years, and then the county filled up rapidly. In the fall of 1831, John Duncan came to the township, and here died.
            Thomas B. Duncan is one early settler of this county, having come here with his parents, November 2, 1831, and settled on section 18, of Blandinsville township. He is a native of TN and was born in White county, June 18, 1828. He is a son of John and Margaret (Wright) Duncan.
      Pg.893: Reuben R. Harris was born in this county in 1846. His parents, Reuben and Allie (Wolf) Harris were among the earliest settlers here and were from TN. Reuben Harris, Sr. died August 15, 1870. He was a resident of this county at the time (1846) of the Mormon war, in which he participated.
            H.H. Duncan, of Blandinsville township, is a son of John and Mary (White) Duncan, natives of TN. H.H. Duncan was born in this township December 11, 1844, ...
      Pg.888: The notion trade has a representative in C.M. Duncan. Causby M. Duncan was born in White Co. TN, October 6, 1824. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, attending the district school as he had opportunity. He resided with his parents till he reached the age of 23. March 21, 1847, he was married to Nancy Ann Cooper, and was living in Henderson Co. IL ... for 25 years ...

1907 "History of McDonough Co. IL" by Newton Bateman
      Pg.780: Old Settlers - August 16, 1905, was to be Pioneers' Day:
      C.M. Duncan, aged 80, born October 6, 1824, in Tennessee, came to State 1830.
      (Photo) Crosby Duncan, 82; John Duncan, 71

1878 "History of M'Donough Co. IL" by J.S. Clark (CA State Library, Sutro Branch; also Los Angeles Public Library)
      Pg.376-377: HON. JOHN HUSTON. ... of Blandinsville township ... John Huston was born near Sparta, White Co. TN, May 17, 1808. His parents were Walter and Nancy (Bradshaw) Huston, the former being a Virginian by birth and the latter a Kentuckian. .... Before reaching his majority, Mr. Huston led to the marriage alter Miss Ann Melvin, with whom he happily lived until separated by death. They were married in his native county, on the second day of October, 1828, and twelve days thereafter the young couple, with all their worldly goods, departed for the great West, intending to make Illinois ... their home for the future. On the eleventh day of November, 1828, they arrived in Morgan county, where they remained some sixteen months, when they came to this county, arriving here on the fourteenth day of March, 1830. ...

1894 "History of Hancock, McDonough, & Henderson Cos. IL" pub. Chicago, Lake City (SLC book 977.34 D3p)
      Pg.182-3: PRESTON HUSTON, retired farmer residing in Blandinsville, among pioneers of McDonough Co. Born Blandinsville Twp. Sept. 14, 1837, son of John Huston who was one of very earliest settlers of this locality. Father born in White Co. TN, May 17, 1808, and upon obtaining majority, emigrated to Morgan Co. IL, in 1829. 18 months later to this county & took up residence on Sec. 19, Blandinsville Twp, 160a which he entered from Government; added to from time to time. Made journey from TN to IL with an ox-team, ...
      In White Co. TN, on the 2d of October 1828, John Huston married Miss Ann, daughter of William and Mary (Duncan) Melvin, and to them were born the following children: William M., a practicing physician of Blandinsville; Walter, Rigdon and Crockett, all deceased; Preston of this sketch; Thomas, a farmer and stock raiser of Columbus, KS; Mary, wife of Strather Givens, a retired farmer of Abingdon, IL; and John, who carries on farming and stock-raising in Blandinsville Township. The father of this family was called to his final rest July 8, 1854, and the mother, who long survived him, passed away January 22, 1892. ...
      Pg.188: WILLIAM M. HUSTON, M.D., almost quarter century engaged in practice of medicine in Blandinsville, born Jacksonville, Morgan Co. IL, 6 Aug. 1829, one of family of 8 children whose parents were John and Annie (Melvin) Huston. Father and mother both natives of White Co. TN, and marriage was celebrated there. The lady was a daughter of William and Mary (Duncan) Melvin. In 1830 John Huston removed with his family to McDonough Co. IL, and farmed. Of children, William M. of this sketch is eldest; Walter L. died age 22; Rigdon, farmer & stock raiser of McDonough Co. is now deceased; Preston retired farmer living in Blandinsville; Thomas B. retired in Columbus, Kan.; Mary E. wife of S. Givens retired farmer in Abingdon, Il.; John farming in Blandinsville Twp; and Crockett, decd, farmer of McDonough Co.

1892 "Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Cos. IL" by Biographical Review Pub. Co.
      Pg.238-9: JOHN L. BENNETT, born in McDonough Co. IL, December 13, 1832, is the son of Isaac Bennett, born in NC May 22, 1808. He married in White Co. TN, Mary Lynch, April 8, 1834. She was the daughter of Charles and Mary Lynch. The latter was born August 7, 1814. Her parents, who were farmers, reared eight children, the father dying in TN, at the age of forty-five, her mother in Hancock Co. IL, aged eighty-four years. Grandfather Bennett died in KY in 1831, and his wife in Hancock county at the age of eighty years. She came to Illinois in 1834, her son, Isaac, coming with her. They first settled in McDonough county, coming from Tennessee in ox carts, ...
      (MAD: Isaac Bennett was the son of John Bennett and Rachel Lynch and a nephew of Thomas Duncan and Mary Lynch who mar. 4/21/1790 in Washington Co. TN; "Descendants of John and Rachel Lynch Bennett" by C.W. Bennett, 1954, gave Isaac Bennett's wife as Mary Duncan, daughter of Charles Duncan and Rachel Lynch. However, there was no Charles Lynch in White Co. TN nor a Charles Duncan old enough to have been Mary's father; but both Isaac Bennett and his mother Rachel were purchasers of items from Thomas Duncan's estate in White Co. TN. It is probable that Isaac Bennett's wife was Mary Duncan, daughter of Thomas Duncan but there is no proof.)

1905 "Biographical Review of Des Moines County, Iowa : containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past" pub. by Hobart Pub. Co. (from Ronda Berry 3/1995; and FHL films 1,697,420 item 3 and FHL film 934,938 item 1)
      Pg.511: WESLEY HOWARD. Mr. Howard ... a native of TN, he was born in White Co., Dec. 25, 1825, a son of Ignacius and Mary (Duncan) Howard. Ignacius Howard, a native of eastern TN, was a farmer, following that occupation in TN, and later in IL, whither he removed when his son Wesley was 9 years of age, locating six miles north of La Harpe [Hancock Co. IL]. He remained there only about 18 months, however, at the expiration of which period he again removed, coming to Des Moines Co. IA. In the spring of 1837 he located in Benton Twp, where he purchased a half-section ... erected buildings and established a home for himself and family. Here he resided for a long term of years, but finally removed to Henderson Co. IL where he shortly afterward died at the age of 74 years. His wife, also a native of TN, long survivied him, and died in CA at the advanced age of 91 years. (MAD: ? San Joaquin Co. or Sacramento Co.; Mary Duncan b. 1800 TN per 1850 census of Des Moines Co. IA)
      Wesley Howard obtained his early education in his native State, and later accompanied his parents in their removal to IL and to Des Moines Co. ... In his 26th year he ... purchased a farm of his own ... He resided upon that farm for a number of years, but in 1865 removed to Danville township, where he engaged extensively in general farming and stock-raising for the remainder of his active career. He still owns a fine and very productive farm of 80 acres three miles east of the village of Danville ... He now resides in Danville, where he has a pleasant home ...
      Dec. 4, 1851, Mr. Howard was united in marriage to Miss Charity A. Perry, who was born in Washington Co. PA, accompanying her parents to IA in 1845. She is the dau. of Thomas J.R. and Peggy (Gaston) Perry. (MAD: more on Perry family not copied here) To Mr. and Mrs. Howard have been born 5 children, as follows: Amanda, who died age 21 years; Perry L., now residing on a farm near Hepler, KS, married Miss Laura Van Dyke and has 3 daus. Myrtle, Elsa and Helen; Thomas who died age 4 years; James now residing on his father's farm in Danville twp. ... mar. Miss Hattie Jackson and has 3 children Murle, Grace and Walter; and William, who at age 16 years was drowned in Skunk River while bathing. ....

"Stronghurst Graphic" newspaper, Henderson Co. IL, 19 March 1896; typed copy with note "Found this obit when writing my weekly column and believe it might be some of your Duncans" (copy from Ronda Berry 3/6/1995; original source not given)
      Death of Mrs. Mary Jane Spiker. Miss Mary Jane Duncan was born in White County, Tenn. Oct. 5, 1825, and died at her home in Laharpe, March 16, 1896. She came with her parents to Illinois when she was yet a child and the family settled in McDonough County. She was married to Martin Spiker April 19, 1844, and their married life was spent on the farm ten miles south of Stronghurst until a year ago when they moved to Laharpe. To them seven children were born, one of whom died in infancy. The surviving children are W.L. Spiker of Stronghurst, Albert, James and Frank of Laharpe; Mrs. Francis Freeman and Mrs. Louisa J. Bartlow, both residing near Laharpe. The husband is still living and is 77 years of age.
      The deceased had been in failing health for the last three years but her illness did not assume a serious form until last Saturday. From that time, she sank rapidly and passed away at 4:15 o'clock Monday afternoon. She had been a member of the M.E. Church for a number of years. Funeral services were conducted at Wesley Chapel yesterday by Rev. Holmes of Laharpe.
      (MAD: oldest daughter of John Duncan and Margaret A. Wright; marriage record not found in McDonough, Hancock or Henderson Co. IL although a blank license is listed in the McDonough Co. marriage book a few days before April 19, 1844.)
 

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