LOUISA CO. IA
HISTORIES before 1923
 

1911 "History of Louisa Co. IA From Its Earliest Settlement to 1911" Vol.II, by Arthur Springer, pub. by S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. (FHL book 977.7926 H2s; FHL film 924,762)
      Pg.230: JAMES A. DUNCAN. A highly successful and well known stockman of Louisa county is James A. Duncan, who was born in Seaton [Mercer Co.], IL, on the 20th of November, 1879. His parents, A.L. and Lucinda C. (Gilmore) Duncan, were natives of PA and OH respectively. The father is a prominent stockman of western IL ... He was also one of the organizers of the Oakville State Savings Bank ... In his family were six sons and one daughter: Leemoine G., (later called a son) a resident of Seaton, IL; Mary A., who married William Keating, of Seaton; Fred T., who is residing in Gainesville, Texas; James A., our subject; John K., of Dallas, Texas; and Frank L. and Harland H., also residents of Seaton. ....
      Pg.240: JAMES CARSON DUNCAN ... Columbus City township. A native of Louisa county, Mr. Duncan is a representative of a family which was established in this county at an early day. He was born on the 8th of April, 1868, a son of John Calvin and Sarah Jane (Tedford) Duncan, early settlers of this district. The father was born in Monroe Co. TN, on the 6th of September, 1845, a son of John and Rachel (Duncan) Duncan, also natives of the Volunteer state, who came to Louisa Co. IA, in 1846. ... In their family were ten children but only three sons now survive, namely: Francis M., of Union township, Louisa county; Robert Nelson, of Columbus City; and John Calvin, father of our subject. The latter was but sixteen years of age when, in September, 1861, he volunteered for service in the Civil war ... John Calvin Duncan was twice married. On the 20th of April, 1867, he wedded Miss Sarah Jane Tedford, who passed away at the early age of thirty-two years. .... After the death of his first wife Mr. Duncan was united in marriage, on the 20th of April, 1881, to Miss Martha Sands, a daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah (McCall) Sands, natives of Tennessee. (more on Sands family)
      Pg.311: CHARLES L. DUNCAN ... was born in Louisa county, on the 18th of August, 1867, being the second son of Samuel H. and Sarah E. (Edwards) Duncan. The father, when a chid of five years, migrated from his native state of Tennessee to Iowa with his parents. ... Unto them were born nine children: J.K.; Charles L.; R.L.; Oscar E.; Guy and (page cut off).ry, twins; Grace Adela; one who died in infancy; and Clyde, deceased. ....
      Pg.342: SAMUEL H. DUNCAN ... was born in TN on the 28th of October, 1838, his parents being J.K. and Margaret (Johnson) Duncan. In the early '40s they removed westward, being among the pioneer settlers of Iowa, where they passed the latter days of their lives. Unto them were born six children as follows: Catherine E.; Samuel H.; Sarah J.; R.F., who is a resident of Columbus Junction; Isabel; and J.J., who is also living in Columbus Junction. Being but a lad of five years when his parents settled in Iowa Samuel H. Duncan .... On the 5th of November, 1863, Mr. Duncan was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Edwards, ....
      Pg.384: WILLIAM NELSON DUNCAN ... was born in Louisa county, on the 26th of March, 1870. His parents are F.M. and Elizabeth (Sands) Duncan, the father a native of Pennsylvania (sic) and the mother of Iowa. They came to Louisa county in 1847, settling on a farm west of Columbus City, where they continued to reside for many years. Unto them were born eight children, as follows: J. Carter, a resident of Columbus Junction; Melvin, who is deceased; William Nelson; Ida M., the wife of Harry Edwards, of Louisa county; Harrison, who is residing in this county; Frank, who makes his home in Columbus Junction; Earl, deceased; and Jessie, who is also a resident of Louisa county. ....
      Pg.417: JOSEPH K. DUNCAN ... His birth occurred in this county on the 31st of December, 1864, his parents being S.H. and Elizabeth (Edwards) Duncan, natives of Tennessee. The father came to Louisa county in 1842, when a little lad of five years, and has remained within its borders continuously since, still residing on a farm in Union township. Unto him and his wife were born nine children, seven of whom yet survive. ....
      Pg.498: FRANCIS M. DUNCAN. He was born in Monroe Co. TN, on the 8th of July, 1838, and is a son of John and Rachel G. (Duncan) Duncan, natives of Tennessee, but the father was of Irish extraction his father having come from the Emerald Isle. The family removed to Iowa from Tennessee in 1846, arriving in Louisa county on the 10th of May. They settled in the vicinity of Columbus Junction, .... continuing to reside there until he passed away at the age of seventy-five years. The demise of the mother occurred in 1864, at the age of fifty-five. In their family were ten children, namely: Mary, Joseph C., James C. and Nancy, all of whom are deceased; Francis M., our subject; James M., who is deceased; John Calvin, who is a resident of Columbus City; Nelson, living in the same place; and Caroline and Madison Blair, both deceased. As he was only a lad of seven years when the family settled in Louisa county Francis M. Duncan .... On the 13th of October, 1864, Mr. Duncan was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Sands, a daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah Sands. ....
      Pg.551: ROBERT F. DUNCAN ... was here born on the 24th of August, 1844. His parents were J. Kennedy and Margaret (Johnson) Duncan, natives of Tennessee, who on coming to Iowa in 1840 settled in Louisa county where the father entered land from the government. ... Unto him (J.K. Duncan) and his wife were born eight children: Catharine, now deceased; S.H., a resident of Louisa county; Sarah J., who has also passed away; Robert F.; Isabella J., the widow of J.W. Oates of Columbus Junction; J.J., also living in Columbus Junction; and twins who died in infancy. ....
      Pg.553: R.H. DUNCAN. He was born in the township where he now resides on the --1st of December, 1874, and is a son of F.M. and Elizabeth (Sands) Duncan, the father a native of Pennsylvania (sic) and the mother of Iowa. The parents came to Louisa county in 1847 and settled on a farm west of Columbus City. To them were born eight children: J. Carter, a resident of Columbus Junction; Melvin, deceased; William Nelson, an agriculturist of Union township; Ida M., the wife of Harry Edwards, also of this county; R.H., our subject; Frank, who is living in Columbus Junction; Earl, deceased; and Jesse, also a resident of this county. ....
 

1889 "Portrait and biographical album of Louisa County, Iowa : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county" pub. by Acme Pub. Co. (CA State Library, Sutro branch, microfilm 63, reel 27, and FHL film 934,952)
      Pg.279-80: ANDREW DUNCAN, deceased, an honored pioneer of Louisa Co. IA, was born in Washington Co. TN March 9, 1787. His parents were of Scotch-Irish descent and were strict Presbyterians. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and removed to Blount Co. TN at an early day. Mr. Duncan was twice married, his first wife being Miss Wallace, by whom he had one son, Joseph, who moved to MO and there died some years ago. He was subsequently united in marriage to Miss Margaret Alexander, a daughter of Francis Alexander and a native of TN. Mrs. Duncan's ancestors were from Scotland, and her birth occurred Nov. 16, 1809. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, 4 sons and 7 daughters: Janet, the widow of William Allen, resides in Washington Co. IA; Eliza was the wife of Samuel Edmondson, and both are now deceased; Mary A. wedded James Harmon, now living in Columbus City, IA; Francis A. was twice married, his first wife being Miss Mary A. Shaw, and his present wife Miss Ella Easton; he has served in the Assembly and Senate of the Iowa Legislature, is a farmer by occupation, and resides at Columbus Junction. (See his sketch description elsewhere in this work). James A. married Miss Melinda Duncan and resides in Columbus City Township; Margaret was the wife of Calvin Ritchie, and both are now dead; Nancy is the wife of Thomas Baird of Wayne Co. IA; Lucinda wedded Frank Moore of Columbus City Twp; Russell married Miss Catherine Johnson, and resides in Wayne Co. IA; Lovinia was the wife of James Atchison, but is now deceased; Samuel married Miss Mary Duncan; he was a soldier of the late war, being a member of Co. C, 11th IA Infantry, and resides in Wayne Co. IA.
            Mr. Duncan was engaged in farming in TN until 1844, when, in company with his wife and children, he emigrated from their TN home to IA. Several of his daughters were married at the time, and their families, together with a few friends, made up quite a colony. Their manner of conveyance was by flatboat down the TN River to the Ohio, thence to the MS, where they took a steamer to their destination. They landed at Port Louisa IA on a dark, rainy night, the 13th of April, 1844. The river was swollen by the spring freshets and a landing was effected with considerable difficulty and great discomfort. On reaching shore, they found that there was not sufficient house room at the port to accommodate their party and protect their goods. A temporary shelter for the latter was made of loose boards and the party crowded themselves into the limited space afforded them. Mr. Duncan and family effected a settlement at Columbus City, Louisa Co., where they spent the first year of their settlement in IA, but the following spring moved to their claims on sections 33 and 34 of that township. Each member of the little colony who was legally qualified made a claim and secured a home. A few of the older ones and many of the descendants of others are still residents of Louisa Co. ...
      Pg.496-7: GEORGE W. DUNCAN, a progressive farmer residing on section 5, Union Twp, and a prominent citizen of Louisa Co., was born in Blount Co. TN Aug. 26, 1828. His parents, James and Mary (Mitchell) Duncan, were also natives of that State, and the father died when our subject was six years of age. He was a farmer by occupation and was called to his final home when in his fifty-first year. Mrs. Duncan, the mother of our subject, died in 1860, at the age of 72. They were both members of the Associate Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Duncan was an Elder, and one of the liberal contributors and earnest workers. His family of nine children all grew to manhood and womanhood: Andrew who died at the age of 60 years in Crawford Co. IL; William who died at the age of 63 in Wayne Co. IA; Jane widow of George McKay is living in Union Twp, Louisa Co.; James K. died in Crawford Co. IL at the age of 60; Samuel d. in this county, where he was one of the early settlers, at the age of 45; Elizabeth, wife of John C. Ritchie of Columbus City, died in 1849; Martha, wife of Mathew Edmondson of Union twp, died age 45; John, who went to TX in 1844, has not been heard of since the war with Mexico; George W. is the youngest of the family.
            In 1854 our subject came to Columbus City, IA, here working at the painter's trade for one year, after which he broke prairie for three years and subsequently entered 160 acres of land on section 5, Union Twp, which has been his home for 34 years. ...
            On the 2d of November, 1854, in Louisa Co. IA, the marriage of our subject and Miss Keziah J. Duncan, a native of TN and a daughter of John C. Duncan, was celebrated. Their union has been blessed with a family of ten children: John C., born July 23, 1855, is now a resident farmer of Union Twp; James J. born Oct. 6, 1857, also lives in Union Twp; Rebecca A. born Feb. 2, 1860, died when 3 years of age; Mary L. born Dec. 11, 1862, died June 6, 1888; U.S.G., born April 26, 1865, died on the 6th of Sept. of the same year; Laura M., b. July 4, 1866, died at the age of 16; Anola J. born Dec. 25, 1868, died the following February; Maggie L., born Dec. 26, 1870, is at home; William I. born July 10, 1873, is also at home; Minnie G., born Aug. 5, 1876, died July 10, 1879. The mother of these children died in 1880, and Mr. Duncan was again married in March, 1885, becoming the husband of Maggie Edmondson, daughter of William Edmondson whose sketch will be found on another page of this book ....
      Pg.503-4: FRANCIS MARION DUNCAN is one of the early settlers of Louisa Co. of 1846, and now resides upon a farm on Sec. 10, Union Twp. He was born in Monroe Co. TN in 1838, and is a son of John and Rachel Duncan, who were natives of Blount Co. The father was a farmer by occupation, and in 1846 emigrated to Louisa Co. IA with his family, settling in Columbus City Twp, where he purchased 290 acres of partly improved land, making his home upon that farm until his death, which occurred in May, 1876. His wife died in September 1864. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are now living: Mary, wife of Matthew Edmondson of Ainsworth, IA; Joseph Carter who died in September 1864; Jane C., deceased wife of David McLaughlin, of Washington Co.; Nancy A., widow of Reuben Hammil of Washington Co.; Francis Marion, of this sketch; Elizabeth C. who is the wife of David C. Hammil also of Washington Co.; John Calvin who is engaged in farming in Columbus City Twp; Robert Nelson, a farmer near Columbus City.
            The parents were members of the Seceders Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Duncan held the office of an Elder. ... Republican (moved from TN because abolitionist).
            At the age of 22 years our subject began working for himself and assumed the management of the home farm, but being afflicted with sore eyes he went to Agency City, Wapello Co., there remaining under medical treatment for 3 months, but had the misfortune to lose the sight of one of his eyes altogether. He subsequently purchased 320 acres of raw land in Washington Co. in 1863, ... but the following year sold out and removed to the farm upon which he yet resides, buying 160 acres of prairie and 37-1/2 acres of timber land. As time passed he has added to this until he now owns 340 acres ...
            In the month of October, 1864, Mr. Duncan was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth P. Sands, a native of TN and a daughter of Nathaniel Sands. Eight children graced their union: Joseph Carter; Melvin, who died at the age of 3 years; William N., Ida Luella, Reuben H., Francis M., Earl E. and Jesse W. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan are members of the United Presbyterian Church ... Republican ...
      Pg.529: JAMES R. DUNCAN, one of the prominent and representative farmers of Louisa Co., was born on Sec. 10 of Union Twp where he still continues to reside. His parents, G.B. and Ann S. Duncan, were natives of TN, and came to this county in an early day, settling in Union Twp, where the father entered a quarter section of land, which is now in the possession of our subject. The history of the Duncan family will be found in the sketch of S.H. Duncan on another page of this work. For 45 years it has been a leading family of the county, and its members are among the honored and respected citizens. ... In the month of April, 1880, he became the husband of Mary E. McAvoy, a native of Washington Co. IA and a daughter of William McAvoy. To this happy couple has been born an interesting family of three children -- Ethel, Della and Harry. ... Democrat.
      Pg.533: Hon. FRANCIS ALEXANDER DUNCAN, a prominent farmer and an early settler of Louisa Co., was born in Blount Co. TN, June 9, 1824, and is the son of Andrew and Margaret (Alexander) Duncan. His father was born in Washington Co. TN, March 9, 1787, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. His mother was born in TN Nov. 16, 1809, and was of Scotch descent.
            Francis Duncan was reared upon a farm, receiving a common-school education, and emigrated from TN to IA with his parents and a colony made up largely of members of his own family, landing at Port Louisa April 13, 1844. The party consisted of seven families, mostly the children and grandchildren of Mr. Duncan's parents. The first year was spent at Columbus City, and the following spring all the members of the party who were legally qualified took claims in the adjoining country. Mr. Duncan, Sr., had some Government land warrants, which he and his son Francis A. used in securing a portion of their land. Francis A. now owns three farms aggregating 400 acres, and lying in the township of Columbus City. A part of this land consists of the original tracts entered from the Government by his father and himself on Sections 33 and 34, Columbus City Twp.
            In November, 1847, Mr. Duncan was united in marriage with Miss Mary Adeline Shaw, daughter of Francis Shaw, and a native of Blount Co. TN. Five children were born of their union, three sons and two daughters: Thomas Leander, who wedded Miss Mary Duncan, is a farmer of Columbus City Twp; James J. is a graduate of Monmouth College, IL, and is a teacher; Sherman resides on the old homestead farm; Elizabeth A., wife of Robert A. Hutton, of Washington Co. IA; Marietta, wife of Frank A. Edmondson, of Union Twp, this county. Mrs. Duncan, who was an earnest Christian woman, died in October, 1858, and Mr. Duncan was again married at Putnam, NY, in November, 1860, Miss Ella Easton ---- and a native of Putnam, Washington Co. NY. They have three sons: Victor L., Frank and George. ....
      Pg.581-2: S.H. DUNCAN, a farmer residing on section 22, Columbus City Twp, is a native of Blount Co. TN and a son of George B. and Ann S. Duncan. Accompanied by his family, the father, who was a native of Washington Co. TN, emigrated to Louisa Co. IA in 1843. To him and his excellent wife were born ten children: A.L. who is a guard at the State Penitentiary at Anamosa, IA and who during 4 years of the late war gallantly defended the old flag as a member of Co. C, 11th IA Infantry, participating in all the battles of the regiment until after the battle of Atlanta, where he was wounded; Samuel H., our subject; John C., a railroad employee living at Creston, Iowa; Mary J., wife of Robert Owens of Columbus Junction; Sarah A. who wedded A.H. Parsons, also of Columbus Junction; Elizabeth, wife of W.H. Ogier of Union, James R., a resident farmer of Columbus City Twp; Isabel, wife of R.N. Johnston of Columbus City Twp; Emma who wedded Joseph Weir, a resident of Mitchell Co. KS; Joseph C. whose home is in Rooks Co. of that State. The parents of these children were members of the Seceders Church, though afterward the father was an Elder in the Reformed Presbyterian Church. ... Mr. Duncan was a Democrat ... Ever a leading and influential citizen in the community where he resided, his death, which occurred in January, 1874, at the age of 58 years, was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. His wife died five years later, at the age of 62. ...
            Samuel H. Duncan, the subject of this sketch, was born in Blount Co. TN, June 30, 1843, but the following autumn came to Louisa Co. with his parents and here he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the district schools. In the month of August, 1862, when only seventeen years of age, he enlisted as one of the boys in blue of the 25th IA Infantry, becoming a member of Co. F. ....
            After receiving his discharge, Mr. Duncan ... 60 acres of land on Section 22, Columbus City Twp, and by his own efforts, his enterprise and good management, has added other lands until he now has 176 acres ... In 1868 Mr. Duncan was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Tedford, who was born in TN and is a daughter of Joseph Tedford, also a native of that state. Five children were born unto them: Addie died in childhood; Anna L., Nevada M., George N., and Clyde J., are all at home. The parents and also their daughters are members of the United Presbyterian Church. ... Democrat ...
 

1901 "Portrait and biographical record of Oklahoma : commemorating the achievements of citizens who have contributed to the progress of Oklahoma and the development of its resources" pub. by Chapman Pub. Co. (CA State Library, Sutro Branch, film M60, reel 2; FHL book 976.6 D3p and FHL films 547,089 and 874,324 and 1,000,354 item 2; no birth dates given in these biographies)
      Pg.362-3: PROF. JAMES J. DUNCAN, superintendent of the school for Arapahoe Indians, at Darlington, Canadian Co., has been very successful in his chosen field of labor and has been recognized as one of the leading educators of the west for a number of years ...
            A native of Louisa Co. IA, he is a son of Hon. F.A. and Mary A. (Shaw) Duncan, who resided upon a farm. In his boyhood our subject lived in the country and attended the district schools ... after being graduated in the academy at Washington, IA, he entered Monmouth (IL) College. ... He commenced teaching when he was but 19 years of age, and continued to devote a portion of his time to this practical work while he was in college. (MAD: Francis A. Duncan m. Mary A. Shaw 11/27/1846 in Louisa Co. IA)
            In 1891 Prof. Duncan was tendered the position of teacher of agriculture at Knoxville (TN) College, and during the three years of his connection he further qualified himself for his duties by taking a course of training in the Agricultural College at Ames, IA. (sic) While there he became acquainted with James Wilson, president of the experimental station, and who subsequently became secretary of the interior. Mr. Wilson had been a friend and colleague of the young man's father during the 8 years of the latter's service in the IA house of representatives and senate.
            For the past 6 years the professor has devoted his attention to the educating of the Indians ... For a period of three years he was a member of the faculty of Ft. Lewis College, and thence he went to Pottawatomie, KS, ... for about a year. Coming to OK in 1897 ...
 

1886 "Biographical and historical record of Wayne and Appanoose counties, Iowa : containing a condensed history of the state of Iowa, portraits and biographies of the governors, personal histories of many of the leading families" pub. by Inter-State Pub. Co. (FHL book 977.78 D3b and film 1,000,023 item 4)
      Pg.274-275: Wayne County. JAMES C. DUNCAN, residing on section 6, Warren Township, is a son of William M. and Eliza A. (Edmondson) Duncan, and a grandson of James and Mary Duncan. The parents had a family of ten children, seven of whom are living -- Mrs. Janet Shaw, James C., Mrs. Mary E. Duncan, Andrew H., Mrs. Eliza A. Edmondson, Mrs. Martha E. Abel and George W., all being residents of Wayne County except George W., who lives in Nebraska. In 1851 the parents removed with their family, which then consisted of nine children, to Louisa County, Iowa, and in 1868 located in Wayne County, on section 6, Warren Township, where the father lived till his death in 1873. His widow still resides on the homestead farm. (MAD: 1850 Blount Co. TN census)
      James C. Duncan, whose name heads this sketch, was born in East Tennessee, October 13, 1835, his father being a native of the same State. He came to Iowa with his parents in 1851, and September, 1861, enlisted in Company C, Eleventh Iowa Infantry. He received a severe gunshot wound in the elbow of his right arm on the first day of the battle of Shiloh, which resulted in the amputation of his arm a few days later, receiving his discharge September 15 of the same year. He has made agricultural pursuits the principal avocation of his life, and notwithstanding the misfortune which happened to him while in the service of his country, he has been a successful farmer. He came to Wayne County in the fall of 1867, and has resided on his present farm since the spring of 1868, having broken the first eighty acres of his land almost entirely without assistance.
      Mr. Duncan was first married to Nancy J. Johnston, a daughter of George B. Johnston. She died June 27, 1870, leaving two children -- William F. and George A. He was again married, taking for his present wife Mary S. Johnston, a daughter of Francis H. and Jane (Ferguson) Johnston. Three children have been born to this union -- Freddie H., Robert J. and Marietta. The latter died aged ten months. Politically Mr. Duncan is a Republican ... both he and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian church.
      Mrs. Duncan's parents were both born, reared and married in Tennessee, and in that State their eleven children were born. They came to Iowa, locating in Louisa County, in the fall of 1856, leaving their native State and the parents of Mr. Duncan, because of the existence of slavery. They made their home in Louisa County till their death, the death of the father taking place December 24, 1882, at the age of eighty years, the mother dying in her seventy-sixth year. Eight of their children still survive -- James H., John N., Mrs. Robert Orr, Mrs. Esther McConnell, Thomas J. (who served with Mr. Duncan in the Eleventh Iowa Infantry), Mrs. Margaret L. Tedford, Mrs. Mary S. Duncan and Mrs. Sarah I. Duncan, Mrs. Mary S. Duncan being the only one now residing in Wayne County.
      Pg.353: ANDREW R. DUNCAN, section 31, Benton Township, was born in Blount Co. TN, October 21, 1834. His father, Andrew Duncan, moved with his family to Louisa County, Iowa, in the spring of 1844, and there died in June, 1848. Our subject was reared to agricultural pursuits, ... He came to Iowa with his parents when ten years old, and in the spring of 1867 removed to Wayne County, and the following fall located on the farm where he now lives, ... Mr. Duncan was married January 20, 1859, to Catherine Johnson, a native of Monroe Co. TN, daughter of George B. Johnson, an early settler of Warren Township, Wayne County. They have had a family of six children but four of whom are living -- Emma, Rosa, Ella and Leonard. Emma is the wife of George Bell, of Warren Township, and has one child -- Edith. Mr. Duncan has served his township as trustee two terms.
 

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