LA SALLE CO. IL
HISTORIES before 1923
 

1886 "History of La Salle County, Illinois : and biographies of representative citizens, also a condensed history of Illinois" 2 vols. pub. by Inter-State Publ. Co. (FHL book 977.327 D3h and film 934,996)
      Vol.1, Pg.777, City of La Salle:
      John J. Duncan, dealer in boots and shoes, is the only son of John and Mary (Coffey) Duncan, natives of Ireland. His father came to the United States when a young man, traveling through California, and coming to La Salle, IL, in 1854, and was engaged boating between Joliet and La Salle. He died early in life, Sept. 15, 1861, leaving a widow and two children - Mary T. and John J. our subject. The latter was reared and educated in the city of La Salle, and at the age of twenty years he began clerking in the store of John T. Stewart, dealer in boots and shoes, Chicago, where he remained two months. He then returned to La Salle and established his present business on Main street, where he has a neatly fitted up and well stocked store, carrying everything in his line.
      Nicholas W. Duncan, Superintendent of the Union Coal Company, of Peru, was born in La Salle, La Salle Co. IL, in December, 1856, and is the second son living of Nicholas and Isabella (McBoyle) Duncan. He received his primary education in the schools of his native place, and later spent five years at the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels, at Suspension Bridge, NY, taking the degree of A.B., after which he returned to La Salle and commenced the study of law, which he continued until his father's death, in 1879. His father was one of the original incorporators of what is now the Union Coal Works, and in 1879 Nicholas W. Duncan took charge of the retail department of the coal works, and in 1884 became general manager at the Peru works. Mr. Duncan was married in October, 1882, to Miss Mary A. Stuart, dau. of John Stuart, of La Salle. They have two children, J. Stuart and Nicholas V. He and his wife are members of St. Patrick's Church, of this city.
 

"History of La Salle County, Illinois : its topography, geology, botany, natural history, history of the mound builders, Indian tribes, French explorations : and a sketch of the pioneer settlers of each town to 1840, with an appendix giving the present status of the county, its population, resources, manufactures and institutions" by Elmer Baldwin; pub. Chicago: Rand McNally & Co., printers, 1877, 553 pgs. (LH4483, HeritageQuest images 4/2007; FHL book 977.327 H2b and film 934,995 item 3)
      Pg.381: La Salle (town or Twp.). John Cody, from Ireland, came to La Salle in June, 1837; he married Miss Turney; he is still living; his wife died in 1870. Has three children: James, married Mary Whalen, is now a grocer in La Salle; Bridget, married James Duncan, the present Mayor of La Salle; Ellen, is unmarried.
 

"The Past and present of La Salle County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, general and local statistics, map of La Salle County, history of Illinois, Constitution of the United States, miscellaneous matters, etc, etc." by Louis Clay, Peter Funk, Jacob Schmidt, P T Barnum, et al; pub. Chicago: H.F. Kett & Co., 1877, 649 pgs. (LH4482, HeritageQuest images 4/2007 and 7/2007; FHL book 977.327 H2L index & film 896,959 item 2 and 934,995 item 4)
      Pg.108: War Record ...12th Infantry, Company B. Recruits: Duncan, Samuel, e. Oct. 21, 1864, m.o. May 31, 1865. Duncan, Jas., e. Oct. 21, 1864, m.o. May 31, 1865.
      Pg.304: La Salle (town). Municipal Government. Until the year 1851 ... that year an election was held and the following trustees chosen: Edward D. Davis, Nicholas Duncan, John Allen, Frances La Beau (Bean?), and Wm. Whaley. ... The present mayor is Mr. J.W. Duncan.
 

"Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle and Grundy Counties, Illinois" (anonymous); pub. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1900, 873 pgs. (LH11853) or 870 pgs. (LH11852, HeritageQuest images 4/2007; FHL film 934,998 items 1-2)
      Pg.535-536: John J. Larkin, D.D.S. ... engaged in practice in LaSalle, is a native of Streator, his birth having occurred May 27, 1870. His grandfathers were both natives of Ireland. ... The father of our subject, Thomas Larkin, came to the US ... some 35 or 40 years ago ... the mother, whose maiden name was Delia Conness, is a native of Illinois. Of their six sons and four daughters ... Dr. John J., of LaSalle. ... On the 5th of November, 1898, Dr. Larkin married Miss Isabella M. Duncan, daughter of Hon. and Mrs. James Walter Duncan, whose home is chiefly in Chicago. Mr. Duncan at one time was a member of the Illinois senate. On November 1st, 1899, a son, Walter Duncan Larkin, was born. ...
 

"History of La Salle County, Illinois" by U.J. Hoffman; pub. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1906, 1177 pgs. (LH5450, HeritageQuest images 4/2007; FHL film 825,502 and 934,997 item 3)
      "Running title: Past and present of La Salle County"
      Pg.247-248: WILLIAM D. DUNCAN, proprietor of a well equipped drug store at No.717 La Salle street, Ottawa, began business here in 1892 and as the years have passed has gained a foremost place among the representative merchants of the city. He is one of La Salle county's native sons, having been born within its borders in 1859. His father, James Duncan, is yet a resident of La Salle, while his brother, John H. Duncan, is a shoe merchant of that city. The father has been a resident of the county for a half century or more and is one of the representative pioneer residents of this part of the state, who has stood for improvement and progress in all lines relating to the general welfare.
            William D. Duncan left school at the early age of nine years and began earning his own livelihood in the employ of Dr. Francis Bry, of La Salle. He afterward took up the study of medicine under the Doctor's direction, ... Subsequently he entered the drug store of Leo Loefler and afterward was employed by W.B. Hummer, thus gaining broad practical experience in the trade. He began business on his own account as a member of the firm of Hummer & Duncan, a relation that was maintained for three years. He afterward ... he began business on his own account on La Salle street in 1892 as a member of the firm of Duncan & Perkins. This relation was continued until September, 1900, when Mr. Perkins died and since January, 1901, Mr. Duncan has been sole proprietor of the business. ... He prepares a remedy known as Duncan's 32 Calibre for colds, neuralgia, headache and la grippe. This remedy is well known throughout the county and has become a household word. It is manufactured exclusively by Mr. Duncan, who receives orders also from other states and for other supplies and remedies. His daughter, Jennie, is an assistant pharmacist.
            Mr. Duncan was married in Peru, Illinois, to Miss Maggie Schulte, of that town. Her father, Fred Schulte, was an early resident of Peru and was engaged in the hotel business there when it was a small place. Their daughter, Jennie, attended the Northwestern College of Pharmacy in order to perfect herself in a work with which she had already become familiar and she has passed the registered examination. In politics Mr. Duncan is a republican ... Knights of Phythias lodge and other fraternal organizations. ...
      Pg.257-258: JOHN STUART, on the roll of honored dead in La Salle county, business & political circles in the city of La Salle ... born 24 June 1826 in a little hamlet in county Roscommon, Ireland. ... In 1847 to cross Atlantic, first settled in Vermont, after 3 years to La Salle where he resided continuously for 55 years. In 1872, in conjunction with Nicholas Duncan and Lawrence Christopher, he sank the Union coal shaft ... On December 3, 1854, was celebrated the marriage of John Stuart and Margaret Glynn, ... separated by the death of the wife on the 2d of January, 1894. They had two daughters: Mary Ann, now the wife of N.W. Duncan; and Eliza J. Stuart, who was her father's constant companion and aid in the evening of life. ... He died September 30, 1905, age 79 years.
      Pg.287-288: THOMAS F. DOYLE, attorney of La Salle, born in Dimmick township, this county, in 1873; ... Thomas F. admitted to bar in 1895 and commenced practice as a partner of V.J. Duncan, of Ottawa, Illinois, under the firm name of Duncan & Doyle. In 1902 ... change in firm name ... city attorney of La Salle. He was first elected in 1901 and his present term expires in 1907. He acted as assistant when V.J. Duncan was state's attorney of La Salle county, and he ... In 1900 Mr. Duncan (MAD: as given) was married in Ottawa to Miss Elizabeth Sinnott, a daughter of William Sinnott of that city and they have two children, Francis Joseph and Mary Katherine, both born in La Salle. Mr. Doyle is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, ...
      Pg.712,715: THOMAS LARKIN, farmer of Eagle Township, living on Section 28, ... cultivation from 1862 until about 1903 when he retired ... Born County Galway, Ireland, in 1828, and came with his father to America in 1849, ... to La Salle county in 1862. ... Mr. Larkin married Miss Delia Conness in Eagle township in 1863 ... The home of Mr. and Mrs. Larkin has been blessed with ten children, all of whom were born in La Salle county, and six are yet living. ... Four children of the family have departed this life, one of whom was John J. Larkin, D.D.S., who died three years ago in La Salle, where he was practicing dentistry. He was a graduate of the dental department of the Northwestern University, and he left a widow, who was the daughter of Hon. J.W. Duncan, of Chicago, and he had a child by that marriage. ... (MAD: Chicago, Cook Co. IL)
      Pg.760-761: SILAS W. WILLIAMS, of La Salle county, born Albany, New York, on 22d of March, 1841, [son of Cyril] ... The grandfather, James R. Williams, was one of the valiant defenders of the American cause in the Revolution. ... For many years the ancestral home of the family was maintained in Rhode Island and it was in Providence that Cyril Williams was born in 1801. Six years later, however, the family removed to Vermont, ... Having arrived at years of maturity, Cyril Williams married Catherine Wetherbee, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, a daughter of Caleb Wetherbee and a granddaughter of Nathan and Elizabeth (Duncan) Wetherbee, also of the Bay state. Nathan Wetherbee served as a soldier of the Revolution. ... (MAD: Fitchburg, Worcester Co. MA)
      Pg.787-788: NICHOLAS WISEMAN DUNCAN, president of the La Salle State Bank, was born in La Salle on the site now occupied by the public library, December 11, 1856, his parents being Nicholas and Isabella (McBoyle) Duncan, the former a stone-cutter and contractor. His education was acquired in St. Patrick's Academy at La Salle and the Niagara University in Niagara county, New York, being graduated from the latter institution in the class of 1878. Returning to his native city he has since been closely associated with its business and financial interests. ... He was in charge of the retail sales department of the Union Coal Company from 1879 until 1884, and was general manager for the same company from 1884 until 1894. In the latter year he entered actively into financial circles as organizer in the La Salle State Bank, of which he was cashier from that time until 1905. In October 1905, he was elected president to succeed John Stuart, deceased, and is at the head of one of the substantial financial concerns of the county, ...
            On the 24th of October, 1882, in La Salle, Mr. Duncan was married to Miss Mary Ann Stuart, a daughter of John and Margaret Stuart, and they have three sons and a daughter: Stuart, Nicholas V., Mary I. and Walter Duncan. The parents are communicants of St. Patrick's Catholic church, and Mr. Duncan has since 1893 served as treasurer of the schools of township 33, range 1, La Salle County, ...
      Pg.1011-1012: JAMES WALTER DUNCAN. James W. Duncan, whose intense and well directed energy was manifest in his practice as a member of the Illinois bar, and who had to the time of his death a distinctively representative clientage in Chicago, where he made his home, was a native son of La Salle county, his birth having occurred in the city of La Salle on the 18th of January, 1849. His parents were Nicholas and Isabella (McBoyle) Duncan, the former a native of County Mayo, Ireland, and the latter of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The father was a contractor and thus became closely identified with industrial interests in La Salle. He also served as mayor of that city for years and his civic virtue and his intelligent and honest administration made him a valued official.
            In his boyhood days James W. Duncan attended the public schools of La Salle through the winter seasons and largely devoted the summer months to farming his father's lands. He also attended the Christian Brothers College and in 1867 entered Niagara University,... graduation in June, 1870. The same year he entered upon the study of law in the office of E. Follett Bull, at La Salle, and the following year was admitted to the bar. He then formed a partnership with Harman D. Follett, under the firm name of Follett & Duncan, which firm continued at La Salle as successors of Mr. Bull, who had removed to Ottawa. After about a year, however, Mr. Follett was compelled by failing health to seek another climate and Mr. Duncan practiced alone until 1876, when Andrew J. O'Conor ... became a partner ... In 1882 Mr. Duncan removed to Ottawa, offices were maintained in both cities by the firm until 1888 - the year of Mr. Duncan's removal to Chicago. ... 1897, the partnership being dissolved, Mr. Duncan continued alone to the time of his death. .... In 1873 he was elected mayor of La Salle, and was twice re-elected ....
            Mr. Duncan was married in La Salle, November 25, 1872, to Miss B.M. Cody, a daughter of John and Margaret Cody. Two children were born of this marriage: Edgar V. Duncan, whose birth occurred September 14, 1873; and Isabelle M., born December 22, 1874. Mrs. James W. Duncan departed this life October 11, 1898, in Chicago, and on the 16th of July, 1901, Mr. Duncan married Mrs. M.E. Barnet. Mr. Duncan departed this life at his home in Chicago on July 21, 1906, leaving his widow and children surviving. Catholic, ... (MAD: Chicago, Cook Co. IL)
      Pg.1029-1030: VINCENT J. DUNCAN, accorded by the consensus of public opinion a prominent position at the La Salle county bar, was born in the city of La Salle, December 1, 1861, a son of Nicholas and Isabella Duncan, the former a contractor and builder. His early educational privileges were supplemented by the study in Niagara University at Niagara, New York, graduation June, 1882. ... University of Michigan, in 1883, alumnus of the class in 1885, in which year he entered upon active practice in La Salle, where he remained until December, 1892. He was then elected to the office of states attorney and removed to Ottawa, where he has since remained, .... He is now vice president of the La Salle State Bank and a member of the firm of Duncan Brothers & Carlin, private bankers at Utica, Illinois. On the 7th of January, 1886, Mr. Duncan was married at Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Miss Frances A. Devany, who was born in Ann Arbor in 1862 and is a graduate of St.Mary's convent at Monroe, Michigan. Mr. Duncan has been connected with the Modern Woodmen since 1888 and with the Knights of Columbus since 1903. Democrat in his political views, and in the Roman Catholic church. ... (MAD: Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Co. MI)
 

"History of McHenry County, Illinois" by special authors and contributors; pub. Chicago: Munsell Pub. Co., 1922, 1076 pgs. (LH12098, HeritageQuest images 4/2007; FHL film 1,000,504)
      Chapter IV, Land Titles, by George W. Lemmers. ... Pg.38-43:
About 4,000 acres of land in McHenry County and also in Boone and Winnebago, just over the county lines. William Taylor was sent to the country from Scotland to buy land and died here after many peculiar experiences. The language of the documents left in the recorder's office of McHenry County .... The first document bares no date of execution, but is a power-of-attorney given by David Chalmers, William Littlejohn, George Yeates, Robert Catto, Peter Williamson, Alex Fonlerton, Alexander Smith, Charles Chalmers, and Nathaniel Farquhar to one Alexander Ferguson to act as the agent for what was known as the North American Investment and Loan Company, of which they were the directors.
      The power of attorney (MAD's extract) that by contract dated 8th and 10th of May 1839, between parties of the first part as named above, and William Taylor who has since deceased, it was agreed that the directors of the company having engaged the said William Taylor as Manager of the Company's business in America for five years, Taylor to go to North America, and invest Two Thousand Pounds Sterling in the original Capital Stock of the company, and Taylor makes over to the company for the time being the whole property of whatever description which he may afterwards acquire in North America, ... that Taylor did go to the United States and purchased sundry tracts or parcels of land in the State of Illinois, and that titles to the land were taken by William Taylor in his own name and so remain of record, and that the said William Taylor has since departed this life; therefore this indenture made and entered into in 1844 between the parties of the first part and Alexander Ferguson, all the title to lands not already conveyed by deed from William Taylor to the parties above. And the parties direct that the executors, administrators or heirs at law of the said William Taylor, deceased, to convey to the said Alexander Ferguson whatever legal title they acquired to the lands. The parties appoint Alexander Ferguson their agent and attorney in fact. ... Document was acknowledged December 31, 1844, in City of Aberdeen, Kingdom of Great Britain.
      Conveyance by commissioner's deed which indicates that some litigation followed William Taylor ... (MAD's extract) Deed recites that, whereas David Chalmers, William Littlejohn, George Yeats, Robert Catto, Peter Williamson, Alexander Fonlerton, Alexander Smith, Charles Chalmers and Nathan Farquhar, as Directors of the Aberdeen North American Investment and Loan Company, on the 8th of February 1845 filed their bill of Complaint on the Chancery side of the said Circuit Court of Winnebago County against Isabella Taylor, George Taylor, William Primrose, and Elizabeth Primrose, his wife, George Porter and Elspet, his wife, Alexander Ferguson and the unknown heirs and devisees of James Duncan, deceased, therein setting forth, among other things, that one William Taylor, late of the City of St. Louis, deceased, as agent of the Complainant in the Bill of Complaint named, ... but in his own name, purchased all the tracts and parcels of land ... described. That after the purchase of the land, William Taylor died seized of the legal title, but as Trustee for the said Complainant, leaving as his heirs at law Isabella Taylor, George Taylor, Elizabeth Primrose, wife of William Primrose, Elspet Porter, wife of George Porter; that William Taylor in his (pg.42) last Will and Testament, devised all his real estate to Alexander Ferguson aforesaid and to James Duncan, now deceased, but then of the City of New Orleans, in said State of Louisiana; that after the admission of said Will to Probate the said James Duncan had died and that the names of his heirs and devisees were unknown to said Complainants; that the said Complainants also therein praying that the said Court of Chancery would decree the said Isabella Taylor, Geogre (MAD: sic) Taylor, William Primrose and Elizabeth, his wife; George Porter and Elspet, his wife; Alexander Ferguson and the unknown Heirs and Devisees of James Duncan, deceased, that each and every of them to convey and release by Deed the said several tracts of land to Alexander Ferguson, or to such other person or persons as the said Complainants might ... On the 21st day of April at the April term of said Court in the said year 1845, such proceedings were had that the said Court... fully established the said trusts in the said William Taylor in his life time and after his death in the said Isabella Taylor, George Taylor, William Primrose and Elizabeth, his wife, George Porter and Elspet, his wife, and the unknown Heirs and Devisees of James Duncan, deceased, by the 24th of April, aforesaid, by good and sufficient Deeds of Conveyance, to convey and release to the said Alexander Ferguson ... On the 26th day of April, by further order and decree of said Court ... appointed a Special Commissioner to make the deed. (MAD: see Winnebago and LaSalle Co. IL court case)
 

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