Duncan research files of |
1830 Vigo Co. IN Census Pg.72 Jerre Duncan 0000,01 - 0000,1 1840 Vigo Co. IN Census, Otter Creek Pg.(835) O.M. Dunkane/Dunham? 2000,01 - 0100,01 419 John J. Duncan 2010,0100,01 - 0300,1 (MAD: John I. Duncan in 1850 Barry Co. MO census, son of Wyatt Godfrey Duncan from Amherst Co. VA)
1850 Vigo Co. IN Census
Lost Creek
Pg.168, #110, John N. WOOD 32 MD miller $170
Malinda L. 26 IN
George DUNCAN 22 IN laborer
John HILL 20 IN laborer
Lucinda 20 IN
(MAD: ? George Duncan in 1860 Sullivan Co. IN census, 1870 Clark Co. IL census)
Harrison
Pg.230, #245, John BONDINAT 40 NJ carpenter $20,000
Marry 35 IN
children 13 to 5 b. IN
Julia LOCKBRIDGE 19 IN
Ellen SHOEMAKER 18 IN
John DUNCAN 45 MD laborer
Pg.230, #249, James GROVER 44 NY iron mfg.
Ann S?. 45 NY
Cynthia MORTON? 21 IN
John DUNCAN 11 IN
Pg.238, #371, Henry ROSS 49 NY mercht. $6500
Emeline 41 CAN
children 11 to 4 b. IN
Rachel OGDEN 18 IL
Charles DUNCAN 21 IN (no occupation)
Elizabeth ROSS 50 NY
Lucinda EVANS 10 IL BLACK
(MAD: ? Charles Duncan in 1870 Clark Co. IL census)
Pg.266, #802, Jacob LURBER 53 VA laborer
Judia 53 VA
children 19 to 6 b. IN
John DUNCAN 21 IN laborer
Linton
Pg.278, #44, Wm. S. DUNCAN 23 IN farmer $150
Eliza Ann 25 VA
Frebourn J. (m) 4, James J. 3 IN
Emily A. 1 IN
Rachel LORD 19 IL
(MAD: William L. Duncan mar. Eliza Ann Lloyd 2/27/1845 Owen Co. IN; see 1860 Cedar Co. MO census; definitely Wm. S.)
1860 Vigo Co. IN Census
Fayette Twp.
Pg.288, #281-281, Ezekiel SMITH 33 OH day laborer $0-$0
Mary 26 IN
Mary 7, Dumas (m) 5 IL
Sarah 3, Benjamin 1 IL
Obediah DUNKEN 25 IN farm laborer
(MAD: ? 1850 Edgar or Moultrie Co. IL census)
Honey Creek Twp.
Pg.405, #566-566, George STEVENSTON 49 PA farmer $3000-$1000
Carline (f) 34 PA
Mary A. 11, Isabell 9, Nancy 7 PA
Florrance (f) 4, Hariet (f) 3 PA
Thursey HULL (f) 15 PA
Jacob DUNKAM 15 PA farm laborer
Tingel M. PETERS (m) 11 PA
Pierson Twp.
Pg.459, #924-890, Isiah DUNKAM 50 OH farmer $15540-$4000
Martha 45 OH
Louesa R. 20 IN
Mary 12, Henry Z. 10 IN
Isiah H. 8, Thomas T. 6 IN
Simon WITHERMON 19 IN farm laborer
Terre Haute, Ward 2
Pg.676, #111-122, Hotel
John DUNCAN 44 IRE pork packer $0-$20,000
Terre Haute, Ward 5
Pg.755, #694-672, Jason G. DUNCAN 22 IL pedlar $0-$100
Abigail 24 IN
John W. 5, Charlotte B. 3 IL
Lillas G. (f) 4/12 IN
(MAD: 1850 Knox Co. IL census)
1870 Vigo Co. IN Census
Sugar Creek Twp.
Pg.360, #180-180, DUNCAN, John R. 26 PA works in saw mill, $0-$0 mar. in Jan.
Margaret 27 IL keeps house, mar. in Jan.
Marion (m) 8/12 IL b.Oct.
Terre Haute, Ward 1
Pg.381-182, #158-160, CRAIN, Hannah 57 OH keeping house $2500-$200
& family & others, including
DUNCAN, Frank 21 IN printer
Terre Haute, Ward 2
Pg.426, #224-233, ROSS, James 60 NY furniture dealer $18,000-$13,000
Ann 45 NY keeping house
DUNCAN, Alice 16 IL at school
COPER, Ann 17 IL at school
KARLEN, Ann 30 IRE domestic servant, parents of foreign birth
Pg.440, #406-427, DUNCAN, John 58 IRE Ret. grocer $12,000-$3,500, parents of foreign birth
Mary 33 IRE keeping house, parents of foreign birth
William 22 IRE clerk in grocery, parents of foreign birth
Samuel 19 IRE clerk in grocery, parents of foreign birth
John 17 IRE at school, parents of foreign birth
Mary 4, Joseph 1 IN, parents of foreign birth
DWYAR, Mary 25 IRE domestic servant, parents of foreign birth
Terre Haute, Ward 3
Pg.482, #374-431, DUNCAN, Charlie 35 TN MULATTO hod carrier $0-$0
Elizebath 23 IN MULATTO keeping house
John 4, Nellie 2 IN MULATTO
Emma 6/12 IN b.Jan. MULATTO
(MAD: Elizebath as spelled)
Pg.482, #374-432, COWLEY, Mat 27 TN MULATTO hod carrier $0-$0
Ann 21 IN MULATTO keeping house
Ella 1 IN MULATTO
Elisha (m) 5/12 IN MULATTO b.Feb.
Pg.482, #374-433, AKIN, George 23 IRE (white) collar maker, $0-$0, parents of foreign birth
COOK, William 22 MD (white) collar maker
"Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of Judicature of the State of Indiana" cases decided at November term 1882 not reported in Vol.84; by Francis M. Dice; Indiana Reports, Vol.85, pgs.104 to 108 (California State Law Library, Sacramento, 2/2004)
DUNCAN et al. v. The CITY of TERRE HAUTE; No. 9477; Supreme Court of Indiana; 85 Ind. 104; November Term, 1882, Decided.
From the Vigo Circuit Court.
[opinion] Coombs, J. -- This action was originally commenced by John Duncan, but before any proceedings were had he died, and his widow, Mary J. Duncan, and his three children were substituted as plaintiffs, and thereupon the said Mary J. Duncan filed her cross complaint against the city and her co-plaintiffs, alleging, in substance, that on the 17th of February, 1872, John Duncan, who was then her husband, was the owner in fee of a part of out-lot No. 65, of the original out-lots in said city of Terre Haute, describing it; that said John Duncan on that day made, acknowledged and caused to be recorded in the recorder's office of Vigo county, a plat of said land as an addition to said city of Terre Haute, and thereby dedicated, as and for the purpose of a street, thirty feet off of the north side, and along the entire length of said lot; that said John Duncan died, leaving her, his widow, and three children, his only heirs at law; that she did not join with her husband in said dedication, or in any conveyance of said land, during the lifetime of her said husband, and that she is the owner of one undivided third part of said thirty feet off of the north side of said lot, and along the entire length thereof, in fee simple; and that said city is entitled to an easement, as of a street, in the undivided two-thirds, the residue of said strip or parcel of land, and that her co-plaintiffs, William, Samuel and John Duncan, as the heirs of John Duncan, deceased, are the owners of the fee in reversion; that the city of Terre Haute is claiming, adversely to her, the easement and right of a street upon, in and over the whole of said strip of land, denying and ignoring the plaintiff's right therein and thereto. Prayer that her title may be quieted, and for a partition of said land.
A demurrer to this complaint was overruled, and the defendant answered the cross complaint in two paragraphs, the first in denial.
"2d. The defendant, for a second and further answer to said cross complaint, says, that, on the 17th of February, 1872, the husband of the plaintiff herein, John Duncan, executed and acknowledged a plat of that part of out-lot sixty-five, owned by him, and on the same day caused the plat to be recorded in the recorder's office of Vigo county, Indiana; that the land so owned and platted is the same described in the cross complaint of the plaintiff; that, upon the execution and recording of the plat aforesaid, the city of Terre Haute accepted said dedication, and the said John Duncan ceased to pay taxes upon that part so dedicated as and for streets and alleys upon said plat; that the part of the street which the plaintiff herein asks partition of is upon said plat laid off, marked and designated as College street, is thirty feet in width, and that said John Duncan owned all the lands upon the south line of said street, between Sixth and Seventh streets, in the city of Terre Haute; and that upon said plat the said John Duncan marked off and dedicated thirty feet, as and for the purpose of extending College street through from Sixth to Seventh streets, the other thirty feet, necessary to make said College street of one uniform width, being thirty feet off of the south side of the lands lying north of the property owned by John Duncan, being given and dedicated to the public by Richard Straut, the owner of said lands; that said John Duncan opened all of the streets and alleys upon his said plat designated and dedicated, excepting thirty feet fronting on Sixth street, in said city, and extending back along the line of College street one hundred and ninety-eight feet, said land lying and being upon the north side of the land owned by the said John Duncan, and being the thirty feet of land of which the plaintiff demands partition; that the streets and alley as platted by the said John Duncan, in his subdivision, compared exactly with the streets and alleys in all the subdivisions adjoining the subdivision of said Duncan."
Other matters are set forth in this answer by way of estoppel in pais, which, under the view we take of this case, need not be considered.
The plaintiff demurred to the second paragraph of the answer, for want of facts, which was overruled by the court, and proper exceptions taken, and the plaintiff, refusing to reply to said answer, elected to stand by her demurrer, and judgment was thereupon entered against her. The sufficiency of this answer depends upon the question whether a donation or grant to the public, noted as such on the plat of a town, or an addition to a town, made in accordance with the statutes of 1852 (1 R. S. 1876, p. 897), and accepted by the town, bars the dower of the wife of the donor, or rather the provisions made for the wife in lieu of dower.
The answer avers that John Duncan, the husband of the appellant, in his lifetime, made, acknowledged and caused to be recorded, a plat of the ground owned by him, as an addition to the city of Terre Haute, showing the dedication of the land for a public street, which was accepted by the city. No objection is made to the correctness of this plat or the dedication of the ground.
The courts of this country seem to have uniformly held, when the question has come before them, that when lands are appropriated by the exercise of eminent domain, or what is said to be equivalent to it, the dedication of lands to public use, the dower of the wife is defeated. Dillon, in his treatise on Municipal Corporations, 2d ed., section 459, says: "As dower is not the result of contract, but is a positive legislative institution, it is constitutionally competent for the Legislature to authorize lands to be taken by a municipal corporation for a market, street, or other public use, upon an appraisement and payment of their value to the husband, the holder of the fee, and such taking and payment will confer an absolute title divested of any inchoate right of dower. Nor is a widow dowable in lands dedicated by her husband in his lifetime to the public, where the dedication is complete or has been accepted and acted upon by the municipal authorities."
Washburn, in treating of the various modes in which dower may be defeated, says: "One mode in which dower may be defeated remains to be mentioned, and that is, by the exercise of eminent domain during the life of the husband, or, what is equivalent to it, the dedication of land to the public use."
In Moore v. City of New York, 4 Sandf. 456, the court, in speaking of a former decision says: "We then held that the wife's right of dower was merely inchoate during the life of the husband, and that she had no vested or certain interest in his lands. The right being merely an incident to the marriage relation, it seems to us that while this right is thus inchoate, and before it has become vested by the death of the husband, any regulation of it may be made by the Legislature, though its operation is in effect to divest the right; the marriage relation itself being within the power of the Legislature to modify, or even abolish it."
The second section of the act of 1852, 1 R. S. 1876, p. 897, provides that "Every donation or grant to the public, or to any individual, religious society, corporation or body politic, noted as such on the plat of the town wherein such donation or grant may have been made, shall be considered a general warranty to the said donee or grantee, for the purposes intended by the donor or grantor." What effect such a donation to an individual, etc., would have upon this question of dower, we do not decide, the question not being before us. The precise question involved in the case at bar has never come before this court, but it has been repeatedly held that while dower is inchoate it may be regulated or abolished by the Legislature.
In Gimbel v. Stolte, 59 Ind. 446, this court held that when a city has condemned real estate for street purposes, and has paid the owner therefor, it takes the property, for such purposes, discharged from the lien of previous judgments. We have been referred to no decisions or text-books conflicting with the above authorities, and we have found none. We think the facts set forth in the second paragraph of the defendant's answer a bar to the suit, and that no error was committed in overruling the demurrer thereto.
The judgment is affirmed, with costs.
Vigo Co. IN General Index to Deeds, 1818-1860 A-D (FHL film 1,378,427 item 1; SLC 2/2009)
Donham, Durham, no Dunkan, no Duncan
1921 "Gold star honor roll : a record of Indiana men and women who died in the service of the United States and the allied nations in the World War, 1914-1918" by Indiana Historical Commission (Indianapolis); Microfilm of original published: Indianapolis : Indiana Historical Commission, (FHL film 1,673,274 item 3; IN State Library book 940.3772 I385w, from C.T. Duncan 12/2007)
Contains a photograph and brief biographical sketch of each person, giving name of parents, birthplace, occupation, and service record.
Pg.659: Vigo County. Duncan, Herbert Samuel. Corporal. Son of Hugh and Prudence Duncan; born April 8, 1887, Terre Haute, Ind. Employe of American Car and Foundry Company, Terre Haute. Enlisted in U.S. Regular Army June 7, 1916, and was sent to Columbus Barracks, Ohio. Transferred to the Mexican Border; assigned to Company H, 39th Infantry. Overseas in June, 1917; assigned to Company I, 28th Infantry, 1st Division. Killed in action July 19, 1918, Soissons. Buried, Ploisy, Aisne, France, Plot No. 56.
1891 "History of Vigo Co. IN with Biographical Selections" by H.C. Bradsby (FHL book 977.245 H2b and film 845,109 item 1, and film 934,921 item 4)
Pg.740-2: John Mason Duncan, president of Coates College; among distinguished educators of Terre Haute; lineal descendant of the most noted of Scotchmen, John Knox, the rugged old Presbyterian, and also of Ralph Erskine. His given name is from his granduncle, Rev. John M. Mason, D.D., LL.D., perhaps the most noted American pulpit orator of his day. The parents of Prof. Duncan were Richard and Roselle (Lafayette) Duncan, latter of whom was a grandniece of Marquis de Lafayette. The mother was a native of Paris, France, and the father of Baltimore, where the son was born April 20, 1853. Richard Duncan, the father, died in Oct. 1855, leaving two children, of whom our subject is the elder; the mother died in Oct. 1858. John Mason Duncan was reared in his native city to the age of 12 years, ... made president of Coates College for Women, Aug. 20, 1888. John Mason Duncan and Rebecca Duffield, of McConnellsburgh, PA, were married Sept. 28, 1881. She was the niece of the eminent divine, Rev. Dr. John T. Duffield, professor of mathematics in the College of New Jersey. Of this union there is one child, Duffield Knox, a bright-faced little boy of six summers. The wife and mother died Feb. 28, 1885, and on June 20, 1887, Duncan and Sarah McCleave of Cumberland, MD, were married. She is the daughter of Judge Robert H. McCleave of that place ... and Sarah Hall, both parents natives of VA and of Scotch-Irish descent.
Pg.936: Ellis E. South, general ticket & freight agent, "Big Four" Railroad lines, Terre Haute; native of IN, born November 11, 1851, son of Daniel B. and Martha (Duncan) South, natives of OH, and of English descent, former of whom was a prominent man, having served a number of years as treasurer of Hendricks Co., IN. He died at Danville, IN, in 1862. Ellis E., who is the elder of two children, was reared at Danville, IN, where he attended school ... married in St. Louis to Nettie C., daughter of George P. Cook and of German descent. ....
1900 "The history of early Terre Haute from 1816 to 1840" by Blackford Condit, pub. by A.S. Barnes & Co. (FHL book 977.245/T1 H2c and film 1,320,506 item 6; CA State Library, Sutro Branch, SUTRO microfilm 277, Reel 19, Book 71, and microfiche G3\LH8291)
Pg. 145: Prominent pork merchants and produce shippers ... John Duncan, "who was well known to the trade as a packer of English meats." (no dates)
1908 "Greater Terre Haute and Vigo County closing the first century's history of city and county : showing the growth of their people, industries, and wealth" Vol.I, by Charles Cochran Oakey, pub. by Lewis Pub. (FHL film 934,922 item 1)
Pg.165: John Duncan (1810-1878), a native of Ireland, learned the pork packing business in Belfast in the same house where several large dealers later prominent in America began their apprenticeship. He came to this country in 1853, and for the following 25 years was associated with his line of business until he became known in this capacity all over the country ... He was in Cincinnati after coming to America, then became associated with a large meat firm, Hugh McBirney & Co. at New Orleans, and finally located at Terre Haute in 1861, with the firm of H.D. Williams & Co. on South First street. (nothing said about a wife)
Pg.273-5: James Richard Duncan (sketch prepared by John B. Aikman), was born in Big Springs, Hardin Co. KY, January 7, 1843, and died in Terre Haute, November 10, 1903. His father, Rev. Peter Duncan, being a Methodist minister in a very remote rural district, and of frail health, felt the need of a more favorable environment; abandoned KY home when James was 14 years of age and moved to Mattoon [Coles Co.], IL. His ill health ... James inherited from his parents many of their sturdy traits ... Scotch ancestry to which the name Duncan belongs. First business undertaking a news stand in the depot hotel at Mattoon, IL, known as Essex House. Then engaged in retail grocery business. At this point in his career he was married, August 16, 1863, to Miss Julia Rosana Vreeland, who still survivies him. To them were born three daughters and one son, all of whom are still living, viz, Mrs. Virgil E. Perryman of Atlanta, GA; Miss Ida B. Duncan and Mrs. John B. Aikman of Terre Haute and Charles E. Duncan of Chicago. Paper & Stationery business named J.R. Duncan & Co., and hides & old materials business named Duncan & Kingsolver. In 1889 he took into partnership his son-in-law Mr. John B. Aikman. (MAD: 1850 Meade Co. KY census)
Pg.275: John Barr Aikman, one of Terre Haute's most prominent citizens, native of Washington, Daviess Co. IN, born July 15, 1866 ... on December 5, 1888, was married to Flora Lee, the daughter of the late James R. Duncan, of Terre Haute. ... (more not copied)
1922 "An Account of Vigo Co. (IN) From Its Organization" ed. by William G. Cronin, pub. by Hist. Pub. Co. (IN State Library book 977.201 V689CR 1922; from C.T. Duncan 12/2007)
Vol.3, pg.257-258: William H. Duncan. There are but few residents of Terre Haute who have done as much toward the development of their city as has Mr. William H. Duncan, who, during his fourteen years as secretary of the Commercial Club, was instrumental in bringing several important industries to Terre Haute. Mr. Duncan was born in Belfast, Ireland, June 22, 1848, the son of John Duncan, who came to this country from Ireland, and located at Terre Haute in 1853, where he engaged in the pork packing business until a few years before his death in 1874. William H. Duncan, who had not come to America with his father, lived with relatives in Belfast, and there attended school. In 1862, he came to Terre Haute with his brothers, Samuel and John, both of whom are deceased. He had additional educational training at Terre Haute, and then went to California, where he became assistant secretary of the State Board of Agriculture. He returned to Terre Haute, and then attended the University of Michigan for two terms. In 1886, he went west again, attracted by the boom in southwestern Kansas. For some time he was in the Indian service in Arizona, where he continued until 1891, when he again came back to Terre Haute. He had been associate editor of the Terre Haute Express from 1879 to 1882, and when he came back from Arizona, he was editor of the Saturday Evening Mail for two years. In 1894, he was elected secretary of the Vigo County Fair Association, an office which he retained for five years. In 1899, he was elected secretary of the Commercial Club, and for fourteen years worked for the city in this capacity. ... Mr. Duncan is a public accountant, and in labors of that sort he now employs himself. In 1883, he married Frances Cortner from Charleston, Indiana, a representative of an old family of Clarke county, and they have one daughter, Helen, who is the wife of Merle R. Reed, master mechanic of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Logansport, Indiana. Mr. Duncan has two grandchildren, Frances and Jane McBirney Reed. He is a Republican, and in fraternal circles is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In religious matters he gives his support to the Presbyterian church.
Master index includes: Duncan, Herbert Samuel and James M. on pg.111; Duncan, Duffield T. (Mrs.) and Margaret Bernice on pg.339
1883 "Biographical and historical sketches of early Indiana" by William Wesley Woollen; pub. Indianapolis: Hammond & Co. (LH6322, HeritageQuest images 4/2007; FHL film 1,000,527 item 3)
Pg.214-215: EDWARD A. HANNEGAN ... and his brother-in-law, Captain Duncan, had been drinking deeply and angry words passed between them. ... Mr. Hannegan stabbed Captain Duncan, who died the next day, and was buried in the cemetery at Covington. In the "Madison Banner," of May 13, 1852, a paper conducted by the author of this sketch, is the following notice of Captain Duncan's death: "Captain Duncan, whose unfortunate altercation with ex-Senator Hannegan we mentioned yesterday, died on Saturday, 26 hours after receiving the fatal blow. Captain D. was a brother of Mrs. Hannegan, and a member of her family. He was formerly a citizen of Newark, Ohio, and commanded a company of mounted riflemen during the Mexican war. .... He was about forty years of age and had never been married." .... Mr. Hannegan was not indicted and tried for the killing of Captain Duncan ... he sought surcease of sorrow by leaving the State ... he removed to St.Louis in 1857, and on the 25th of January, 1859, he died in that city. His remains were brought to Terre Haute and deposited in the earth ... on the banks of his own beloved Wabash. ... (MAD: did not copy pg.213 or earlier) (MAD: Knox and Fountain Co. IN; Newark, Licking Co. OH; Terre Haute, Vigo Co. IN)
1901 "Medicine in Champaign County [Illinois] : a historical sketch" by Charles Beneulyn Johnson; pub. Champaign, Ill.: Times Print (LH10289, HeritageQuest images 4/2007)
Pg.27: Dr. W.S. Duncan was practicing medicine at the beginning of the war and entered the 10th Illinois Cavalry as an assistant surgeon. He served to the close of the war and like many others came home to find the conditions changed, and he soon decided to change his location. He moved to Vigo County, Indiana, where he remained for several years; then he went to southern Illinois, practicing with varying success, until 1889 he again decided to locate in the town of his first love, and moved back to Sidney. He remained two years and then went to Hutton, Coles County, and later to Casey, Ill. He recently retired from practice at the age of 84 years. The doctor was a faithful member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow lodges and of the Grand Army of the Republic. In religious views he was a Seventh Day Adventist. (MAD: sketches do not give wives or children)
1913 "History of Yolo Co. CA" by Tom Gregory (CA State Library, Sacramento, book qc979.451 G8)
Pg.365: Wyatt Godfrey Duncan ... The founder of the Duncan family in America was Wyatt Duncan, a native of Scotland and for many years a planter in Virginia, but eventually a pioneer of Missouri, where he died in Callaway county at a great age. Among his children was a son, Judge John I. Duncan, who was born in Virginia April 15, 1807, grew to manhood at the old homestead, married Margaret Toler and after his marriage settled in the western part of the Old Dominion. About 1833 he took his family to Missouri and settled upon raw land in Callaway county. Later he returned east as far as Indiana and rented land in Vigo county, but not being satisfied he went back to Missouri, where he bought a large tract in Barry county. .... His death occurred January 18, 1876, when he was almost sixty-nine years of age. ....
There were twelve children in the family of Judge Duncan. Five of the number are still living. The eldest of the family, Wyatt Godfrey, was born in Amherst Co. VA, October 1, 1828, and was taken to Missouri at five years of age, later went to Indiana with the family and then returned to Missouri, whence he started with a brother, William, to California, April 24, 1850. ...
1906 "History of the State of CA and Biographical Record of the Sacramento Valley, CA" by Prof. J.M. Guinn (CA State Library, Sacramento, book qc 920.079 G9; see Yolo Co. CA)
Pg.1612: Wyatt Godfrey Duncan. More than one hundred years have passed since Wyatt Duncan ... settled in Virginia, ... he eventually removed to Missouri, where he died in Callaway county at an advanced age. Next in line of descent was John I. (father of Wyatt Godfrey), who was born in Virginia April 15, 1807, and grew to manhood on the home plantation. After his marriage he settled in the western part of Virginia, but about 1833 proceeded ... Callaway Co. MO, .... After a few years he removed to Vigo Co. IN, and settled on a rented farm, but, not satisfied with prospects there, he returned to Missouri, where he bought a large tract of land in Barry county. .... His death occurred January 18, 1876, when he was almost sixty-nine years of age. ....
1891 "A Memorial and biographical history of Northern California : containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time : together with glimpses of its prospective future, full-page portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day." by John B Montgomery, W A Bartlett, J S Missroon, Wm L Todd; pub. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. (LH10557, HeritageQuest images 4/2007; FHL film 468,756 item 3 and 1,000,098 item 1; CA State Library book qc979.41 M5a)
Pg.376-377: B.F. DUNCAN, an extensive rancher of the Capay Valley, was born February 2, 1840, in Vigo County, Indiana, and the son of John I. and Margaret (Toler) Duncan, natives of Virginia. The senior Duncan followed agricultural pursuits all his life. At one time he was judge of this district. In 1842 he removed to Missouri, where he remained until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-four years old; his wife also died in that State, in 1849. Mr. B.F. Duncan, our subject, was raised on the farm in Missouri. At the age of 21 years he enlisted in Company G., Captain Curry, Eighth Regiment, Colonel Mitchell, Parson's Brigade, Cavalry, and was six months in the service. He was mustered out at Shreveport, Louisiana, after a service of three years and three months. Was wounded four times, twice in one engagement. ... After the war he remained in Missouri until 1870, when he came to California and settled near Cottonwood, Yolo County, on land which he purchased. He remained there until 1878, when he sold out and purchased his present place two miles west of Capay, in the celebrated Capay Valley. This ranch consists of 737 acres of choice bottom land, on which Mr. Duncan carries on a general farming business, and is preparing to establish himself in the fruit industry next year (1891). He is a very practical man and enterprising. He has two brothers in this county, whose sketches will be found elsewhere in this volume. (MAD: nothing said about a wife) (MAD: see Barry Co. MO and Amherst Co. VA)
1879 "The Illustrated atlas and history of Yolo County, California : containing a history of California from 1513 to 1850, history of Yolo County from 1825 to 1880, and the official county map" pub. by DePue (Yolo Co. Public Library, Woodland, CA; also on FHL film 468,752 item 2)
Pg.87: DUNCAN, B.F., was born in Vigo Co. IN, February 2d, 1840. His parents moved in 1841 to Missouri, where the subject of this sketch remained until 1871, when he came to California and settled in Yolo county. ... He is a brother of W.G. and Wm. H., and their residence in Yolo county was the main inducement that caused him to break up his home in Missouri and come to this coast. ...
END
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