RICHLAND CO. MT
Formed 1914 from Dawson
McCone formed 1919 from Dawson, Richland
Roosevelt formed 1919 from Valley, Richland
 

HISTORIES before 1923

"Montana, its story and biography : a history of aboriginal and territorial Montana and three decades of statehood" by L.E. Munson, ed. by Tom Stout; pub. Chicago: American Historical Society, 1921, 2791 pgs. (LH12734, HeritageQuest images 5/2007 & 8/2007; FHL book 978.6 H2s v.2 and film 1,000,175)
      Vol.II, pg.645: A.J. DUNCAN. Among the men who are representing their districts in offices of civic importance, ... is A.J. Duncan, the clerk and recorder of Lewis and Clark County. He has long been a leader in the local ranks of the democratic party, ... Mr. Duncan, who was born at Oak Grove in Jackson County, Missouri, in December, 1876, traces descent in the paternal line to Scotland, but during colonial times the family became established in the South, as did also his family on the maternal side, who were originally from England. The father of A.J. Duncan was Robert Duncan, born in November, 1834, near Frankfort, Kentucky, and died at Helena, Montana, in October, 1918. The parents of Robert Duncan removed to Jackson County, Missouri, as early as 1840, where they were among the pioneers, and where A.T. Duncan, the grandfather of A.J., was a farmer for many years. He died there shortly before the birth of his grandson. He had served in the campaign against the Indians. His wife bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Bywaters, and both she and her husband were born in Kentucky. (MAD: Helena, Lewis and Clark Co. MT; see Logan Co. KY)
            Robert W. Duncan, a son of these Missouri pioneers, was reared, educated and married in Jackson County, and there for many years he followed farming. In April, 1883, he came to Montana and located in the Prickly Pear Valley near Helena, where he resumed his farming operations and became one of the community's influential citizens. He finally retired from an active life and moved into Helena in 1900, where for eighteen years or until his death he lived in the enjoyment of the rewards of former toil. In 1854, during the days of the California gold excitement, he crossed the plains to that state and spent about eight years in placer mining, returning then to his home in Jackson County, Missouri. He upheld the principles and policies of the democratic party, was a devout and consistent member of the Baptist Church, and for many years enjoyed affiliations with the Masonic fraternity. He joined the order when but twenty-one years of age, ... When trouble arose between the North and South he enlisted for service in 1862 in the Confederate cause, ... been taken prisoner and later exchanged.
            In his early life Robert W. Duncan married Maria Joyce, who survives him and resides at Helena. She was born in Missouri in April, 1843. The following children were born to this union: J.M., a rancher in Richland County, Montana; Effie B., the wife of Thomas Matthews, who came to Montana with the pioneers of the '60s, and is now a retired rancher living at Bozeman; J.F., who is engaged in ranching in Richland County, Montana, near his brother J.M.; Eldridge Hill, who died during his youth; Eugene Herbert, who also died when young; A.J., of Helena; Lilborn, who died when young; Lula, the wife of Charles Grant, a merchant at Condon, Oregon; and Leona C., who resides with her mother in Helena, where she is serving as the deputy county clerk and recorder. During 1913 and 1916 she served as the county superintendent of schools for Sanders County.
            After training in the rural schools of Lewis and Clark County, A.J. Duncan entered the Montana Wesleyan University in Prickly Pear Valley, now known as the Montana Wesleyan College of Helena, where he spent about four years. After attaining his twenty-fourth year he left his father's ranch and came to Helena and was appointed deputy clerk and recorder of Lewis and Clark County in February, 1901. He filled that position for five years, or until the spring of 1906, when he was elected the city treasurer, ... and two years later in 1908 was reelected ... and served for four years. In the fall of 1910 he was defeated ... and then engaged in the real estate business. In November, 1912, Mr. Duncan was elected the clerk and recorder of Lewis and Clary County, ... and during the years of 1914-16-18 was returned to the office and is the present incumbent ...
            The home of Mr. Duncan is at 701 Sixth Avenue, Helena. He was married in 1905, in Bozeman, Montana, to Miss Esther Gullic, a daughter of F.B. and Martha (Wallis) Gullic. The father, who was a mine operator in California, died in that state, and the mother is now living in Helena. The two children of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan are Maria, born in April, 1907, and Robert Wallace, born in June, 1910. ...
 

END

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