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 R. W. S. DUNCAN, a well-known resident
of Hutton Township, spent his childhood
and youth in Greene County, Ind., where
he was born Feb. 26, 1825. He comes of
worthy ancestry, his grandfather having been Isaiah
Duncan, an enterprising Southern farmer, who was
born, reared and spent his entire life in South Carolina. He married and became the father of a
family, including five sons and two daughters.
The sons were Isaiah, George, John, Eli and Joshua.
Of these, the father of our subject was next to the
youngest. He received a common-school education, and remained with his father on the farm until
reaching manhood. He then migrated North, and
locating in Greene County, Ind., was married to
Miss Rebecca Stevens in the spring of 1822. Mrs.
Duncan was born Feb. 28, 1801, in Kentucky, and
was the daughter of William Stevens, who emigrated from the Blue Grass regions to Harrison
County, Ind. After marriage Mr. Duncan rented a tract of land and carried on farming until the spring of 1835. He then came to Edgar County, this State, and secured possession of forty acres of timber land, a part of which he cleared and occupied until the spring of 1853. He then removed with his family to Laclede County, Mo., and died there in 1856, leaving a family of seven children. While a resident of Indiana he and his wife had become members of the Dunkard Church, but after coming to Illinois united with the Christian Church. The mother survived her husband about twenty-three years, making her home with her children, and died Dec. 10, 1881. The parental family included the following children: Isaiah, who died in infancy; W. S., of our sketch; John, who died in infancy; George, now a minister of the Christian Church at Arkansas; Joshua; Marion, who died when twenty years of age; Obadiah, a resident of Piatt County, Ill.; Jane; Elizabeth, a widow, now residing in Marion County, and Polly A., who has carried on a millinery establishment in Bement, III., for the last twenty years. Dr. Duncan was the second child of his parents, and received but a common-school education. When eighteen years of age he commenced working in a tanyard, where he continued three years, and then enlisting in Co. H, 4th Ill. Vol. Inf., started on the 16th of June, 1846, by wagon to Springfield, Ill., bound for Mexico. After reaching the seat of war he found that the precarious state of his health would prevent him from continuing in the ranks, and in December received his discharge on account of disability, the result of measels contracted at Matamoras, Mex. Upon returning to Edgar County he began teaching school, which he followed during the winter season and worked on the farm in summer, in the meantime employing his leisure moments in the study of medicine. He finally placed himself under the instruction of Dr. Harris Meeker, of Edgar County, and in about 1853 began practicing in Coles County. The marriage of Dr. Duncan and Miss Charlotte W. Elsbury, was celebrated at the home of the bride, Dec. 3, 1847. Mrs. Duncan was born March 13, 1826, and is the daughter of John and Charlotte (Winters) Elsbury, natives of Indiana. Dr. Duncan continued teaching for about three years after his marriage, and then abandoning this, located at Stringtown. where he followed his profession until 1860. In the spring of that year he took up his residence at Sidney, Champaign County. In January, 1864, during the progress of the Civil War, he enlisted in Co. I, 10th Ill. Vol. Cav., and was appointed Assistant Surgeon, receiving his commission from Gov. Yates on the 18th of March. He held this appointment until October 13 following, when he resigned, and returning to Sidney continued his practice until 1868. His health, however, which had become seriously impaired during his experience in the army, compelled him to leave the prairie country, and he accordingly moved to Farmersburg, Ind., where there was more timber and clay. He remained there until August, 1884, then returned to Sidney, and thence removed to Hutton Township, in October, 1886, where he has since followed his practice successfully, and receives ample patronage from the best people of the community. Mrs. Charlotte Duncan departed this life at Farmersburg, Ind., in October, 1874. She was a lady of many estimable qualities, and a faithful member of the Christian Church. Of her marriage with our subject there were born nine children, recorded as follows: Minerva P., born Oct. 3, 1848, is the wife of John W. Payne, of Evansville, Ind.; Melissa C., born June 11, 1850, is the wife of Alfred Duncan, of Fulton County, Mo.; Mary E., born Sept. 12, 1852, died thirteen days later; Minnie C., born May 10, 1854, is the wife of Joab Patton, of Indiana; Laura B., born Jan. 14, 1857, died when eighteen months old; Josephine F. P., born May 15, 1860, is the wife of Dr. George H. Bogart, of Indiana; Rebecca D., born July 12, 1863, died August 15 following; her twin brother, William M., died August 5 fol- lowing. Nora, born July 10, 1865, became the wife of Lester E. Foulke, and is a resident of Champaign County. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married Jan. 5, 1875, was formerly Miss Elizabeth Johns, a native of Boone County, Ind., and born June 29, 1846. She is the daughter of Hardin W. and Charlotte T. Johns, natives of Kentucky. Of this union there were two children: William O., born Sept. 25, 1875, and who died Sept. 15, 1878, and Blach G., born April 16, 1883. The Doctor and Mrs. Duncan are members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. While a resident of Indiana, Dr. Duncan identified himself with the Sullivan County Medical Association, and socially, belongs to Fairbanks Lodge No. 373, A. F. & A. M., at Fairbanks, Ind., Chapter No. 11, R. A. M., at Terre Haute, and is also connected with the I. O. O. F. He votes with the Republican party, and keeps himself well posted on current events. |
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