Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 2nd ed., 1885,
Hancock Co.

JUDGE ROBERT E. DUNCAN is a native of Daviess County, Ky., and a son of John G.
and Sarah (Head) Duncan, both parents born in the same county and State.  The
Duncan family are of Scotch descent, and were among the first pioneers of Nelson
County.  Subject's great grandfather, John Duncan, emigrated from Virginia to
that part of the State before the present century.  The grandfather of our
subject was Robert Duncan, a native of Virginia.  He came to Kentucky when but a
small boy, and resided in Nelson County a number of years, subsequently moving
to Daviess County, where his death occurred about the year 1830.  John G. Duncan
was born in Nelson County in 1802.  In early life he was a farmer, but in later
years he carried on an extensive merchandising business in Hawesville, and
became one of the leading citizens of the place.  He died about the year 1878.
His wife, the mother of subject, was a daughter of Henry Head, an early resident
of Daviess County.  She died about 1844 or 1845.  John G. and Sarah Duncan
reared a family of five children, four of whom are living, viz.: Mary J., Thomas
K., R. E. and C. T.  The subject of this sketch was born January 22, 1846.  He
received his early education in the common schools, and in 1863 he entered
Cecilian College, Hardin County, which institution he attended one year.  In the
spring of 1864, being then but eighteen years of age, he enlisted in the
Thirteenth Kentucky Cavalry of the Confederate army, with which he served for a
period of fifteen months.  His regiment was attached to Forrest's command, and
took part in several engagements in the Kentucky and Tennessee campaigns.  At
the close of the war Mr. Duncan returned to Hancock County and commenced reading
law with E. H. Brown, under whom he prosecuted his legal studies for eighteen
months, but did not apply for admission to the bar.  In 1870 he was elected
county clerk of Hancock County, and re-elected three different times thereafter,
filling the office for a period of twelve years.  In August, 1882, he was
elected county judge, a position he fills at the present time.  Mr. Duncan was
married, in 1876, to Miss Adelia Hannan, of Cincinnati, Ohio.  The fruit of this
union is one child, viz.: Genevieve, born August 22, 1878.  Judge Duncan is a
member of the Masonic fraternity, K. of H., and belongs to the Methodist
Episcopal Church, with which he has been connected since his boyhood.

Duncan Head Brown Hannan
=
Daviess Scotland Nelson VA OH

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/hancock/duncan.re.txt