Duncan, E. L.

DUNCAN, WHITNEY, GARDNER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/28/2009 at 22:30:08

Duncan, E. L.

An honored pioneer and progressive farmer is E. L. Duncan, of Poweshiek, Jasper County, he being a member of a sterling old family, members of which have done much in the general development of the western part of the County and who have always been regarded as among the leading citizens of this locality in every respect.

Mr. Duncan was born on the farm, which he now owns, December 24, 1858. He is the son of Lieut. E. D. and L. B. (Whitney) Duncan, the former born in Adams County, Illinois, on January 1, 1828, and the latter in Hancock County, Illinois, in 1831. They were married in 1852 and the following year they came to Jasper County, Iowa. The paternal grandfather was a native of Kentucky, and the Whitneys were originally of Vermont.

Lieut. E. D. Duncan, mentioned above, enlisted in 1861 in Company B., Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and he was commissioned second lieutenant on October 21st following. In March 1862, the regiment was ordered to the support of General Grant, and on March 8th they left Jefferson City, went to St. Louis and thence down the river to Pittsburgh Landing, reaching there March 23d. During the first day's battle at Shiloh this regiment was under constant fire for ten hours, making a gallant resistance, after which it was found that twenty-four had been killed, one hundred and thirty nine wounded and nine were missing. Among the killed was Lieut E. D. Duncan, who, on April 6, 1862, gallantly gave his life for his country, in the first battle of his regiment. His brave deeds during that great battle and his name have been honored and perpetuated by the naming of the Grand Army Post at Colfax, the E. D. Duncan Post No. 233. He had come to the front as a leading citizen through merit and ability. He was a Republican and was influential in local affairs. He served very capably as Township Trustee, also Township Clerk, in fact, filled all the local offices in Poweshiek Township. He was a member of the first board of managers of the Jasper County Agricultural Society in l856 and in 1860 he served on the board. His widow is residing in Independence Township, this County. Two children were born to them: Louise K. is the wife of G. A. Rumbaugh and they live in Jasper County; E.L. Duncan, of this review, was the second in order of birth.

The subject grew to maturity on the home farm, which he helped develop, and he received his education in the neighboring schools. His fine farm consists of four hundred and twenty acres of as valuable land as the Township can boast, and he has kept it under a high state of improvement, carrying on general farming and stock raising in a most successful manner. He has a very pleasant home and substantial out buildings.

Mr. Duncan has been Township Assessor for the past ten years, his long service giving sufficient evidence of his popularity and of his fidelity to his public duties. He is a stanch Republican in politics.

Mr. Duncan was married to Mary Gardner, daughter of William Gardner and wife of Jasper County, who immigrated to this County from Canada in 1868. To Mr. and Mrs. Duncan the following children have been born: Harry G., Donald W., Ruth, Agnes and T. Darwin, all at home. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 798.