Duncan, Edward L. – 1858-1931

DUNCAN, GARDNER, MOECKLEY, RUMBAUGH

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 12/1/2022 at 07:49:06

Ed. L. Duncan Passed Away Tuesday Following Long Illness
Was A Pioneer and Progressive Farmer of Poweshiek Twp.
E. L. Duncan passed away at his home in east Colfax, Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. following an illness of more than a year. His death was attributed to arthritis, from which he has suffered severely.
Mr. Duncan was truly one of the pioneers of this community and Jasper county, having spent practically his entire life here. At the time of his death he was 72 years, 8 months, and 1 day of age.
He was born on the Duncan homestead northwest of Colfax, which his father had purchased from the government and which he owned at the time of his death. Most of his life was spent on this farm. A few years ago he bought a farm just north of Colfax and moved there. Then about two years ago when rheumatism and other complications seemed to make it impossible for him to continue active farm work, he with his family moved to Colfax.
Mr. Duncan was one of the progressive farmers of Poweshiek township and always took an active part in all community life. He served his township in a number of official capacities during his lifetime, always with honor to himself and the community. Not being content with serving his own community, he was ever willing to give of his time and talent to assist in any enterprise that seemed for the betterment of humanity. He took an active part in the political affairs of the township, county, state and nation, and could always be depended upon to do his part.
He was of a jovial nature and even during his last ___ (text missing) almost unbearable, always had a happy welcome for everyone.
Mr. Duncan will be greatly missed both in his home and in the community in general.
When Mr. Duncan was three years of age his father was killed in the battle of Shiloh, during the Civil War and early in life Mr. Duncan took up the burden of helping carry on the work at the farm for his widowed mother and two sisters, all of whom have passed on.
Besides his devoted wife, he leaves to mourn hiss loss two daughters, Miss Agnes at home and Mrs. F. J. Moeckley of Des Moines, and three sons, Harry of Baxter, Donald and Darwin of Colfax, besides other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) from the Presbyterian church, and burial will be made at McKeever cemetery.
A complete obituary will be given next week.
Source: The Colfax (IA) Tribune; Thursday, August 27, 1931, page 1

Edward L. Duncan, son of Erasmus D. and Lucetta B. Duncan, was born December 24th, 1858, on the Duncan Homestead in Jasper county, four and one half miles north of Colfax, and passed away Tuesday, August 25, 1931, at the home in Colfax at the age of 72 years, 8 months, and 1 day.
His father came to the County in 1852 and purchased his land from the Government. When the young son Edward was yet a baby, the father answered the call to arms and while serving his country during the Civil War, answered the last call in the Battle of Shiloh. His mother was now left with three small children, Edward, three years of age and two sisters one of whom was an invalid, to care for. At the age of nine years, the lad had already learned that the real meaning of Life is in Love, Laughter and Work, and now his mother’s chief helper, taking from then on a great part of the responsibility for her maintenance.
When twenty-one years of age, he satisfied a desire to see the west and spent two years in Montana.
On January 29th, 1891, he was united in marriage to Mary Gardner at Newton, Iowa, and the young couple went to housekeeping on the home farm, his mother at this time moving to Greencastle.
Five children came to bless this union, all but one son, Donald, being born at the home where their father first saw the light of day. The wife, two daughters, Mrs. Ruth Moeckley of Des Moines, and Miss Agnes at home, and three sons, Harry of Baxter and Donald and Darwin of Colfax, with nine grandchildren, mourn the loss of this husband and father, whose chief aim throughout his life had been for their comfort and best interests.
The last of his family, the invalid sister having passed away when twelve years of age, his mother at the age of eight-four, leaving this world in October 1915, and the sister, Mrs. Kate L. Rumbaugh of Ira, in 1926, he now hands on to his children this spirit of the true pioneer so manifest in his busy life.
Being interested always in the betterment of the community in which he lived, he served many years as trustee of Poweshiek township, several terms as president of the school board in the Greencastle school district, and 14 years as Township Assessor. During the World War, he served as chairman of the Red Cross for his township and was active in each of the Liberty Loan drives. He was a charter member of the Poweshiek Grange and as the first Master was in a large way responsible for its success. He early taught his children the need of the Church and made all arrangements for the family’s attendance at the Sunday services. As a member of the Colfax Commercial Club, he gave of his time and talent to Colfax, his own home city.
Since March of this year, he was confined to his bed with arthritis, a complication following many years of suffering with rheumatism, and it was during this time his family, who in their untiring efforts to give him relief, realized the magnitude of his patience and the worth of his cheerful disposition.
A great lover of his home and community, a kindly father with the needs of his children ever foremost in his mind, a loyal and faithful husband, a true friend and neighbor and a citizen in the real sense of the word, are characteristics of his life, and exemplify the real cause for the genuine esteem felt for him by his large circle of friends and the community in general.
Life! We’ve been long together, through pleasant and through cloudy weather, “Tis hard to part when friends are dear, Perhaps ‘twill cost a sigh, a tear. Then steal away, give little warning, Choose thine own time, Say not Good Night, but in some brighter clime, Bid me Good Morning.
The high esteem in which Mr. Duncan was held in the community was shown when friends crowded the church to capacity to pay their last respects.
Funeral services were conducted Thursday afternoon from the Presbyterian Church with Dr. Theodore Morning in charge and Dr. E. G. Williams of Des Moines, preaching the sermon.
Music was furnished by a male quartet composed of Maynard Binkerd, O. S. Fatland, Fred J. Sayre, and Chester Binkerd, with Mrs. S. E. Tennant at the organ.
Pall bearers were I. F. Harris of Earlham; M. F. Berkley of Mingo; George Hansen, Collins; Harding Witmer, Maxwell; W. M. Gagle, Great Falls, Mont.; and F. M. Gagle of Colfax, all boyhood friends.
Burial was made at the McKeever cemetery.
Source: The Colfax (IA) Tribune; Thursday, September 3, 1931, page 8