Francis Alexander Duncan 1824-1894

DUNCAN, SHAW, HUTTON, EDMONDSON, EASTON

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 1/8/2021 at 08:21:46

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Wednesday, February 7, 1894
page 1

Though known to be quite feeble, the death of Senator Duncan at his home in this place Friday morning was altogether unexpected. On Thursday he seemed to be feeling much better: so much so, in fact, that he was walking bout his premises in most excellent spirits and talked some of making a visit down town but was prevailed upon by his son, T. Lee, to not brave the cold to do so. He passed an excellent night of it and on awaking in the morning about six o'clock refered to it in his conversation with his wife. Almost immediately after he was seized by some sort of nervous convulsions of the throat to which he was subject and lasted a half hour. The funeral was held from his residence at 1:30 p. m. Sunday. Services were conducted by his paster, Rev. Greer of the U. P. church, Columbus City. A large concourse assembled to testify to their loss, their grief, their respect and their sympathy. Francis Alexander Duncan was born in Blount county, Tennessee, June 9, 1824, thus lacking but a few months of having attained the age of seventy years. At the age of twenty he came to Iowa with a coloney, in which was included nearly all his father's family, and settled in Columbus City township, entering lands partly by warrants held by himself and father. Part of this land he owned at the time of his death. Three years after coming to Iowa he was married to Mary A. Shaw, who died eleven years later, 1858, leaving five children, T. L., J. J., Elizabeth Hutton, Marietta Edmondson and Sherman, all of whom survive their father. In 1860 he was again married, Miss Ella Easton becoming his wife. To them three children, Victor L., Frank and George, were born, all of whom are living. Mr. Duncan has held many offices of trust. For many years he was a member of the board of county supervisors. This was when each township elected a representative on the board. In 1872 he was elected a member of the state legislature, representing Louisa county in the lower house. He was reelected two or three times subsequent he fill the same position. In 1893 he was elected state senator in this senatorial district comprising the counties of Louisa and Washington. as a representative of the people he was faithful to the trust they reposed in his hands and endeavored to conscientiously look after their interests and their right. Politically, Mr. Duncan was never a democrat. He left Tennessee principally because he was opposed to slavery. In 1848 he and two others voted the Liberty ticket. He was always an abolitionist. At the formation of the republican party he became an enthusiastic supporter of its principles and never varied in his allegiance to that organization. Mr. Duncan's honestly, in any matter, he believe, was never questioned.