Duvall, Jefferson

DUVALL, CUNNINGHAM, BROWN

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 10/8/2020 at 17:42:12

Jefferson Duvall is a farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 25, Seventy-Six Township. He is a native of Maryland, born in 1823, and is the son of Horace and Mary (Cunningham) Duvall, the former a native of Prince George’s County, Md., and the latter of County Down, Ireland. When but three years of age his parent removed to Washington County, Pa., where they remained six months, and then removed to Carrollton, Ohio, where they lived till his father’s death, which occurred in 1837, at the age of forty-two. Our subject now went to work on a farm, and worked for others for many years.

On the 27th of November, 1851, Mr. Duvall was united in marriage with Miss Mary Brown, a native of Morgan County, Ohio, and daughter of Samuel Brown. Two years later he came with his family to Washington County, Iowa, and settled on section 25, Seventy-Six Township, where he entered 120 acres of land, which he improved, and where he has since continued to live. From time to time he has added to his possessions until he now is the owner of 330 acres of as fine land as can be found in Washington County. Mr. and Mrs. Duvall have had ten children: William L., born Jan. 27, 1853, is now living in Seventy-Six Township; Reaves A., born Jan. 5, 1855, died Nov. 5, 1871; H.W., born June 22, 1857, is now engaged in farming in Audubon County, Iowa; A.B., born Oct. 20, 1859, is now living in Cedar Township; Emma and Ella, twins, born April 9, 1862, are yet at home; Frank E., born July 5, 1867, is now engaged in farming in Adams County, Iowa; James Smith, born in 1869, died June 18 of the same year; Katie, born Feb. 17, 1870, is a teacher in the public schools of Audubon County, Iowa; Eddie, born April 3, 1871.

Mr. and Mrs. Duvall are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he is a Republican. On his father’s side Mr. Duvall is of French descent, and on his mother’s side of Irish. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and died, as already stated in 1837. His mother is still living, at the age of eighty-eight years, and is making her home with the subject of this sketch. Mr. Duvall was among the first settler of Seventy-Six Township, and is well known and respected by all. When he came to this county he was in very limited circumstances, but through his industry, energy and good management, he has acquired a competency, and is now numbered among the most prosperous farmers of Washington County.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of Jefferson Duvall, page 436.