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         ANDREW DUNCAN, deceased, an honored pioneer of Louisa County, Iowa, was born in Washington County, Tenn., March 9, 1787. His parents were of Scotch-Irish descent and were strict Presbyterians. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and removed to Blount County, Tenn., at an early day. Mr. Duncan was twice married, his first wife being Miss Wallace, by whom he had one son, Joseph, who moved to Missouri, and there died some years ago. He was subsequently united in marriage to Miss Margaret Alexander, a daughter of Francis Alexander, and a native of Tennessee. Mrs. Duncan’s ancestors were from Scotland, and her birth occurred Nov. 16, 1809. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, four sons and seven daughters: Janet, the widow of William Allen, resides in Washington County, Iowa; Eliza was the wife of Samuel Edmondson, and both are now deceased; Mary A. wedded James Harmon, now living in Columbus City, Iowa; Francis A. was twice married, his first wife being Miss Mary A. Shaw, and his present wife Miss Ella Easton; he has served in the Assembly and Senate of the Iowa Legislature, is a farmer by occupation and resides at Columbus Junction. (See his sketch elsewhere in this work). James A. married Miss Melinda Duncan, and resides in Columbus City Township; Margaret was the wife of Calvin Ritchie, and both are now dead; Nancy is the wife of Thomas Baird, of Wayne County, Iowa; Lucinda wedded Frank Moore, of Columbus City Township; Russell married Miss Catherine Johnson, and resides in Wayne County, Iowa; Lovinia was the wife of James Atchison, but is now deceased; Samuel married Miss Mary Duncan; he was a soldier of the late war, being a member of Company C, 11th Iowa Infantry, and resides in Wayne County, Iowa.

Mr. Duncan was engaged in farming in Tennessee until 1844, when, in company with his wife and children, he emigrated from their Tennessee home to Iowa. Several of his daughters were married at the time, and their families, together with a few friends, made up quite a colony. Their manner of conveyance was by flatboat down the Tennessee River to the Ohio, thence to the Mississippi, where they took a steamer for their destination. They landed at Port Louisa, Iowa, on a dark, rainy night, the 13th of April, 1844. The river was swollen by the spring freshets, and a landing was effected with considerable difficulty and great discomfort. On reaching shore, they found that there was not sufficient house room at the port to accommodate their party and protect their goods. A temporary shelter for the latter was made of loose boards, and the party crowded themselves into the limited space afforded them. Mr. Duncan and family effected a settlement at Columbus City, Louisa County, where they spent their first year of their settlement in Iowa, but the following spring moved to their claims on sections 33 and 34, of that township. Each member of the little colony who was legally qualified made a claim and secured a home. A few of the older ones and many of the descendants of others are still residents of Louisa County.

Mr. Duncan was a man of great physical power . . .

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. . . and mental force, positive in his convictions and strict in his religious views. He was a consistent member of the Seceders’ Church of the Presbyterian denomination, and was earnest and liberal in the support of that society. Politically, he was an old-line Whig in early life and of strong anti-slavery convictions. His hostility to that institution was a primary cause of his removal with his family from a slave-holding to a free State. His death occurred June 22, 1849. He was a man of sterling qualities, upright and conscientiously just in all the relations of life, and enjoyed the respect of all with whom he came in contact. As time rolls on, this brief sketch will serve to perpetuate the memory of the founder of the Duncan family in Louisa County, and will grow in interest among his descendants with advancing years.