John J. DUNCAN

DUNCAN, SHANE, GOODMAN, BEARD

Posted By: Sharon R. Becker (email)
Date: 11/21/2008 at 16:12:30

The Mount Ayr Record-News, 1925

OBITUARY - JOHN J. DUNCAN.

John J. DUNCAN was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, August 16, 1845, and died June 13, 1925, closing a long, eventful and useful life at the age of 79 years, nine months and 27 days. His parents were of Scotch descent and he was brought up in strict accord with the "Thou shalts and thou shalt nots" of the Covenanter church, which had great influence in forming that uprightness of character which marked his life. He was intensely patriotic - country first. He knew no compromise.

Mr. DUNCAN's boyhood was spent on a farm in western Pennsylvania. At the outbreak of the Civil war in 1861, when Lincoln called for ninety-day enlistments, Mr. DUNCAN, though only sixteen years of age, answered the call and enlisted in the 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry. At the end of the ninety day's service, he re-enlisted in Company D, 100th Pennsylvania Veteran Voluntary Infantry, known as the Roundhead Regiment, with which company he remained until the close of the war and he was mustered from service in 1865. In the Battle of the Wilderness he was wounded in the face, which later resulted in almost total blindness.

Just after war times the Indians and other mauraders were trouble-some in the west and he and his brother James spent several years in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah as guards for goverment supply trains from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Supply and Fort Laramine. They also guarded the U. S. mail out from Tucson, Arizona. One one of these trips the brothers were attacked by the Indians and James received a wound from which he died.

Soon after his brother's death, Mr. DUNCAN returned to Pennsylania and December 25, 1873, was married to Mary Minerva SHANE. To this union were born three children, all of whom are living: I. S. DUNCAN of Riceville, Iowa; Mrs. Anna BEARD, of Mount Ayr; and Mrs. Frances GOODMAN, of Des Moines.

In 1880 Mr. DUNCAN came with his family to Mount Ayr, where he made his home until his death. In August, 1921, his wife passed away and after that time he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Anna BEARD.

Three sisters survive him: Mrs. Martha TODD, Miss Margaret DUNCAN and Mrs. Caroline MASON, all of Tonkawa, Okla.; one brother, Geo. DUNCAN, of Enon Valley, Pa.; four grandchildren, John A., Ruth and Margaret BEARD and Kenneth DUNCAN.

Mr. DUNCAN was an active member of the G.A.R. of the I.O.O.F. lodge and the Rebekah auxilliary and was a member of and faithful attendant at the United Presbyterian church during all of his many years of residence here. For many years he served as deputy county auditor and deputy county sheriff of Ringgold county.

In Mr. DUNCAN's passing his family loses a loving father and an indulgent grandfather and the community loses a useful and highly respected citizen.

Card of Thanks.

We take this means of expressing to the members of the Grand Army of the Republic and the odd Fellows and Rebekah lodges and neighbors and friends our sincere thanks for their many acts of kindness and sympathy expressed during the illness and on the occasion of the death and funeral.

GEORGE DUNCAN.
MR. AND MRS. I. S. DUNCAN.
MRS. FRANCES GOODMAN.
MR. AND MRS. H. C. BEARD AND CHILDREN.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, 2008