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Duncan

Our family loves to explore our family history including all of its extensions. This page begins the DUNCAN family (constantly under construction, just as our family is). We seek your input and comments on any and all we present at: Bill Smith (smithwil@emporia.edu)

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Nettie (Williams) Kinnick was Bill Smith's mother's paternal grandmother. The mother of Nettie (Williams) Kinnick (Mrs. Alonzo Palmer (Lon) KINNICK) was a Duncan. Nettie's mother's father was Braxton Duncan. Born in Virginia, Braxton and his brother, Buford, sons of Charles Duncan, were the earliest pioneers in Duncan Township, Mercer Co, IL, along the Mississippi River, a few miles south of what has come to be known as the Quad Cities ares. This is their story.

Map showing Duncan Township, Mercer Co, IL

Charles Duncan Family

Buford Duncan Family

Braxton Duncan Family

Notes

Note Duncan Township, below and to the right of Mercer Co. name, left middle side of map.

Charles DUNCAN (My relationship: Charles Duncan is my 4th great grandfather! He was father of Buford and Braxford. Eliza Duncan, who married James Vernon, was a daughter of Buford Duncan. Bill Smith), b. 1760

Children of Charles and ? Duncan, possibly others:

Buford DUNCAN, b. 1791, VA; m. Frances (Fanny) UNKNOWN

Betsey DUNCAN, b. 1793, VA; m. SOUTHERN

Peggy DUNCAN, b. 1795, VA; m. BOLTEN

Braxton DUNCAN, b. 1 Feb 1798; d. abt 1857/58, Charleston, VA; m. Araminta KIRK

Buford DUNCAN, b. 1791, VA; (See Notes)

m.

Frances (Fanny) UNKNOWN

Children of Buford and Fanny Duncan, possibly others:

Eliza DUNCAN, b. 1818/1820, IN; m. James VERNON

Margaret DUNCAN, b. 1829/1831, IN; m. James M. Duncan

Eliza DUNCAN, b. 1818/1820, IN; d. 17 Mar 1896, Millersburg, Mercer Co, IL; Oak Ridge Cemetery, Millersburg, Mercer Co, IL.

m. 1836, IN,

James VERNON (See Notes), b. 1812/1813, Warren Co, OH; d. 27 Oct 1885, Millersburg, Mercer Co, IL; bur. Oak Ridge Cemetery, Millersburg, Mercer Co, IL

Children of James and Eliza Vernon, possibly others:

Harriet N. VERNON, b. Feb 1841, Millersburg, Mercer Co, IL

Sarah F. VERNON, b. 1 Jul 1843, Millersburg, Mercer Co, IL; m. Silas H. RIDDELL

Thomas A. VERNON, b. 30 Jul 1845, Duncan Twp, Mercer Co, IL

Catherine J. VERNON, b. Mar 1848, Millersburg, Mercer Co, IL

Unknown VERNON, Millersburg, Mercer Co, IL; d. 25 Jan 1849, Millersburg, Mercer Co, IL

Samantha E. VERNON, b. 1849, Millersburg, Mercer Co, IL

Viola J. VERNON, b. 1854/56, Millersburg, Mercer Co, IL; m. SHORT

Thomas A. VERNON, b. 30 Jul 1845, Duncan Twp, Mercer Co, IL; d. 13 Oct 1926, Aledo, Mercer Co, IL (See Notes)

m. 25 Dec 1867, Buffalo Prairie, Rock Island Co, IL

Rebecca S. SLOAN, b. Nov 1845, Rock Island Co, IL; d. 29 Mar 1931, Aledo, Mercer Co, IL; bur. Aledo Cem., Aledo, Mercer Co, IL

Children of Thomas and Rebecca Vernon:

Edith V. VERNON, b. 13 Feb 1870, Millersburg, Mercer Co, IL; d. 10 Jun 1904, Millersburg, Mercer Co, IL; bur. Oak Ridge Cem, Millersburg, Mercer Co, IL; m. 29 Mar 1894, Aledo, Mercer Co, IL, Archie Glenn BRIDGFORD

James Lynn VERNON, b. 9 May 1872, Duncan Township, Mercer Co, IL

m. 29 Jul 1896, Richland Grove, Mercer Co, IL

Virginia G. (Jennie) CLARK

Children of James and Jennie Vernon:

Dorothy VERNON

Kenneth VERNON

Vera VERNON

Margaret DUNCAN, b. 1829/1831, IN;

m.

James M. DUNCAN, b. 1819/1825, VA

(James M. and Margaret were first cousins. 1850 census has Margaret, age 21, IN; 1860 census says age 29, IN. Need to know James' father!)

Children of James and Margaret Duncan, possibly others:

Riley DUNCAN, b. 1851, IL

Braxton DUNCAN, b. 1 Feb 1798 (1850 census of Mercer Co, IL, says age 52, VA, b. 1798.); d. abt 1857/58, Charleston, VA;

m. abt. 1822, Charleston, VA

Araminta KIRK, b. 1813, Scotland; d. 1853/54

Children of Braxton and Araminta Duncan, possibly others:

Manitia DUNCAN, b. 1840, VA; m. Harrison HERSON
(Manitia was married to Harrison Herson one year after her mother's death, and died about three years after her marriage.)

Oscar DUNCAN, b. 1841, IL

Ann Eliza DUNCAN, b. 1842/1843, IL; m. Elias WILLIAMS

(Oscar, Ann, and Staff went to work out. Josephine staid with her Uncle about two years. About six months afterwards Staff stole Thomas away. Jennie staid until she was fifteen years old when she left Duncan Prairie, in order to work out. They all made their home with their sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Elias Williams.)

Granville Braxton Stafford DUNCAN, b. 1844/45, IL

Josephine E. DUNCAN, b. 1845/47, IL
(Josephine was working at her Uncle Buford's at the time of her father's death.)

Sarah Virginia DUNCAN, b. 1849, IL

Thomas Kirk DUNCAN, b. 1849/50, IL
(Thomas was four years old when his mother died. Braxton Duncan died when Thomas Kirk was a little more than eight years old. Thomas Kirk went there to live with his Uncle Buford, as Buford was his guardian. If Thomas was eight when Braxton died, than it would have been 1857/8, not 1851. Josephine and Thomas are with Buford in 1860 census.)

Jennie DUNCAN (don't know where she fits)

James KELLEY (adopted)

Towran KELLEY (adopted)

Thomas Kirk DUNCAN. b. 1849/50, IL

Notes on Buford Duncan

Notes on James Vernon

Notes on Thomas A. Vernon

Notes on Buford Duncan:

From writing of a grandchild of his brother, Braxton Duncan.

From History of Mercer Co, IL, Duncan Twp: The first settler in what is now Duncan Township was Buford Duncan, as early as 1834 or 1836. The township took its name from this man. The next family to come was Duncan's son-in-law, James Vernon. (goes on).

Buford located in section 16 in the year 1838. His brother Braxton located on section 17. Area became known as "Duncan Settlement" because of the number of children of Buford and Braxton who also settled there.

Buford Duncan was elected one of four Pound Masters at township organization meeting 4 Apr 1854. Buford Duncan and James Vernon among overseers of the poor. William Duncan, constable, James Vernon, Justice of the Peace. Thirty votes cast.

Notes on James Vernon:

From writing of a grandchild of his Braxton Duncan. Second settler in Duncan Township (see Buford Duncan).

1860 census says age, 47, OH.

Additional information from Marna Wilson, 1 Mar 2000. Mr. Vernon was among the early settlers of Millersburg. He came to the area when it was almost a wilderness. He was a farmer.

Additional information from Marna Wilson, 1 mar 2000. Death and marriage info. Following taken from History of Mercer County 1882-1976:

1861-1890 Millersburg age 16. General store and later stock raising and farming, 1894, help found Citizens Bank (1st National Bank 1904) 1st Trust and Savings organized in 1907. He began in 1904 as 1st Cashier 1904-1924. President of the Bank. Memeberships: Presbyterian Church. In 1890 elected treasurer of Mercer Co. In 1905 The Merchants Hotel was built by Mr. Vernon and others. The Sherrard Banking Company was organized by Thomas A. Vernon and James L. Vernon.

From the Rock Island and Moline Daily Union, Friday, 27 Dec 1867: Thomas A. Vernon of Millersburg married Rebecca Sloan of Buffalo Prairie, Rock Island County, on Christmas day at the residence of the brides parents.

This page originally created on Apr 23, 2000; updated 30 Apr 2000. Maintained by William L. Smith