SIXTH GENERATION

60. Duncan Spears CASPER was born on 8 Dec 1824/25 in Bellville, Richland, Ohio. He was baptized into the LDS church on 15 Apr 1841. He died on 20 May 1898 in Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake, Utah. He was buried on 22 May 1898 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. He has reference number 2WRQ-X5. The Story of Duncan Spears Casper


Duncan Spears Casper, ninth child among the eleven children of William and Avarilla Durbin Casper, was born in Jefferson Township, Richland County, Ohio, December 8, 1824. At this time his mother belonged to the "Bible Christian" Church, which she had joined one year before, after having been a Methodist for twenty years. She was 37 years old when Duncan was born. William, his father, was 42. Duncan's grandparents, Thomas and Clemency Litten, died in Ohio when Duncan was two years old. Their death occurred in 1826. Seven years later, in 1833, Duncan's mother attached herself to the Campbellites. We have no record of the religious affiliations of Duncan's father. However, we know that Duncan was under the influence of a mother who was earnestly seeking after true religion. Her testimony tells us that she was a prayerful woman--full of faith in God--a noble mother. Perhaps William was just as ardent as his wife, but he failed to leave us the little intimate glimpses into his life that she did.

Duncan's parents were visited by the Mormon Elders in answer to prayer, and Avarilla says she knew it was the truth as soon as she heard their message. According to our records, William Wallace was the first one of the family to be baptized. He was baptized in 1834. Clemency was next in May, 1836. Then Duncan's parents were baptized. One year later the family joined the Saints in Missouri and purchased a home there. But persecution of the Saints was so great at this time that the family suffered greatly along with the rest. I will quote an affidavit given by Thomas D. Casper, Duncan1s eldest brother, which will bear this out.

"This is to certify that T, Thomas D, Casper, was a resident of the state of Missouri in the year 1838. I was not a member of the church of Mormon or Latter-Day Saints; but witnessed the following acts of distress: As I was on business, I inquired for Perry Moppin, and learned that he with Samuel Snowden, Esquire, has gone after Mr. Wilson, a Mormon, and had threatened and sworn to take his life if he did not tell his name; they swore they had the tool to take his life if he had not told them his name.

Further they agreed that the Mormons should leave the country of Missouri except they would deny the faith, or their religion. And I heard Anthony McCustian say that he would head a mob in any case to prevent the lawyers from attending to any case of their (the Mormons) grievances; and he was a postmaster. And I saw two men that said they had been at Haun's mill at the murder; and one by the name of White, and the other Moppin states that he had slain three Mormons. And I, Thomas D. Casper, witnessed other things too tedious to mention and solemnly swear, before God and men, that what is written here is a true statement of facts relative to the suffering of the Mormons in the state of Missouri".

Thomas was baptized and became a member of the church Mar. 8, 1840. Solomon Hancock baptized him. He was ordained to the priesthood on February 6, 1858 by John Oakley of Adams County, Illinois.

Duncan was about fourteen years old at this time. He was old enough to remember these persecutions. In 1839, Duncan went with his family to Illinois where his father rented a farm near Fairfield. Then he lived with his parents at Carthage for one year. They moved on to Nauvoo in 1841. Duncan was baptized April 15, 1841 by John Pack. Duncan's brother, Scott Litten, died in Nauvoo in 1844. The prophet and Hyrum were murdered this same year.


In May 1845, Duncan and Matilda Allison were married in Nauvoo. Duncan was 20 years old at this time. In April,1846, their first child was born here. Duncan was ordained a Seventy, April, 1845.

In 1846 William Wallace, Thomas, John Austin, Duncan, and John Ned's families left Nauvoo for Missouri. William and Avarilla, the father and mother of these boys and the two youngest unmarried children, Lydia Spears and Samuel Joshua, remained in Nauvoo. They were unable to go to Missouri at this time because someone had stolen William's horses. William sickened and died on the fourth day of August. He was sixty-two years old.

Avarilla, Duncan's mother wrote to her children in Missouri to come after her. Duncan went back to Nauvoo with wagon and team and brought his mother, brother and sister to Missouri. When they arrived William Wallace had gone with the Mormon Battalion. In December of this same year Duncan's brother John Austin died. After having lived in Missouri for nine years Duncan, his three living children Harriet, Rebecca and Duncan Alonzo, and his mother came to Utah, May 15,1855 in Captain Hindley's Company. Matilda had been endowed Feb. 7,1846 in the Nauvoo Temple. She was sealed to Duncan Feb. 12,1856 at the Salt Lake Endowment House.

After arriving in Utah, Duncan and his family went to Big Cottonwood. now Holladay and bought a home from William Hyde. More land was purchased later. Duncan also owned quite an amount of land in Idaho and raised stock and sheep.

Four more children were born to Duncan and Matilda in Holladay. They were Peter and Mary (twins), Cyrene and Wealthy. Altogether they were the parents of nine children. The first child, Rachel, died at four months in Nauvoo. The second child, Amanda, died at the age of one year at Lexington, Missouri.

Duncan's wife Matilda died when Wealthy was seven years old. Duncan married Elizabeth Ann Clark September 9,1872. She was a widow and had two children when he married her. They had seven Casper children: David, Emily, Alice, George, Arthur, Beatrice, and Jesse Clark Casper. Duncan was the father of sixteen Casper children and two adopted children of Elizabeth, Charles and Sarah Ann Blackwell Casper.

Duncan Casper besides being a pioneer in Salt Lake County was also a pioneer to the Muddy in 1867. He participated in the Echo Canyon War. His occupations were charcoal burner, farmer and stock raiser. He was interested in the school system in Salt Lake County and was a trustee in the Big Cottonwood School District. Duncan died May 20.1897 at the age of seventy-two years, 5 months and twelve days. He was buried in the Holladay Cemetery. Beside him are buried five of his children. Two of his children are still living, Beatrice and Jesse Clark Casper. Beatrice lives in South San Francisco, and Jesse lives in Salt Lake City and serves us today as one of the heads of our family organization.










He was married to Matilda ALLISON on 24 May 1845 in Adams County, Ohio.

61. Matilda ALLISON was born on 31 Dec 1820 in Geauga County, Ohio. She was baptized into the LDS church on 15 Apr 1841. She died on 20 Jun 1871 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. She was buried on 22 Jun 1871 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. She has reference number 2WRQ-ZB. Children were:

child i. Rachel Louisa CASPER was born on 12 Mar 1846 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois. She died on 30 Jul 1846. She was baptized into the LDS church CHILD. She was endowed CHILD. She has reference number 2WRR-MQ.
child ii. Amanda Elizabeth CASPER was born on 18 Feb 1848 in Lexington, Platte, Missouri. She died on 12 Feb 1849. She was baptized into the LDS church CHILD. She was endowed CHILD. She has reference number 2WRR-NW.
child iii. Harriet Matilda CASPER was born on 9 Nov 1849 in Platte City, Platte, Missouri. She was baptized into the LDS church on 16 Aug 1862. She was endowed on 6 Jun 1868. She died on 24 Oct 1921 in Peoa, Summit, Utah. She was buried on 27 Oct 1921 in Peoa, Summit, Utah. She has reference number 1F0X-39.
child iv. Rebecca Avarilla CASPER was born on 21 Nov 1851 in Platte City, Platte, Missouri. She was baptized into the LDS church in Aug 1862. She was endowed on 11 Dec 1871. She died on 17 Feb 1920 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. She was buried on 21 Feb 1920 in Peoa, Summit, Utah. She has reference number 2WRR-P3.
child30 v. Duncan Alonzo CASPER.
child vi. Peter William CASPER was born on 2 Aug 1857 in Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake, Utah. He was baptized into the LDS church on 2 Jul 1867. He was endowed on 31 Oct 1888. He died on 12 Apr 1936 in Emmett, Gem, Idaho. He was buried on 15 Apr 1936 in Emmett, Gem, Idaho. He has reference number 2DBT-RB.
child vii. Mary Malinda CASPER was born on 2 Aug 1857 in Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake, Utah. She was baptized into the LDS church on 3 Jul 1867. She died on 15 Aug 1930 in Menan, Jefferson, Idaho. She was buried on 17 Aug 1930 in Annis, Jefferson, Idaho. She was sealed to parents BIC. She has reference number 28SZ-79.
child viii. Cyrene Rosanna CASPER was born on 18 Aug 1859 in Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake, Utah. She was baptized into the LDS church on 20 Jul 1867. She died on 25 Feb 1920. She was sealed to parents BIC. She has reference number 2WRR-RF.
child ix. Welthia Ann CASPER was born on 6 Aug 1862 in Holladay, Salt Lake, Utah. She was baptized into the LDS church on 5 Oct 1870. She was endowed on 5 Jan 1882. She died on 10 Jan 1924 in Peoa, Summit, Utah. She was buried on 14 Jan 1924 in Peoa, Summit, Utah. She has reference number 2664-ZM.

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