Joseph was the youngest known child of John William Duncan and Apaleen (Kerchival) Duncan. He was born 13 January 1861 near Danville, Boyle Co., Kentucky.
Joseph and his parents and siblings apparently lived on a farm near the intersection of three counties in Kentucky: Boyle, Mercer and Lincoln. While we have not found the family on the 1870 or 1880 censuses, we suspect they were living in that area since a number of other records show family members in those three counties during those decades.
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| This MAY be Joseph Holt Duncan, but it is not confirmed |
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| Note to Boyle County Clerk from Fannie Owens giving permission for the marriage of Lucy to Joseph |
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| Marriage Bond and Certificate for Joseph H. Duncan and Lucy B. Owens |
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| Lucy Bell Owens |
Lucy and Joseph's first child, a son they named Effie Felan, was born 14 September 1884. Their daughter, Ethel May, was born 6 May 1887. Both children were born in Boyle Co., Kentucky.
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| Effie Felan Duncan |
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| This may be Ethel Mae Duncan. An anonymous comment says this is Florence Linskey, Effie Duncan's wife. Note that the wallpaper is the same in this picture and the one of Boyd Duncan below. |
About 1895, Joseph and Lucy moved their family to the Alexandria area of Madison Co., Indiana. They lived in the area known as "Innisdale" in Monroe Township. Joseph worked as a carpenter and also for the interurban line. They were members of the Alexandria First Baptist Church.
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| Boyd Duncan and his mother, Lucy Duncan |
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| Lucy Duncan with cows |
On 27 September 1897, Lucy gave birth to their youngest child, a son. The birth certificate just lists the child as a male and gives no name, but this is most likely their youngest child, Boyd Pinkie Duncan. A variety of birth dates have been found for Boyd, but this one seems most likely to be correct.
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| Boyd Duncan |
The 1910 census finds the family still in Monroe Township: "Duncan, Joseph H., head, M, W, 50, M1 [married once], 27 [married 27 years], [born] Kentucky, [father born] Pennsylvania, [mother born] Kentucky, carpenter, working for himself, can read & write; Lucy B., wife, F, W, 47, M1, 27, 3 [children], 3 [children living], [born] Kentucky, [both parents born] Kentucky, no occupation, can read & write; Effie F., son, M, W, 25, S[ingle], [born] Kentucky, [both parents born] Kentucky, occupation = Gatherer at Chimney House, can read & write; May, daughter, F, W, 21, S, Kentucky, Kentucky, Kentucky, no occupation, can read & write; Pinkie B., son, M, W, 12, S, Indiana, Kentucky, Kentucky, no occupation, can read & write"
On 27 June 1910, son Effie married Florence Linsky in Madison Co., Indiana.
According to the Alexandria Rural Directory, between 1915 and 1921, Joseph and Lucy were listed as: "Joseph Holt & Lucy B. Duncan, House & Lot, 2 cows, RR 23, Alexandria, IN."
The 1920 census shows them in Monroe Township, Madison Co., Indiana: "Duncan, J.H., M, W, 59, M, born KY, father born PA, mother born KY, carpenter; Lucy B., wife, F, W, 58, M, KY, KY, KY; Ethel May, daughter, F, W, 33, S, KY, KY, KY; Boyd P., son, M, W, 20, S, IN, KY, KY, occupation Army"
On 8 February 1923, son Boyd married Thelma Harnish in Madison Co., Indiana.
Joseph Holt Duncan died at his home at R. R. 6, Alexandria, Madison Co., Indiana, on 24 January 1928 of influenza after being sick about two weeks. He was 67 years old.
Joseph was buried at Parkview Cemetery (also called I.O.O.F. Cemetery) in Alexandria, Indiana.
An obituary appeared in the Alexandria Times-Tribune on 27 January 1928:
"JOS. DUNCAN DEAD AT HOME IN INNISDALE. - Joseph Holt Duncan, 67, widely known Alexandria carpenter and a resident of this city for more than thirty years, died at 2 o'clock this morning at his home on rural route 6, in Innisdale, after an illness of about two weeks with complications of pneumonia and flu. Mr. Duncan was a native of Danville, Ky., and came to Madison county 33 years ago. He was an industrious and well liked citizen, respected by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Lucy Duncan, two sons, E.F. Duncan and Boyd P. Duncan, both of Alexandria, and one daughter, Miss Ethel Duncan, at home. Two sisters, Mrs. Agnes Vaught and Mrs. Maggie Cutter, live in Pratt, Kansas. The body of Mr. Duncan was removed to the Gipe & Day mortuary this morning to be prepared for burial."
On 26 January 1928, the following appeared in the Alexandria Times-Tribune:
"SERVICES FOR JOS. DUNCAN SATURDAY. -- Funeral services for the late Joseph H. Duncan, 67, who died Thursday morning at his home in Innisdale, will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the family home. Rev. Ralph Richardson will be in charge, and the body will be placed in the mausoleum in the Odd Fellows cemetery. Relatives from a distance will be here to attend the service."
On 30 January 1928, the following story appeared in the Alexandria Times-Tribune:
"DUNCAN FUNERAL WAS HELD SATURDAY -- Many neighbors and friends of the late Joseph H. Duncan attended his funeral, which was held Saturday afternoon at the family home in Innisdale. Rev. Ralph Richardson was in charge, speaking from the scripture, "Let not your heart be troubled." The funeral music included the hymns, "In the Sweet Bye and Bye," "Asleep in Jesus," and "A City Four Square." Following the service, the body was taken to the Odd Fellows cemetery and placed in a crypt in the mausoleum there."
And the Alexandria Times-Tribune published the following story on 23 February 1928:
"J. DUNCAN HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM AT HIS OLD HOME -- The following comment is printed in a newspaper published at Danville, Ky., in connection with the death of Joseph Duncan, well known Alexandrian, who was a former resident of the Danville community:
"Mrs. Dollie Phillips received a message from Alexandria, Indiana, stating that her brother-in-law, Mr. Joseph H. Duncan, had passed away on the morning of January 24th. Mr. Duncan was born and reared in this county. With his family he left here about 35 years ago locating at Alexandria, Indiana, where he had made his home since that time. Mr. Duncan was united with the Christian church when a youth, was ever a consecrated Christian and numbered his friends by his acquaintances. Those who know tell us he had made many substantial friends since going to his adopted home, who are grieved at his passing as they do in the county, where he spent the years of his childhood, youth and young manhood. He is survived by the devoted wife and three children, who have lost a devoted husband and father, and the sympathy of the many friends in this county go out to them in these hours of distress."
On 9 April 1930, Ethel Mae Duncan died at her mother's home in Madison Co., Indiana. She was 42 years old and had never married. She was buried next to her father at Parkview Cemetery.
Though we found Lucy's son, Effie, and his family on the 1930 census in Madison Co., we have not found Lucy or Boyd. The census was taken 7 April; this was close to the date of Ethel's death, so we wonder if perhaps the family was missed due to her illness and death. We are fairly confident that they were indeed still in the Alexandria area based on many other records that place them there.
Lucy was listed in the 1931-32 Alexandria City Directory as: "Mrs. Joseph Duncan, housewife, Innisdale."
On 4 February 1933, Lucy Bell (Owens) Duncan died at the County Infirmary, Anderson, Madison Co., Indiana. She was 71 years old.
An obituary appeared in an unidentified newspaper on 6 February 1933 which read:
"LUCY B. DUNCAN DIED SATURDAY; FUNERAL TODAY ________
Mrs. Lucy B. Duncan, 72, widow of the late Joseph Duncan and a resident of Alexandria for the past 37 years, passed away Saturday evening after [sic] with a complication of ailments. She was a native of Boyle County, Ky., having been born there in 1861. She and Mr. Duncan were married there before coming to Alexandria to make their home. She was a member of the Baptist church here, and had a wide circle of friends. Her funeral was held this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Roger Gipe funeral chapel, and was conducted by Rev. Noel Irwin. Interment was in Park View cemetery. She is survived by two sons, E.F. Duncan and Boyd Duncan, both of this city, and eight grandchildren. She also has two sisters living in Kentucky. Mr. Duncan died here in 1928."
Lucy was buried next to Joseph and their daughter, Ethel, in Parkview Cemetery, Alexandria.
Joseph Holt Duncan, b. 13 Jan 1861 at Danville, Boyle Co., KY, d. 24 Jan 1928 at
Alexandria, Madison Co., IN
+Lucy Bell Owens, b. 23 Dec 1861 at
Danville, Boyle Co., KY, m. 16 Nov 1882 at Danville, Boyle Co., KY, d. 4 Feb
1933 at Anderson, Madison Co., IN
├── Effie Felan Duncan, b. 14 Sep 1884 at
Danville, Boyle Co., KY, d. 25 Oct 1962 at Alexandria, Madison Co., IN
│
+Florence G. Linskey, b. 26 Jun 1889 at Crystal
City, MO, m. 27 Jun 1910 at Anderson or Alexandria, Madison Co., IN, d. 22 May
1968 at Kokomo, Howard County, IN
│
├── Herbert E Duncan, b. 22 Jun 1912 at
Alexandria, Madison Co., IN, d. 27 Feb 1965 at Carbondale, Jackson Co., IL
│
│
│
├── Boyd K Duncan, b. 4 Jun 1915 at IN, d.
28 Dec 1988 at Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., IN
│
├── Lucille Duncan, b. 17 Dec 1917 at
Alexandria, Madison Co., IN, d. 15 Jun 1940 at Muncie, Delaware Co., IN
│
├── Clayton Lloyd Duncan, b. 27 Jan 1922 at
Alexandria, Madison Co., IN, d. 24 Apr 2012 at Kokomo, IN
│
│
│
└── Jack Joseph Duncan, b. 14 Sep 1925 at
Alexandria, Madison Co., IN, d. 31 Dec 2006 at Alexandria, Madison Co., IN
│ +Ruthanne Kassel, b. 29 Sep 1928 at Alexandria, Madison Co., IN, m. 15 Jun 1946 at
IN, d. 5 Jun 2013 at Anderson, Madison Co., IN
├── Ethel May Duncan, b. 6 May 1887 at
Danville, KY, d. 9 Apr 1930 at Alexandria, Madison Co., IN
└── Boyd Pinkie Duncan, b. 27 Sep 1897 at Monroe
Twp., Madison Co., IN, d. 26 Jan 1960 at Seattle, King Co., WA
+Thelma Bell Harnish, b. 21 Mar 1904 at
Alexandria, Madison Co., IN, m. 8 Feb 1923 at Alexandria, Madison Co., IN, d.
24 Aug 1961 at Muncie, Delaware Co., IN
+Ruth Lorene Privett, b. 24 Jan 1915 at Muncie,
Delaware Co., IN, m. 7 Nov 1935 at New Castle, Henry Co., IN, d. 12 Aug 2003 at
Wheat Ridge, Jefferson Co., CO
+Elinor Benedicta McCarthy, b. 10 Feb 1895 at Council
Bluff, IA, m. 19 Oct 1946 at Seattle, King Co., WA, d. 15 Apr 1981 at Seattle,
King Co., WA
The picture titled Ethel Mae is Florence G Linsky Effa Duncans wife
ReplyDeleteVery interesting I've been looking for info on the Duncan's, Effie would of been my grandfather, Boyd k.was my father. He and my mother separated when I was very young and I don't know much about that side of the family. If any else has information contact me. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThere is no way to contact you through your comment. Please email me (address in my info on the blog) if you want to discuss further.
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