DANIEL DUNCAN. Among the prosperous and influential citizens of Smith township, none is more prominently identified with the best interests of the community than this gentleman, who is a grandson of Alexander Duncan. John Duncan, father of subject, was born about the year 1768, in Lancaster county, Penn., where he was married, and in 1780 he came to Washington county, locating in Smith township, about one mile and a half north of Burgettstown. At that time it was a wild tract of land, covered with heavy woods, inhabited only by Indians and wild beasts. Here the young couple made their home, and began to clear away the surrounding forest. A brother, Daniel Duncan, who came West with him, was killed by lightning. To this marriage of John Duncan, five children were born: Alexander, David, John, Elisha and Susan, all of whom lived to adult age, and Susan, who was born June 30, 1800, died at Florence in 1890, having lived to see her great-great-grandchild. Mrs. John Duncan died soon after the birth of her youngest child, and Mr. Duncan then married Nancy Morrison, of Washington county, who bore him children as follows: James, Elizabeth, Jane, and a son deceased in infancy (twins), Joseph, Daniel (whose name opens this sketch), and Norris. Of this family Daniel is the only one yet living. The mother passed away, and John Duncan for his third spouse married Mrs. Emery, who died in 1852. He was extensively engaged in the stock business during his later years, being one of the first to bring fine-bred cattle into that part of Washington county. He was very successful in business, accumulating a considerable property; in political opinions he was an enthusiastic Whig. Daniel Duncan was born May 12, 1815, on the home farm where he is yet living, and where his father first located after coming to Washington county. Our subject received a limited education in the primitive old log schoolhouse of the day, and on September 20, 1851, he was married to Rachel Van Eman, who was born in 1825, a daughter of Garrett Van Eman, a native of Smith township. To this union children were born as follows: Ella (at home), Logan V. and O. C. (twins), the former a farmer living on a part of the home place, the latter living at home, and Norris, who died in infancy. This wife died in 1855, and was buried at Florence, this county. On June 18, 1860, Daniel Duncan was married to Margaret, daughter of John Horner, of Hanover township, this county. The home farm of 215 acres, upon which Mr. and Mrs. Duncan are residing, has been in the possession of the family over one hundred years, and is now in an excellent state of cultivation, all the improvements having been made by him. He has been extensively engaged in the breeding of fine stock. In politics Mr. Duncan was originally a Whig, and since the organization of the party has been a Republican. He has held several township offices. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the U. P. Church at Burgettstown.

Text taken from page 989 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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