Sunday, May 31, 2015

ISAAC DUNCAN, son of Browning and Rebecca (Pettus) Duncan

© Kathy Duncan, 2015

Isaac Duncan, son of Browning and Rebecca W. (Pettus) Duncan, was born on 18 Feb 1828 in Madison County, Kentucky and died 19 June 1910 in Sebastian County, Arkansas, less than a month after the census taker visited his house.  He married first Martha Sale, who was born 15 Sep 1829 in TN and died 9 Oct 1865 in Sebastian Co, AR. Four months after Martha's death, on 14 Feb 1866, he married as his second wife, Susan P. Reese, daughter of William Wheeler and Frances J. (Halbert) Reese. She was born 18 June 1839 in Washington County, Arkansas and died 21 January 1918 in Sebastian County, Arkansas. She was the widow of Anson Hodges, a union soldier who died on 10 Jan 1863 after being shot by his Confederate captors in what may have been an attempt to escape. I have not discovered his place of burial yet.

Known children of Isaac and Martha (Sale) Duncan:

1. Rebecca E. Duncan b. 24 Oct 1854, d. 8 Oct, married Ira W. Mannon
2. Sarah Ann Duncan b. 7 Jan 1859 AR, d. 1839, Chismville, Logan Co., AR, m. Joseph Oliver Knight
3. William Duncan

Known children of Isaac and Susan P. (Reese) Duncan:

4. John Duncan b. Mar 1867 AR, d. 1950, m. Agnes S. Corbett
5. Thomas M. Duncan b. May 1869 AR, m. Ada Draper
6. Dora H. Duncan b. c. 1870, m. J. W. Gray
4. Richard Elick Duncan b. 18 Jan 1873 AR, d. 12 Jul 1952 Red River Co., TX, m. Susan Gertrude Nevill

Census records of Isaac and Martha (Sales) Duncan:

12 Dec 1850, Civil District 9, Dyer Co., TN:

939 - 938
Isaac Duncan 21 M Farmer b. KY married within year, cannot read or write
M. Duncan 21 F b. TN married within year, cannot read or write

27 June 1860, Sugarloaf Twp., Sebastian Co., Arkansas, p. 989:

217-207
Isaac Duncan 33 M Blacksmith $800-$400 b. KY cannot read or write
Martha " 31 F b. TN cannot read or write
Rebecca " 5 F b. Ark
Sarah " 1 F b. Ark
William " 5/12 M b. Ark

Census records of Isaac and Susan P. (Reese) Duncan:

18 Sept. 1870, Sugar Loaf Twp., Sebastian Co., AR, p. 173:

275-275
Dunken, Isaac 40 M W farmer $700 - $250 b. TN cannot read or write
-----, Susan 31 F W Keeping house b. TN
-----, Rebekah 16 F W At Home b. Ark cannot read or write
-----, Sarah 11 F W At Home b. Ark cannot read or write
-----, William 10 M W At Home b. Ark cannot read or write
-----, Samuel 9 M W At Home b. Ark
-----, John 4 M W  b. Ark
-----, Thomas 1 W M b. Ark

Samuel Duncan is actually Samuel Hodges, Susan's son from her marriage to Anson Hodges.

16 June 1880, Sugar Loaf Township, Sebastian Co., AR:

169 - 159
Duncan, Isaac W M 52 Farmer b. KY fb. KY mb. SC
----- Susan W F 41 Wife Keeping House b. TN fb. TN mb. TN
----- John W M 14 son Farm labor b. Ark fb. KY mb. TN
----- Thomas W M 11 son At Home b. Ark fb. KY mb. TN
----- Dora W F 10 daughter At Home b. Ark fb. KY mb. TN
----- Richard E. W M 8 son At Home b. Ark fb. Ky mb. TN
Hoges, Samil P. W M 18 stepson Farmer b. Ark fb. Ark mb. TN

John, Thomas, Dora and Samuel had all attended school that year; however, none of them could write. Isaac and Susan are coded as being able to read and write, which is in conflict with other census records.

7 Jun 1900, Sugarloaf Twp., Sebastian Co., AR, p.. 217:

48-49  Duncan, Esach Head W M Feb 1828 72 M-51 b. KY fb. KY mb. SC
---Susan P. Wife W F June 1838 62 M-51  7-5 b. TN fb. TN mb. TN
[Notation: Isaac is living next to his son Thomas M. Duncan--kdd]

27 April 1910, Sugarloaf Twp., Sebastian Co., AR:

206-206
Duncan, Isaac Head M W 81 M-2 40 b. US fb. US mb. US cannot read or write
-----, Susan P. Wife F W 72 M-2 40 5-5 b. TN fb. US mb. US cannot read or write
-----, Thos Son M W ?8 M-1 17 b. Ark fb. US mb. TN can read and write
Anderson, Ivan [Wan?] Cousin M W 57 S b. Ark fb. US can read and write

Isaac Duncan began homesteading land by 1860 in Sebastian County, Arkansas. Shortly after the turn of the 20th century, Isaac indicated that he was willing to sell his property. The following photograph of his house was published. I realize that there is faction out there who believe that photographs should never be altered in any way, but a lighter version of this photograph would be wonderful. I do not have a program capable of doing that. Below is a digital copy of the published photograph:








Below is lighter, altered copy of the photograph that reveals three people, probably Isaac and Susan Duncan and their dog along with a third person, who might be son Thomas Duncan who was living in the household near this time period. Or it may be the Anderson cousin. A better digital copy would be wonderful. And welcomed!





Isaac Duncan's Will

No comments:

Post a Comment

I will always try to respond to your comments. If you are anonymous and cannot be reached by email and if you do not choose to follow responses to your comments, then please check back here for a response.