Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 878 - 879

ROBERT DUNCAN, a citizen of Wichita, and whose portrait is shown in this connection, during his earlier and more active years distinguished himself as "keeping ahead of the railroad," and being among the first to assist in opening up a new section of the country. This process was repeated several times in his career, and after he had accumulated sufficient means and retired from the arduous pursuits of agriculture, he came, in 1880, to the city of Wichita, and invested a part of his money in twelve acres of land adjacent to the city limits. This property is estimated to be worth at least $30,000, rendering its owner independent; he has, therefore, retired from active labor, and in a pleasant home at No. 809 South Water street, is enjoying the fruits of his early toil.

            The grandfather of this scion of the "Duncans of Scotland," was born among the Highlands in the "land of the thistle," whence he emigrated to the United States at an early day, and settled on the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania. Not many years later he turned his face to the further West, but after reaching Ohio was never more heard from. It is supposed that he was murdered by Indians or some of the white desperadoes with which that section of the country was overrun. The now wealthy and populous Buckeye State was then an unbroken wilderness, as was all the country west of the Alleghany Mountains.

            Robert Duncan had left his family in Pennsylvania, and among his sons was Charles C., the father of our subject, who was born in 1800, and was but two years of age when his father left home. He continued in his native State until a youth of nineteen years, then engaged as a raftsman on the Allegheny River. The year 1819 found him also in Ohio, which had then become a State, and was giving high promise of its future importance. He entered a tract of Government land in Washington County, five miles from Marietta, and there also met and married Miss Charity Gard, a native of Virginia, and born in 1798. This union resulted in the birth of seven children, namely: Mary A., Robert, Julia, Elias, Elizabeth, Charity and Nancy.

            In 1831 the Duncan family removed to Indiana, and located in Hamilton County, where they lived a few years, then went to Illinois, and subsequently to Wisconsin. The mother had in the meantime passed away at her home in Indiana, in January, 1839. Charles C. Duncan was subsequently married to Miss Elizabeth Perie, by whom he became the father of four more children, namely: Frank, Delmer, Henry and Rachel. The father of our subject was one of the hardiest and bravest of pioneers, and was never so contented as when on the remote frontier. He delighted in opening up new farms, and was of a splendid constitution, enjoying robust health. He prided himself upon the dangers which he was called upon to endure, and lived to a good old age, passing away at his home in Sumner County, Kan., Oct. 12, 1886, aged eighty-six years.

            Robert Duncan, of this sketch, was born in Washington County, Ohio, Jan. 8, 1823, and from early life was familiar with the scenes incident to the life of a pioneer settler. He was but a lad of eight years of age when the family removed to Indiana, and twenty when they changed their residence to Wisconsin. In the latter place he worked in the lead mines of Grant, County, where he labored on his own account for a period of fifteen years. At the age of twenty-four, in 1847, he was married to Miss Rachel Gard, who was born March 7, 1828, in Washington County, Ohio. The parents of Mrs. Duncan were John and Amy Gard, natives of Virginia, and of German and Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan in due time became the parents of seven children, namely: Charles A., Olive, John G., Warren R., Emily, Wellington and Byron D. They are all living, married, and residents of this State. On the 6th of December, 1873, Mrs. Duncan died, while on a visit to her brother's residence, in Pottawatomie County, Kan., and Mr. Duncan, on the 6th of June, 1875, was married to Mrs. Rebecca Stevens, daughter of David Gard; she was a niece of his former wife.

            In 1855 Mr. Duncan removed to Minnesota, and settled on a tract of land which he had purchased from the Government. Twelve years later, in the fall of 1867, he changed his residence to Pottawatomie County, this State. He came to this county in 1870, and secured a tract of land in Kechi Township before the building of a railroad through this section. In fact, this county was still a wilderness, and the site of Wichita was marked by a few unimportant buildings. The county abounded with roughs and horse-thieves, who carried bowie-knives and revolvers, and were a terror to the settlers outside of the hamlet already spoken of. These latter they seldom troubled. The hotel and church, which the town then boasted of, were simply stockades built of cottonwood logs.

            The great "cattle drive" of Western history passed through Wichita in 1870-72. The first herd included 400,000 bead of animals, and the second 600,000. These were driven from Texas to the nearest railroad station, at Abilene. Two years later shipping began by rail at Wichita, and that era marked the first step of her future importance, This industry gradually extended to other points, but Wichita has gone right on, and probably never felt seriously the loss of it. Mr. Duncan is one of the favored men who was permitted to watch the growth and development of Southern Kansas from first principles. He has always been a thorough believer in its possibilities, which were to be worked out from its splendid resources, and has assisted, as well as he could, in bringing it to its present position. Politically, be is a strong Republican, and as a business man and citizen above reproach.

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