Person Page 2,908

Obituary -- (Findagrave.com):

Supposedly, Thomas Hunt father of Uriah Hunt born in Bedford Co., Virginia. Uriah names his first son Thomas Hunt.

North Carolina Land Grants in Tennessee

1-596: 23 Oct. 1782, NC Grant #29 to Uriah Hunt, 300 acres in Washington Co. on both sides Boons Creek adj. Joseph Dunkins line.

East TN Land Grants

grant to Joseph Duncan 4 acres in Washington Co. in said Dist. on waters of Big Limestone adj. said Duncan's line, Arviah? Hunt's line, surveyed 4 Jan. 1823.

Uriah Hunt married Sarah Kincheloe about 1782 and lived most of their life in Sulphur Springs Community in Washington County, Tennessee. The cemetery where they are buried was the first community cemetery in use before the Sulphur Springs Cemetery. Many early families are buried there. The cemetery has been cleaned up and is in great shape today.

In June 1995 many Hunt descendants from all over the United States met at Jonesborough, Washington County, TN for a two day conference. The excess proceeds were designated to purchase a grave stone for Uriah, of "The 14". He and his wife are buried there on the land once owned by Uriah, who was the owner of a considerable amount of land. In 1995 their graves were marked only with field stones. Many of their descendants are buried near them, some graves marked with inscriptions and some not.

Frederick Russell DeVault had this to say in regard to James Duncan, "Uncle Jim was dressy and smart. Generally wore fine shirts, stand up collars and a high silk hat. I never knew a Duncan that was not a Presbyterian -- Scotch people -- blue stocking type."

LETTER FROM JAMES W. DUNCAN TO MARY JANE (DEVAULT) GUERRANT

Charlotte, Oct 10, ‘68

Mrs. Mary Jane Guerrant

My Dear Niece;

Yours of 1st inst. reached me on yesterday. Of its unusual merits & excellence as an epistolary effort, I need not speak; but of its condolence & sympathy for my aching heart & bereft condition, I must speak.

Now, more than ever do my affections centre upon you for bereaved of the darling of my bosom, & having no surviving children to love, it is natural for me to flee to you, My dear Niece, whom my sainted wife & myself have so long loved.

But for the promises of God, I would sink under my troubles resulting from her death. Excuse my weakness, for I do love to write about her & to commemorate her memory. She is now with my mother and father, your sainted mother & the rest of our sainted relations whose spirits had gone up to Heaven before her. Oh, Lord God, have mercy upon me!

In our beautiful 40 acre cemetery of this city her mortal remains now rest.

I was at the grave the other day & oh imagine my meditations as I wept over her among the tombs!

The wreath that was left upon her bosom when she was interred had wilted & when I reflected that she slept among strangers, I could but feel like remaining with her for company.

But I must give her up, for a merciful God has so decreed it. I am reduced from 150 to 127 pounds in flesh.

My brother’s family is now convalescing. When I get the monument erected to the memory of my beloved Mary & her grave bedecked with flowers &c, it will be beautiful.

I want you to have something of your Aunt’s as a memento of her virtue, piety & excellence. Give my most kindly and tender regard to the Doctor, whose sympathy & condolence for me was highly appreciated. Accept my love for yourself. Write

Yr aff. Uncle, J. W. Duncan

Note: After Mary's death, James married Martha Broyles and a few years later married M. A. Royce.

LETTER FROM JAMES W. DUNCAN TO MARY JANE (DeVAULT) GUERRANT

Home, Greene Co., Tenn.

Augt. 10, 1870

Mrs. M. J. Guerrant

Dear Niece;

Your note & the Doctor’s by Bruce I have just received.

He was here – had not met him before since his return from Ky. I believe every word that you say in regard to the matter which I had heard & wrote about when Bruce was with you, & am sorry that I mentioned it.

When I wrote to Bruce, I was wounded & thought it hard for you to turn against me. I have given you every kindness & have made you presents cheerfully & freely, & would do so again. I said I was sorry that I had made you presents, because I thought you had turned against me. I do not think so now and do not now believe what I heard, for my confidence in you is implicit & therefore I believe that your statement about that matter, & am fully satisfied.

I will tell you what I heard, namely, that you said that I was a drunkard and mean to my wife. But I am now satisfied that you did not, & take back what I said about you, for I like you, am your friend, & want to do right. I know the Doctor wrote his note whilest he was wounded & I forgive him most cheerfully. What made me believe the report at the time was a remark you had made in a letter to me once. You said in regard to my marrying, “If you marry you, have no children, there will be one to be happy or un______.” Leaving that word unspelt, I thought it meant more than ordinary, but your denial is all I ask, and you have given me that.

I hope you will be satisfied & continue my friend and write me as usual.

Present me kindly to the Doctor & tell him to forgive me & write. The friend are well.

Please answer this promptly, directly to this office. My health is feeble.

Your affectionate uncle, J. W. Duncan

Note: This letter suggests that Mary did not make remarks about James Duncan’s excessive drinking. See letter from Mary’s cousin, Sarah Priscilla “Sallie” (DeVault) Fitch, for further discussion of the matter.

OBITUARY - The Allerton, Iowa News, December 8, 1904:

Death of John B. Duncan

On last Saturday night John B. Duncan, an aged and honored resident of our town quietly passed away at his home surrounded by his children. Death seemed to come as the result of the wearing out of life's forces and he breathed his last without a struggle and apparently without pain.

John Bovell Duncan was born in Washington County, Tenn., June 18, 1821, and died in Allerton, Iowa, Dec. 3, 1904, aged 83 years, 5 months and 15 days.

He moved from his native state to Gentry County, Mo., in an early day. From here he moved to Louisa county, Iowa, and about twenty years ago to Allerton which has been his home ever since.

Deceased was twice married, his first wife dying in Gentry County, Mo., where she lies buried. To this union three children were born, two of whom are living, R. M. Duncan of this place and A. R. Duncan of Pennsylvania. By his second marriage he had four children all living, Mrs. Jennie Morrison of Corydon, Mrs. Mollie Fox and Harry Duncan of Columbus Junction, and Miss Hattie of this place. All of these were present at the funeral except A. R. whose home was so far away that he could not reach here.

The funeral took place at the home on Monday and was attended by a large number of friends, services being conducted by Rev. W. H. Larrick, and the remains were deposited by the side of his wife in the Allerton cemetery, who passed away about sixteen years ago.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, MACOUPIN COUNTY ILLINOIS - 1891, Page 251

JAMES W. DUNCAN was for several years a resident of this county, and during the latter part of his life was one of the leading farmers of South Palmyra Township, owning one of the best farms in that locality, and his death was a severe blow to its most important industry. He was born in Washington County, Tenn., July 4, 1832, and was a son of James Duncan, who is also supposed to have been a native of Tennessee. He in turn was a son of Joseph Duncan, who was a pioneer farmer of that State and spent his last years in Washington County, where he cleared a farm from the wilderness. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and was a pensioner during the latter part of his life.

The father of our subject grew to maturity in his native county, and began his career as a farmer on the old homestead that was his birthplace, a part of which he inherited, and he bought the remainder of the other heirs to the estate. He resided thereon many years, actively engaged in agriculture, but in 1856 he came to Illinois to spend his last days with his children, and his life was brought to a close in the home of our subject near Girard. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Hunt, died at the home of their daughter near Sulphur Springs, Macoupin County.

He of whom these lines are a brief biographical record passed his early life amid the scenes of his birth, and remained with his parents until he was twenty-one. He was of a thoughtful, studious turn of mind, and ambitious to gain an education, he made the best of his advantages at Fall Branch College. When he attained his majority he came to Illinois, and utilized his knowledge of books by teaching in South Palmyra Township two years. He then bought some wild prairie land near Girard, at the rate of $10 an acre, and buying a house, moved it to his land for a dwelling. He broke and fenced his land, and lived on it eight years after his marriage. At the expiration of that time he sold and removed to Girard, where he engaged in the grain business the ensuing two years. After that he bought the farm on section 8, South Palmyra Township now occupied by his family. It comprises three hundred and eight acres of land of surpassing fertility, and with its fine improvements ranks among the best in the township.

March 25, 1861, was the date of the marriage of Mr. Duncan with Abigail Proffitt, a native of Tennessee, and to her active and able co-operation he owed much of his prosperity. Three of the children born of their marriage are living: John W., who married Miss Fannie Thacker; Joseph B. and James T. Their first-born child, Allen C., married Mary Fansler, and after marriage settled in Franklin County, Kan., where he died in 1882.

Mrs. Duncan's father, Daniel B. Proffitt, was a native of the same Tennessee county in which his daughter was born. He was a son of John Proffitt, who is also thought to have been born in that county. He carried on his business as a farmer there, improved a farm, and continued to live in that county until his demise. The maiden name of his wife was Mollie Barnes, and she was a life-long resident of Tennessee.

Daniel B. Proffitt was reared and married in the county of his nativity. He inherited a part of his father's old homestead, and bought the interest of the other heirs in it. He made it his home until 1854, and then came to Illinois, journeying on a flat boat down the Tennessee River to Paducah, Ky., and thence by steamer on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Alton, and from there by rail to this county. He bought a home in South Palmyra Township, in which he dwelt until he closed his eyes in the dreamless sleep of death. His widow spent her last years with her daughter, Mrs. Duncan. Her maiden name was Sarah Range, and she was born in Washington County, Tenn., a daughter of John and Abigail Range.

Our subject passed away November 24, 1889. He left a record worthy of emulation of one who by right living had won the full trust and regard of all with whom he came in contact. He conscientiously and unfalteringly strove to do his duty at all times and in all places, and the Baptist Church which he joined in his youth, found in him one of its most ardent and active members and one of the most useful Deacons, an office which he held for many years, and his place in the church and in his community can never be filled. His wife also belonged to that Church.