My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Maries County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

J. Russell Duncan, a farmer and stock-raiser of Miller Township, Maries County, was born in Garrard County, Ky., in 1839, and is a son of Alvis and Ann (Palmer) Duncan, the former born in Washington County, East Tenn., and the latter in Garrard County, Ky. The parents were married in Kentucky, where they lived until J. Russell was about five years of age, and then removed to Miller County, Mo., where they settled on a farm, upon which the father died in 1883; his wife is still living at the age of eighty years; both were members of the Baptist Church. J. Russell Duncan was the eldest of a family of six, and was reared in Miller County, his educational advantages being limited. In 1863-64 he served in two different companies in the Enrolled Missouri Militia. In 1864 he married Sarah E., daughter of William H. and Mary C. Scott, the former of whom was born in Kentucky in 1817, and was taken by his father to Indiana, where he was bound till grown; he then went to Missouri, married and settled in Laclede County, where he resided until about 1854, afterward locating in Maries County, where he still lives, and is a wealthy farmer; his first wife, who was a native of Missouri, died in 1885, and he married again. Mr. Scott and two sons served nearly three years in Company M, Third Missouri Cavalry, United States Army. Mrs. Duncan was born in Laclede County, Mo., and is the mother of twelve children, viz.: Parrie, wife of B. F. Branson; Elben, formerly a teacher, now a farmer; Milford, also a farmer; Alice, who married Thomas Branson; Lillie and Lawrence (twins), Lida, Ella, Ivan, Alvis, Dora (deceased) and Dellard (deceased). Since his marriage Mr. Duncan, has lived on his present farm, which contains 280 acres of the old home place. He owns in all 800 acres, 360 in Miller County and 160 in Pulaski County, besides his farm in Miller Township, Maries County, and 120 acres left him by his father. He is one of the most prominent and enterprising farmers of the county, and has been unusually successful in the pursuit of agriculture; he also devotes considerable attention to stock-raising. He is a Mason, and belongs to the Agricultural Wheel. Mrs. Duncan is a member of the Baptist Church.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 37 biographies included in The History of Maries County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Maries County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Maries County, Missouri family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.