Born in Blount County, Tenn., June 9, 1824, and is the son of Andrew and Margaret (Alexander) Duncan. Francis Duncan was reared upon a farm, receiving a common-school education, and emigrated from Tennessee to Iowa with his parents and a colony made up largely of members of his own family, landing at Port Louisa April 13, 1844. The first year was spent at Columbus City, and the following spring all he and members of his family took claims in the adjoining country. In November, 1847, Mr. Duncan was united in marriage with Miss Mary Adeline Shaw, daughter of Francis Shaw, and a native of Blount County, Tennessee. Mrs. Duncan, who was an earnest Christian woman, died in October, 1858, and Mr. Duncan was again married, at Putnam, N. Y., in November, 1860, Miss Ella Easton becoming his wife. In early life Mr. Duncan was an earnest antislavery man, or Free-Soiler, and later a Republican. He is the only survivor of three who voted the Liberty ticket in Columbus City Township in the Presidential election of 1848. When the Republican Party was organized he was among the foremost to zealously aid in that interesting event, and to support Fremont and Dayton, the first Presidential nominees of that party. Mr. Duncan has been chosen to various official positions of honor and trust. He was several times elected Supervisor of the township of Columbus City, and for two years presided as Chairman of that body. He was elected to the Iowa Legislature in 1872, and served in the Fourteenth, Nineteenth, Twentieth and Twenty-first General Assemblies. In 1881 he was elected to the State Senate. While in the Legislature he served as a member on the Constitutional Amendment Committee, on the Equalization Committee, and on the Committees of Ways and Means and Roads and Highways.

Born in Blount County, Tenn., June 9, 1824, and is the son of Andrew and Margaret (Alexander) Duncan. Francis Duncan was reared upon a farm, receiving a common-school education, and emigrated from Tennessee to Iowa with his parents and a colony made up largely of members of his own family, landing at Port Louisa April 13, 1844. The first year was spent at Columbus City, and the following spring all he and members of his family took claims in the adjoining country. In November, 1847, Mr. Duncan was united in marriage with Miss Mary Adeline Shaw, daughter of Francis Shaw, and a native of Blount County, Tennessee. Mrs. Duncan, who was an earnest Christian woman, died in October, 1858, and Mr. Duncan was again married, at Putnam, N. Y., in November, 1860, Miss Ella Easton becoming his wife. In early life Mr. Duncan was an earnest antislavery man, or Free-Soiler, and later a Republican. He is the only survivor of three who voted the Liberty ticket in Columbus City Township in the Presidential election of 1848. When the Republican Party was organized he was among the foremost to zealously aid in that interesting event, and to support Fremont and Dayton, the first Presidential nominees of that party. Mr. Duncan has been chosen to various official positions of honor and trust. He was several times elected Supervisor of the township of Columbus City, and for two years presided as Chairman of that body. He was elected to the Iowa Legislature in 1872, and served in the Fourteenth, Nineteenth, Twentieth and Twenty-first General Assemblies. In 1881 he was elected to the State Senate. While in the Legislature he served as a member on the Constitutional Amendment Committee, on the Equalization Committee, and on the Committees of Ways and Means and Roads and Highways.

Born in Blount County, Tenn., June 9, 1824, and is the son of Andrew and Margaret (Alexander) Duncan. Francis Duncan was reared upon a farm, receiving a common-school education, and emigrated from Tennessee to Iowa with his parents and a colony made up largely of members of his own family, landing at Port Louisa April 13, 1844. The first year was spent at Columbus City, and the following spring all he and members of his family took claims in the adjoining country. In November, 1847, Mr. Duncan was united in marriage with Miss Mary Adeline Shaw, daughter of Francis Shaw, and a native of Blount County, Tennessee. Mrs. Duncan, who was an earnest Christian woman, died in October, 1858, and Mr. Duncan was again married, at Putnam, N. Y., in November, 1860, Miss Ella Easton becoming his wife. In early life Mr. Duncan was an earnest antislavery man, or Free-Soiler, and later a Republican. He is the only survivor of three who voted the Liberty ticket in Columbus City Township in the Presidential election of 1848. When the Republican Party was organized he was among the foremost to zealously aid in that interesting event, and to support Fremont and Dayton, the first Presidential nominees of that party. Mr. Duncan has been chosen to various official positions of honor and trust. He was several times elected Supervisor of the township of Columbus City, and for two years presided as Chairman of that body. He was elected to the Iowa Legislature in 1872, and served in the Fourteenth, Nineteenth, Twentieth and Twenty-first General Assemblies. In 1881 he was elected to the State Senate. While in the Legislature he served as a member on the Constitutional Amendment Committee, on the Equalization Committee, and on the Committees of Ways and Means and Roads and Highways.

Born in Blount County, Tenn., June 9, 1824, and is the son of Andrew and Margaret (Alexander) Duncan. Francis Duncan was reared upon a farm, receiving a common-school education, and emigrated from Tennessee to Iowa with his parents and a colony made up largely of members of his own family, landing at Port Louisa April 13, 1844. The first year was spent at Columbus City, and the following spring all he and members of his family took claims in the adjoining country. In November, 1847, Mr. Duncan was united in marriage with Miss Mary Adeline Shaw, daughter of Francis Shaw, and a native of Blount County, Tennessee. Mrs. Duncan, who was an earnest Christian woman, died in October, 1858, and Mr. Duncan was again married, at Putnam, N. Y., in November, 1860, Miss Ella Easton becoming his wife. In early life Mr. Duncan was an earnest antislavery man, or Free-Soiler, and later a Republican. He is the only survivor of three who voted the Liberty ticket in Columbus City Township in the Presidential election of 1848. When the Republican Party was organized he was among the foremost to zealously aid in that interesting event, and to support Fremont and Dayton, the first Presidential nominees of that party. Mr. Duncan has been chosen to various official positions of honor and trust. He was several times elected Supervisor of the township of Columbus City, and for two years presided as Chairman of that body. He was elected to the Iowa Legislature in 1872, and served in the Fourteenth, Nineteenth, Twentieth and Twenty-first General Assemblies. In 1881 he was elected to the State Senate. While in the Legislature he served as a member on the Constitutional Amendment Committee, on the Equalization Committee, and on the Committees of Ways and Means and Roads and Highways.