Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/278

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256
DUNCAN
DUNCAN

can Baptist missionary union, a trustee of Newton theological seminary, and from 1835 till his death a fellow of Brown university, which gave him the degree of LL. D. in 1861. He was actively con- nected with the state militia, attaining the rank of colonel, and was also a commissioner of bankruptcy in 1841. — His son, Saiiuiel White, clergyman, b. in Haverhill, Mass., 19 Dec, 1838, was graduated at Brown in 1860, and at Rochester theological seminary in 1866. In the interval between his col- lege and theological courses he spent a year in foreign travel, and some time in the Union army as captain of the 50th Massachusetts regiment. In 1867 he was ordained as pastor of the Erie street Baptist church, Cleveland, Ohio. In 1875 he ac- cepted a call to the Ninth street church, Cincinnati, and remained there till 1885, when he became pas- tor of the 2d Baptist church in Rochester, N. Y. In 1885 he was called to the presidency of Vassar college, but declined, continuing his pastorate in Rochester. The University of Chicago gave him the degree of D. D. in 1878.


DUNCAN, John M., clergyman, b. in 1796; d. in Glasgow, Scotland, 3 Oct., 1825. He was a Scottish clergyman who travelled extensively in the United States, and published several books, among which are "Creeds and Confessions of Faith," " Moral Government of God," and " Sabbath among the Tuscaroras." He dedicated to Prof. Benjajnin Silliman " Travels in the United States and Canada in 1818-19" (New York, 1833).


DUNCAN, Johnson Kelly, soldier, b. in York, Pa., 19 March, 1827 ; d. in Knoxville. Ky., 18 Dec, 1862. He was graduated at the U. S. military acad- emy in 1849, and became 2d lieutenant in the 3d artillery, serving in the Florida hostilities against the Seminole Indians. From 1850 till 1853 he was attached to Forts Sullivan and Preble in Maine, on garrison duty, and was then assistant on the Northern Pacific railroad exploration till Decem- ber, 1854. He resigned from the army in January, 1855, and became superintendent of repairs in New Orleans, in charge of the branch mint, marine hos- pital, quarantine warehouse, and Pas a I'Outre boarding station. From 1859 till 1860 he was pro- fessionally occupied as civil engineer, surveyor, and architect in New Orleans, becoming also, in 1860, chief- engineer of the board of public works of the state of Louisiana. At the beginning of the civil war he entered the Confederate army as colonel, but soon was appointed brigadier-general from Louisi- ana. He commanded Forts Jackson and St. Philip at the time of their capture by Admiral Farragut, on 25 April, 1862, and became a prisoner of war.


DUNCAN, Joseph, governor, b. in Paris, Kv., 22 Feb., 1789 : d. in Jacksonville, 111., 15 Jan.. 1844. He received an excellent education and studied law. During the war of 1812 he served as lieuten- ant in the U. S. infantry, and distinguished himself especially in the defence of Fort Stephenson under Maj. George Croghan, receiving the testimonial of a sword from congress. Subsequently he settled in Kaskaskia, where he practised his profession, and was made major-general of Illinois militia. In 1824 he was elected to the state senate, and, while holding that office, originated the law which first established common schools in the state. He was elected to congress as a Jackson Democrat, and served for four successive terms, from 3 Dec, 1827, till November, 1834, when he was elected governor of Illinois, holding that office till 1838. He then retired to his home in Jacksonville, whither he had removed in 1829, and continued there till his death.


DUNCAN, Thomas, soldier, b. in Kaskaskia, Ill., 14 April, 1819 ; d. in Washington, D. C, 7 Jan., 1887. He early became a soldier, and served as a private in the Illinois mounted volunteers in 1832, during the Black Hawk war. Subsequently he was connected for some years with military expeditions, and in 1846 was appointed from Illinois as 1st lieutenant in the U. S. mounted rifles, now the 3d cavalry. He served during the war with Mexico, and was engaged in the siege and surrender of Vera Cruz. Later he was on recruiting duty, was promoted captain in March. 1848, and was on gar- rison duty at various posts till 1856. He was sta- tioned with his regiment in New Mexico till 1862, had command of Fort Burgwin, Fort Massachu- setts, Fort Garland, and Fort Union, participated in the Navajo expedition of 1858, defeated the Comanche Indians in the action at Hatch's Ranch in May, 1861, and became major of his regiment in June, 1861. During the civil war he had command of Fort Craig in New Mexico, was in charge of the cavalry forces at the battle of Valverde, N. M., and of his regiment in the action in Albuquerque, N. M., where a portion of his skull was carried away by a cannon-ball. He was assistant provost- marshal of Iowa in 1863-6, became lieutenant- colonel of the 5th U. S. cavalry in July, 1866, and commanded the district of Nashville till Septem- ber, 1868. He then was ordered to the Department of the Platte, was stationed successively at Fort McPherson and Fort D. A. Russell, and was after- ward in charge of the construction of Sidney bar- racks, till November, 1871. Failing health com- pelled him to obtain sick leave till January, 1873, when he was retired from active service. Col. Dun- can received several brevets, including that of bri- gadier-general, far his services during the civil war.


DUNCAN, William, soldier, b. in Adams coun- ty. Pa., 14 Oct., 1772; d. in Philadelphia. Pa., 16 Feb., 1864. In early youth he settled in Philadel- phia, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. During the war of 1812 he was superintendent of U. S. military stores, and was stationed at the arse- nal in Philadelphia, holding the office of adjutant- general during 1813-'4. Later he was one of Gov. Simon Synder's special aides, and commanded a brigade at Camp Dupont, near Wilmington, Del., when Philadelphia was threatened by the British, before their defeat at Baltimore. For many years he was a member of the Pennsylvania legislature. In 1829 he became surveyor of customs of Phila- delphia, and held that office for two terms. He was a brigadier-genei'al of the Pennsylvania volun- teers, and was one of the founders of Jefferson medical college, PhiladeliJiia.


DUNCAN, William Cecil, clergyman, b. in New York city, 24 Jan., 1824 ; d. in iN^ew Orleans, La., 1 May, 1864. His father was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and emigrated to this coimtry in early life. During the childhood of his son he removed to Grenada, Miss. William Cecil was graduated at Columbia in 1843, studied dix inity at Hamilton theological seminary, and returned to the south in 1847. There he established, at New Orleans, the " Southwestern Baptist Chronicle," a religious weekly, which he conducted with vigor and ability. He was ordained in 1848, but, although preaching constantly, accepted no pastoral charge, devoting his entire time to his paper. In 1851, his health entirely failing him, he sailed for Europe, and spent nearly a year in Italy. On his return to New Orleans, convalescent, he was elected to the professorship of Greek and Latin in the University of Louisiana. Three years later he became pastor of the Coliseum place Baptist church in New Orleans, where he continued for six years, although twice compelled to visit Texas for his health. In 1861