Duncan Township

Duncan Township

The first settler in this portion of the county was Buford Duncan, who located on section 16, in 1838. He came from Indiana and at once became one of the foremost citizens of this part of the county. He was well advanced in life when he arrived and had a considerable family of children, most of whom settled in the same neighborhood. A short time afterwards his brother, Braxton Duncan, came here and located on section 17. Hie latter possessed a frail constitution and after a few years passed away. Several other members of the same family located in that neighborhood, which soon took the name of Duncan Settlement. Among the early arrivals were William Epperley and James Vernon. Another early settler was Luman Castle, who located on the southern boundary, not far from the Village of Millersburg. Joseph King came in at an early date and took up a claim on section 33. About the same time Robert Norris established a home on section 25. The latter came from Scotland and had a better education than the average early settler. In 1844 he became county surveyor. He was the Duncan Township treasurer at an early date also. In the '40s he went to California. About 1844 Elbridge G. Howe and Lucien B. Howe secured homes on section 33. In the summer of 1845 Tyler McWhorter and William S. Rowe came and took up homes on section 31.

Mr. McWhorter at once started an experimental orchard in connection with the nursery business. He called the place Pome-Roy (Royal Fruit) Nursery. The Pomeroy postoffice took its name from this circumstance. The whole neighborhood, in fact, is called the Pomeroy Settlement. As a matter of fact, in after years, this nurserv established by Mr. McWhorter supplied the trees for the orchards of a great portion of this county. He likewise made shipments to surrounding counties and to sections in eastern Iowa. Mr. Mc- Whorter said that when he settled in the township not a schoolhouse had yet been located there and that the only religious services which had been commenced had been conducted by a branch of the Mormons, under the ministry of Rev. Mr. Hinckle. A little later a revivalist named Ringer came to His assistance. A schoolhouse was built in Duncan Township late in the '40s. The whole township was taxed then as one district. A little later another district was set off on the south side of the township and this was called the Pomeroy District.

The township has no considerable town and is made up almost wholly of a rich agricultural community. It is well watered by small streams and the soil is rich and productive. Live stock has been grown here for market since its first settlement. James Vernon became prominent in this township. His descendants ever since have occupied prominent positions in the county. Herschel Felton settled in the southern part at an early date.

In early times the streams were skirted with heavy belts of timber, among which there was considerable oak, which was utilized in the construction of fences and the building of homes. Perhaps the soil of this township is blacker and richer in humus than any other upland soil in the county as a whole. The first mill was located just east of Millersburg and was patronized by the first settlers of Duncan Township. A history of that mill is given elsewhere. In that vicinity were forests of large trees, which were utilized for picnics, camp meetings, etc. Underneath the soil spreading out over almost the whole township are heavy beds of coal ranging in thickness from two to five feet. This has been opened in several places, but as yet the supply has scarcely been touched.

Joseph King came in at an early date and located on section 23. The place was afterwards owned by J. C. Stalev. Later arrivals in the township were Ebenezer Bunting, Joseph N. Elbridge, G. and Lucien B. Howe, brothers. William S. Rowe came in also about the time Mr. McWhorter did. Church organizations sprang into existence at an early date. An account of the same will be found elsewhere in this work.

In 1854 the township was organized under the new law. At the meeting held on April 4th, George W. Bennett was clerk; William Epperley, moderator. On this occasion four pound masters were chosen as follows: W. S. Rowe, Michael Miller, Buford Duncan and Samuel Herson. Tyler McWhorter was elected supervisor, receiving thirty-two votes. Alvah Sutton was chosen town clerk; Caleb Vernon, collector; William S. Rowe, assessor; Samuel Herson, G. W. Bennett, John Page, Buford Duncan and James Vernon, overseers of the poor; William Summers and James Lloyd, commissioners of highways; William i>uncan, constable; James Vernon, justice of the peace. At the first meeting the township officials passed a resolution restraining swine, sheep and cattle from running at large.

On the ridge one mile north of Millersburg was located the seminary, which was patronized by this township as well as by the town of Millersburg.

Prior to 1 88 1 the township was without a postoffice. At that date Leonard Gorber built a small structure on section 2 and placed therein a quantity of goods and thus was the first storekeeper. John Ball about the same time was appointed postmaster. He likewise kept store at the same time in conjunction with Mr. Gorber. In the spring of 1882 Ball sold his stock of goods to John Boltinghouse, who succeeded him as postmaster. In ApriL, 1882, another postoffice was established in the township and Edward Connel was appointed postmaster. This was a postoffice in the extreme southwestern corner of the township and is now known as Pomeroy. A store has been there for many years. A mill was built on Camp Creek as early as 1835 on the line between Duncan and Millersburg townships. This was patronized by the early settlers of Duncan. It was a combined sawmill and grist mill and although rude, yet it served an excellent purpose during its existence. It is said that Luman Castle mined the first coal in the township about 1845. He was assisted by a Mr. McDonald. The coal seemed to outcrop along the stream and several of the citizens worked the same for their convenience without opposition from the owners.

At a later date J. A. Downey and Charles Epperly conducted the store at Marston. At one time this little village seemed quite promising. It had a brass band, a large general store, a physician, blacksmith and a few other institutions, but in recent years it has usually had nothing except one store, a blacksmith, a school and a church.