“Wayne, Neb. Sat. AM
Mr. George Claycomb. This is your Easter greeting from Dorothy and I. Be good to yourself and be at church Easter Sunday. Sincerely, Mrs. Bressler” 1941
This postcard is to my Uncle George who was 23 at the time and going to school in Michigan. It’s from his grandmother. No ‘dear George’ or ‘love, Grandma’ – just a reminder to go to church. Times were different then.
These are the children of Anna Sarah Townsend and Frank Erwin Claycomb. Back row: L-R: George Francis and Edward Denman. Front row: L-R: Alta Louise (Love), Amos Townsend, Eleanor Pierce (Gochenour). The photo was taken the summer of 1919 in Sycamore, Illinois at the Gochenour home.
And these are the spouses of the Claycomb siblings.
L-R: George’s wife: Helen Virginia Quarles
Louise’s husband: Ray Love
Amos’ wife: Ruth Bressler
Eleanor’s husband: Arthur Gochenour
Edward’s wife: Isabel Peake
Thanks to Cousin C for her help in identifying folks! Another photo taken this day shows more of the family – it’s posted here.
Tuesday, December 1, 1903
It was cloudy at first this morning but it soon cleared up and was fair the rest of the day.
I went to a lecture tonight at the Waterman Hall by Prof. Starr and after that I bowled two games getting 121 and 119.
Wednesday, December 2, 1903
The thermometer this morning was only 4º above zero but the air was so still that the cold was not felt very much. It has been a little cloudy all day.
We began to play basketball in school tonight but only played a few minutes.
Thursday, December 3, 1903
It snowed a little last night and has been cloudy the greater part of the day.
I bowled three games after school but had an umpire so I had to be careful and only got 119, 90, 95.
Friday, December 4, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and has snowed two or three times.
I went to a supper at the Universalist Church tonight.
I bowled five games of ten pins, getting 102; 119; 136; 140; 140, one game of four-back getting [illegible] and three of cock-tat getting 16; 22; 24.
Saturday, December 5, 1903
It has been cloudy and cold all day with a westerly wind.
I walked to take the customers’ milk up this morning but came right back. I slept most of the afternoon.
We turned the stock in the corn-stalks today but still have about fifteen acres of corn to pick.
Sunday, December 6, 1903
It has been a very nice day and warmer than usual.
I walked up town this morning to take the customers’ milk but staid home all the rest of the day.
Monday, December 7, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day.
I went to a lecture after supper at the Waterman Hall.
I bowled five games today. Scores 143; 124; 125; 138, 190. The last is my highest so far.
Tuesday, December 8, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and snowing most of the time but the snow was so light that it didn’t amount to much.
I went to a lecture tonight at the Opera House which was fair. After this I bowled two games but got 88 and 106.
H.S.A.A. might stand for High School Athletic Association. Any other ideas?
Wednesday, December 9, 1903
It has been snowing nearly all day but the snow is very fine.
I went to an entertainment at the Opera House tonight given for the baseball team and it was very good.
I bowled three games of cock-tat after school. Scores: 13, 17, 18 which are very poor.
Thursday, December 10, 1903
It has been a nice day only pretty cold.
I have basketball for a little while after school tonight.
Friday, December 11, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I bowled one game after school tonight and got 137.
Saturday, December 12, 1903
It snowed very hard last night and has been a blizzard all day with a strong north wind and the snow drifting.
I have staid home all day except that just before supper. I walked down to the Grove’s place after the cow which had escaped from the barn-yard into the corn-field to get with the cattle that belong down there.
Sunday, December 13, 1903
The thermometer was 20º below zero this morning and it has been very cold all day being partly cloudy.
I walked up town this morning to take the customers’ milk and then most of the way back.
Monday, December 14, 1903
The temperature was 8º below this morning and it has been cloudy most of the day.
I walked to school and part of the way home.
I played basketball for a while after school tonight.
Tuesday, December 15, 1903
It was 8º below again this morning and has been partly clear and partly cloudy today. A light snow fell just after supper.
I went up to a lecture at the Waterman Hall tonight and then bowled a little. Scores: 98, 122, 119, 113.
Wednesday, December 16, 1903
The temperature was 6º above this morning and it has been clear most of the day.
I played basketball after school tonight and then walked most of the way home.
I have taken the temperature for the last few mornings at about seven o’clock.
Thursday, December 17, 1903
At eight o’clock this morning the temperature was 10º below but it warmed up very much during the day.
I bowled two games after school getting 127 and 114.
Friday, December 18, 1903
The temperature was 10º above this morning and it has been cloudy most of the day. The wind has been in the south and tonight it is raining a little but freezing on the ground.
I went to a party at Imo Hall’s tonight and had a very nice time.
Saturday, December 19, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and misting most of the time.
I took the milk up to the customers this morning and then bowled two games before noon. Scores 153 and 147. I bowled 3 games this afternoon and 4 after supper. Scores: 116, 112, 150, 142, 124, 110, and for seven back 49.
I went to basketball games at the school between 1st and 2nd teams of boys and girls. Both 1st teams won.
Sunday, December 20, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day but not very cold.
I took the customers’ milk up right after breakfast but have staid home the rest of the day.
Monday, December 21, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and not very cold.
I bowled two games after school tonight. Scores: 133, 116.
Tuesday, December 22, 1903
The thermometer was 10º above this morning and it has been cloudy most of the day.
I bowled two games after school tonight but only got 112 and 90.
Papa bought a new cook-stove and set it up in the kitchen today.
Wednesday, December 23, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly [all] day but rather warm.
Eleanor came home from Lombard tonight and this morning Mrs. Hill and George went into Chicago to meet her.
I bowled two games after school getting 153 and 124.
Thursday, December 24, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I bowled three games after school getting 211, 113, 117.
I went up to a Christmas entertainment at the church after supper.
Friday, December 25, 1903
It snowed very hard until noon and then partially cleared up but the thermometer went down to nearly zero.
Grandma T., Uncle Will, Jane and Mary and the nurse came out here to dinner.
I went up town a little before six and bowled eight games. Scores: 110, 113, 120, 97, 111, 121, 142, 130.
I went [won?] a $2 pair of bowling shoes today by getting second highest score, 211, in the last ten days.
Saturday, December 26, 1903
It was 11º below this morning and has been cloudy and cold most of the day with a strong west wind.
I bowled 5 games in all today getting 112, 117, 101, 121, 115.
For Christmas presents I got a diary from Grandma T, a stick-pin from Aunt Jennie, a real Indian war-club from Aunt Georgie, a bead watch-fob from Grandma C, a dollar each from Uncle Will and Grandma C., a book from Eleanor and Louise and some other little things.
Sunday, December 27, 1903
It was 26º above this morning and cloudy but when the clouds cleared away in the middle of the forenoon it began to get colder.
I walked up town and back this morning to take the customers milk and then to and from Sunday-School.
Monday, December 28, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and snowing all the afternoon.
I bowled six games altogether today. Scores: 148, 115, 115, 163, 111, 126.
I went to a private dance at the Opera House tonight with Eleanor and had a nice time.
Tuesday, December 29, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear and has been snowing a little today but the snow is fine and is drifted by a strong northerly wind.
I staid home all the forenoon but went up town this afternoon and bowled three games. Scores: 153, 101, 101.
Wednesday, December 30, 1903
It has been partly cloudy today with a little snow and pretty cold.
I staid home all the forenoon but went up town this afternoon and bowled six games. Scores: 139, 90, 129, 122, 127, 133.
Mrs. Amanda Wilson who used to work for us is visiting here tonight. She now lives in Nebraska.
Thursday, December 31, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I have bowled five games today. Scores 174, 154, 145, 119, 126. I went to a dance at the Opera House tonight but only had a fair time.
Yesterday afternoon at the matinee a fire in the new Iroquois theater in Chicago killed nearly 600 people. Most of these were suffocated or trampled to death.
Nettie Patchen Duncan was widowed in 1901 at the age of 42. Her sons, Howard, 19, James Edgar, 16, and Thomas (Roy), 14, shared her home in DeKalb, Illinois that year.
Part One of the Duncan – Patchen story is here, Part Two is here.
In 1904 Howard married Margaret Crosby. In 1907 James married Florence Zollar. So by the 1910 Federal Census Nettie is living with only Roy. About the same time, in April 1910 her son Howard died, leaving a wife and daughter.
Roy married Albie Oakland in June 1911 leaving Nettie on her own. She has many years of life left.
Duncans: L-R back: Albie, Harriet, Thomas, Florence Zoller, James Edgar, Helen Mercer, Nettie.
Front: Mary, Helen, and Dorothy Duncan. About 1916
After these bare bones of dates, I don’t have a lot of documentation for Nettie, but I know she was an important person in my mother’s life. Mom had a large family around her – both grandmothers and lots of extended family. When Mom’s mother (Nettie’s daughter-in-law) died in 1927, Nettie had a big part in raising the girls.
Duncans, L-R: Harriet, Nettie, Barbara, Helen, Thomas (Roy). About 1928, after Albie had died.
In the 1930 Federal Census, she is living with her son Roy and his three daughters. From Mom’s stories, Nettie lived with them until Roy remarried in 1932.
Barbara, Helen, Nettie, Harriet, and Florence (Huckins). This was probably taken about 1932 when Florence married Roy.
Standing: Florence Duncan, Lillian Mercer.
Sitting: Harriet Duncan Claycomb, Nettie Duncan, Jean Claycomb, Tom Claycomb, and Helen Duncan. Taken about 1944.
Nettie was a nurse. I don’t know of her formal training, but as a doctor’s wife in the late 19th century she was certainly exposed to the profession. She was also possibly a nurses’ supervisor at a local hospital. My memory is a little shaky on this.
Nettie died 11 January 1949 at the age of 90 years in Rockford, Illinois. Her stone has her birth year wrong – she was born in 1858 (and was in the 1860 census).
I am the small girl just to the right of my sister and brother in their lovely striped outfits. Nettie is the tall white haired lady behind me.
My life overlapped Nettie’s for almost three years. I have no memory of meeting her, but I just found this photo that has both of us in it. It’s difficult to express how happy I am to learn that we did meet. And it amazes me to know that I knew my great-grandmother who was born before the Civil War.
According to her note on the reverse, this card was sent to my Aunt Barb November 3, 1940. It seems reasonable that the players and schedule are from the 1940 season, but it doesn’t say that. It was sent in an envelope, so there is no postmark.
The players across the top L-R: Lindahl “Joe”, R. Garvin, W. Best, R. Childs, F. Murray, H. Purtzer, E. Theel, D Hungerford, Q. Fox, H. Morgan, C. Wehrer, V. Smith.
In the middle: Morrison “Head Coach”, “JIM”, Chrry “Asst Coach”, and “BINK”
Bottom Row L-R: B. Splichal, L. Mullens, M. Gailey, C. Garvin, F. Webb, K. Spann, T. Farner, A. Killian, J. Riley, D. Peterson, A. Mitchell, S. Juzek, E. Nitz.
It’s fun to see that admission to any of the games was 40¢.
Sunday, November 1, 1903
It has been a nice day only cloudy part of the time.
I took the customer’s milk up on foot this morning and have staid home the rest of the day.
Monday, November 2, 1903
It has been a nice day but cloudy part of the time.
Papa started today to built a new cement walk in front of the house.
Tuesday, November 3, 1903
It was very cloudy at first this morning but after this cleared up about noon the day was fair.
I went to the second of a series of six lectures given every two weeks at the Waterman Hall tonight. They are on the native tribes of America and so far have been very good.
Wednesday, November 4, 1903
It was very foggy this morning and has been cloudy all day.
Aunt Alta and George went up to Grandma’s for supper tonight.
Thursday, November 5, 1903
It has been pretty cold today with a strong north-west wind and has been partly cloudy.
Friday, November 6, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today and pretty cold. Water froze fairly hard last night.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and have been beating carpets or cleaning the lawn all the rest of the day.
Saturday, November 7, 1903
It has been a very nice day only a little cool.
I walked to and from town this morning and took the customers’ milk. I worked around the house most of the rest of the day and went up town for a little while after supper.
Sunday, November 8, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I took the customers milk up on foot this morning.
Papa had our cement walk laid today because he could not get the men very well any other time before it gets cold. The cement walk was laid in the front of the house and then a little by the back house and to the cistern.
Monday, November 9, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and a high west wind has been blowing most of the time.
Aunt Alta went back home from her visit here this morning.
I bowled my first game tonight at the new bowling alley and got 117.
Tuesday, November 10, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I walked to school but caught a ride home.
I made a new record, 118, while bowling tonight.
Wednesday, November 11, 1903
It rained hard last night and a little this morning. A strong west wind blew this morning and it has been cloudy nearly all day.
I went to a concert at the Opera House tonight and after that bowled until twelve o’clock when I walked home. I made a new record of 125.
Thursday, November 12, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear.
I bowled three games after school but wasn’t much good.
Friday, November 13, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly fair today but tonight at about half past nine it is sprinkling.
I bowled five games after school tonight. My scores in order were 91; 104; 119; 123; 108.
Saturday, November 14, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today.
I worked around home all day chopping kindling wood and picking popcorn but after supper I went up town and bowled three games making 110, 143, 169 in order.
Sunday, November 15, 1903
The sun shone for a little while this morning but it soon clouded up and has been cloudy the rest of the day. A southwest wind has been blowing and it sprinkled a little after supper.
I walked to and from Sunday School.
Monday, November 16, 1903
It has been cloudy and cold all day. A strong northerly wind has been blowing and it has sprinkled two or three different times.
I brought a pair of ferrets home tonight that Papa bought to kill rats.
Tuesday, November 17, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear but very cold with a strong west wind all day.
I went to a lecture tonight at the Waterman Hall and also bowled some. My highest scores were 140 and 135.
It snowed hard for a little while this morning but it melted as soon as it touched the ground.
Wednesday, November 18, 1903
It has been clear all day but very cold.
I bowled four games after school tonight. Scores 108, 121, 128, 121.
Aunt Jennie came from Galesburg last night to see Grandma who is still sick a bed but a little better.
Thursday, November 19, 1903
It has been a nice day only pretty cold.
I bowled two games after school tonight. Scores 124 and 132.
Friday, November 20, 1903
It has been partly clear and partly cloudy today.
I bowled six games after school tonight. Scores: 108, 109, 127, 132, 144, 152 not in order.
Saturday, November 21, 1903
It has been cloudy most of the time today.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and then chopped kindling wood until noon.
I walked up town this afternoon and bowled twice getting 119 and 147; then after supper I walked up again and bowled three times. Scores: 99; 139; 140.
Sunday, November 22, 1903
It was clear and warm at first this morning but it soon clouded up and is pretty cold tonight.
I walked to take the customers’ milk this morning.
Uncle Charlie, Aunt Jennie, Uncle Will and Jane came out for a little while this afternoon.
A car killed or hurt or we had to kill a little pig that had gotten out this afternoon.
Monday, November 23, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and a strong north-west wind blew this morning.
Walter and Jennie Walrod came out on the car tonight and they and Louise and I played cards for a while.
Tuesday, November 24, 1903
It has been cloudy most of the time today.
I bowled one game after school and got 125.
I went up town after supper to see the H.S. bowling team play three different teams. They won the first two but lost the third to the Commercial Club.
Wednesday, November 25, 1903
It has been cloudy most of the day.
I went into Chicago this morning to see the football game tomorrow. This afternoon I went to Powers’ Theatre and saw William Crane in “The Spenders” and tonight I saw the the Grand Opera House Richard Mansfield in “Old Heidelberg.” Both were very good.
I staid at the Palmer House tonight but ate my dinner and supper at the Boston Oyster House.
Thursday, November 26, 1903
In South Chicago today it snowed very hard, downtown there were a few flurries but in Sycamore it did not snow at all.
I went to the football game this afternoon at Marshal Field between U. of Michigan and U. of Chicago. Michigan won by better all-around playing by a score of 28 to 0.
I went to McVicker’s Theatre and saw “Checkers” which is comic and very good. At eleven o’clock I started home on the Great Western.
Friday, November 27, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day.
I walked up town this morning to take the customers’ milk but slept all of the afternoon.
I drove up after supper to see Grandma who is a little better.
Yesterday and the day before I bowled 18 games at Mussey’s between Dearborn and Clark Sts, some alone and some with other fellows, but the best that I got was 161.
Saturday, November 28, 1903
It snowed quite a little last night and some this morning and has been cloudy the rest of the day.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning.
I helped drive some cattle on the pony this afternoon from the Groves farm down to the butcher’s on our other place.
I went up town on the car after supper and blowed four games. Scores: 98, 132, 150, 139.
Sunday, November 29, 1903
It snowed most of the forenoon but it cleared up about noon and is getting colder tonight. The wind has been in the north most of the day.
I walked to and from town to take the customers’ milk. I only milk one cow now as we are drying the other up.
Monday, November 30, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I bowled four games tonight getting 160, 111, 124.
[This month’s entries made me smile. Once he discovered bowling, he hardly missed a day.]
My great grandparents, Nettie Patchen and James Cation Duncan married in 1880 in Iowa. James had a son, Clifford, 4, from his first marriage.
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On 11 December 1881 in Osage, Iowa J.C. and Nettie’s first son, Howard William, was born. I don’t know where the name Howard comes from. I think the William part came from J.C.’s brother William who died in the Civil War. This doesn’t follow traditional Scottish naming patterns.
Standing Mamie English, Clifford Duncan, Eliza Duncan English, Frank English, James Cation Duncan, Nettie Patchen Duncan. Seated: Eliza Cation Duncan, Belle English, Thomas Duncan, Howard Duncan. About 1882.
In one county history it states that J.C. returned in 1882 to Chicago to continue his medical studies. It was in Chicago that James Edgar (Ed) Duncan was born on 3 December 1885.
Sometime after 1887 J.C. graduated from Chicago Homeopathic College and moved to LaMoille, Illinois in Bureau county. It was there that their third son, my grandfather, Thomas LeRoy, was born on 22 November 1889.
James, Thomas, and Clifford Duncan
On 19 May 1894 Nettie’s mother, Cassie Abbott, died in Osage, Iowa. Her youngest daughter, Lillian Abbott, came to live with the Duncans. She was 16 years old.
L-R: J.C. Duncan, Lillian Abbott, Howard or Ed Duncan, Thomas, Nettie, and Clifford Duncan. About 1900.
In October 1896 the family moved to DeKalb, Illinois. J.C. re-established his medical practice there.
Duncan house about 1900. Not sure which Duncan family this is, but one of ours! I don’t recognize the man in the swing.
The photos I have are labelled “Duncan House 1900.” The photos are special to me because they are ‘snap-shots’ – not formally posed in a studio.
Christmas 1900 DeKalb, Illinois. J.C Duncan on the right, close to the camera.
Also in the 1900 census, J.C. and Nettie live with the three younger boys. Within the year before the 1900 Federal Census (June 1900), James’ son, Clifford, married Mabel Farmer. In the census, they are listed as living with her parents in DeKalb.
Also in that year, Nettie’s sister, Lillian married Edward Z. Mercer. In the census she is shown as living under her married name with her parents and also living with her husband and his mother at a different address. Census information can be “interesting” – that is to say inaccurate because the person giving the information may not know the answers to the questions. And yet, all the blanks are filled in. Take census information with a grain of salt.
On 6 November 1901 James Cation Duncan, 50, died from Bright’s Disease (commonly described any kidney disease at the time). He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in DeKalb.
The three boys at home were teenagers.
Part one of the Duncan – Patchen series can be found here.
Part three is here.
My parents lived in Hollywood, California for a few years soon after they were married. Dad was a salesman for Anaconda and often had to entertain clients. It was a fun time to live in Hollywood before World War II. Here’s one of the souvenir photos they had taken at Jerry’s Joynt in Chinatown near Los Angeles. It was taken in early 1941.
On the reverse of the photo my Dad has written: Jerry’s Joynt about 1941, Ferguson Alley (Chinatown) – Los Angeles
L-R: Blair Chamberlain (Cutler Hammer)
Mary Smedley
Frank Claycomb (Anaconda Wire & Cable Co.)
Sally Chamberlain
Doc (AB) Smedley (Anaconda Wire & Cable Co.)
Harriet Claycomb
And if they needed copies…
Thursday, October 1, 1903
It has been cloudy pretty near all day.
George has been staying up to Grandma’s since Monday taking care of his eyes.
Friday, October 2, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day.
I went to a dance with Ethel Chatfield tonight over at DeKalb which was given by the Happy Order of Goats. I had a very nice time.
Saturday, October 3, 1903
It has been partly clear and partly cloudy today. Towards night it clouded up and lightninged a great deal and rained a little. It has been very warm all day.
I took five bushels of apples up town this morning to a store and this afternoon I took a load of oats up town.
Sunday, October 4, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and went to church and Sunday School. I slept most of the afternoon.
Monday, October 5, 1903
It has been a nice day.
I walked to school this morning but caught a ride part of the way home.
Tuesday, October 6, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and tonight it has been raining a little.
Louise went into Chicago today with Grandma Townsend.
George still is staying up to grandma’s but his eyes are no better yet.
Wednesday, October 7, 1903
It rained quite a little last night and for a while this morning and has been partly cloudy and partly clear the rest of the day.
I walked to and from school.
Thursday, October 8, 1903
It has been partly fair and partly cloudy.
I walked home from school but caught a ride part way up.
Friday, October 9, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I caught a ride up to school but walked home.
Papa has been going up to Grandma’s the last few nights to sleep with George whose eyes still remain about the same.
Saturday, October 10, 1903
It has been partly nice and partly cloudy today.
I picked up some apples for cider right after breakfast and then took the milk up to the factory. I went up town for a little while after dinner, on the pony.
Sunday, October 11, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cloudy.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and went to Sunday-School.
Monday, October 12, 1903
It has been partly clear and partly cloudy today.
I walked to and from school.
Tuesday, October 13, 1903
It has been a very nice day only a little cloudy.
Wednesday, October 14, 1903
It has been cloudy all day and it rained quite a little tonight.
I went to a dance down at the park tonight and had a very nice time.
Thursday, October 15, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and it rained for a while at noon and then again about four o’clock.
Friday, October 16, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear today.
Louise went to a show up town tonight with some girls.
George’s eyes are worse today but they keep changing all the time.
Saturday, October 17, 1903
It has been partly cloudy and partly clear and so cold that I have worn my overcoat part of the time today.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning.
This afternoon I went up to the Great-Western yards and helped drive some cattle home but I got something in my eye and after supper I went up to the doctor to get it out as I could not.
Sunday, October 18, 1903
There was a very heavy frost last night but it has been a very nice day.
I went up to another doctor this morning as I took the milk to see about my eye and it is better now. I did not go to Sunday School.
It clouded up a little this afternoon.
Monday, October 19, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I walked to and from school.
Tuesday, October 20, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I went to a lecture tonight at the Waterman Hall and after that I went to see the last part of a show at the Opera House. Both were very good.
Wednesday, October 21, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I walked to and from school. I keep on milking two cows now as before but they do not give very much.
Thursday, October 22, 1903
It has been a nice day today.
George’s eyes were quite a little better today.
Friday, October 23, 1903
There was a very heavy frost last night but it has been nice today.
I went to a dance at the Opera House tonight with Ethel Chatfield and Louise and had a very nice time.
Saturday, October 24, 1903
It has been a nice day only a cold west wind has been blowing most of the time.
I took the milk up to the factory this morning and worked home some of the afternoon.
Sunday, October 25, 1903
It has been a very nice day only a little cloudy.
I took the milk up to the customers this morning. I went up town for a little while after supper.
Uncle will and his children and their nurse, Mrs. Walrod came back from the visit to Galesburg today.
George came home to stay from Grandma’s tonight.
Monday, October 26, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
Grandma Townsend has been a little sick lately but she is better today.
Tuesday, October 27, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I walked to and from school.
Wednesday, October 28, 1903
It has been a very nice day.
I went into Chicago alone today and got me an overcoat, a suit of clothes and a pair of gloves. I went to McVicker’s Theater this afternoon and saw the play “Way Down East” which was very good.
Thursday, October 29, 1903
It has been a nice day only a little cloudy.
There was no school today on account of the corner-stone of the new courthouse being laid.
I went to a dance part of the afternoon and then for a while tonight up town.
Friday, October 30, 1903
It has been cloudy nearly all day and has sprinkled several different times.
George went to a party up town tonight and wore long pants for the first time.
Saturday, October 31, 1903
It has been nice and warm today only cloudy part of the time.
I took the customer’s milk up this morning on foot.
I went to a football game at DeKalb this afternoon when DeKalb and Rochelle played to a tie 5 to 5. These were High Schools.
J.C.’s Story
James Cation Duncan
James Cation Duncan is my great grandfather on the Scottish branch of the family tree. His parents, Eliza Cation and Thomas Duncan as well as three of his (James’) older brothers (William, Thomas Cation, and John) were born in Scotland, emigrating to the US in 1842. Another brother, David, was born in Peoria, New York in 1846. The family continued to move west settling near Ottawa, Waukesha county, Wisconsin. Another boy, Frank, was their first child born in Wisconsin in 1848.
James Cation, known as J.C., was born 3 March 1851 in Ottawa, Wisconsin. His birth was followed by a brother George in 1854, a sister Eliza, who died as an infant in 1856, and a sister, also named Eliza, born in 1858.
Two of J.C.’s brothers, William and T.C., enlisted to fight in the Civil War. William died from fever, T.C. returned. J.C. studied at Milton College in Wisconsin, graduating in 1869. Soon after that the family moved to Osage, Mitchell county, Iowa.
On 21 May 1875 James married Anna English, daughter of Samuel and Mary English. She was born 4 May 1856 in Iowa. Years later her brother Frank would marry J.C.’s sister.
On 10 September 1876 Anna and J.C.’s son Clifford James Duncan was born in Osage. Seven months later on 30 April 1877 Anna English Duncan died and was buried in Osage. She was almost 21 years old.
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According to a county history, J.C. went to Chicago in 1877 to study medicine – probably with his brother Thomas who was a prominent homeopathic doctor. He then returned to Iowa.
Nettie’s Story
Nettie Patchen Duncan
Annette Mary Jane Patchen always went by the name Nettie – even in legal papers. [There was a genealogy lesson for me here – I had been looking for her full formal name].
She was born 2 December 1858 in Cassell Prairie, Wisconsin to Cassie Ann Rosenberry and Orson Patchen. Her father died from illness in the Civil War in 1862. Her mother married again, this time to Michael Gallagher, who also died in the war.
Before 1870 Cassie married her third husband, Lewis Abbott who had been married previously and had adult sons. The Abbotts lived in Iowa.
In 1878 Cassie and Lewis have a daughter, Lillian. Nettie’s famly consists of her mother Cassie, stepfather Lewis, brother Clarence, and half-sister Lillian.
On 8 April 1880 James Cation Duncan and Nettie Patchen marry in Osage, Iowa. He is 29 years old, she is 21.
This I Leave 