History: Family: Descendants of James Wiley Duncan: Allegheny Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Rob Miller. rmill21@ibm.net USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ____________________________________________________ Descendants of James Wiley Duncan 1 James Wiley Duncan +Jane 2 Ann Jane Duncan b: in "Among the hills of Penn. 12 miles north of Pittsburgh, Allegenny Co." d: October 25, 1921 +James Evander (Van) Miller b: May 28, 1837 in Tarentum, PA d: August 08, 1926 m: March 16, 1866 in LeClaire, Iowa 3 Frank Grieley Miller b: August 14, 1873 in Keokuk, Iowa d: May 07, 1943 in Melba, Idaho +Nina Belle Standage b: January 14, 1878 d:July 05, 1927 in Melba, Idaho m: March 17, 1903 in Kearney Methodist Parsonage 3 John Charlie Miller b: June 30 3 Fred Miller 3 George C. Miller b: May 08 3 Mrs. McIntyre +George E. McIntyre 3 Loda E. +John J. Foster 3 John A. Miller b: June 26, 1867 in Davenport, Iowa d: September, 1935 +Florence E. Valentine d: September 1934 in Platte Valley, Nebraska m: December 12, 1888 ANN JANE DUNCAN'S JOURNAL ENTRY. Date unknown. Among the hills of Pennsylvania, 12 miles north of Pittsburgh, Allegenny County, a baby girl was born to James Wiley and Jane Duncan, who were also natives of this place. To this little one they gave the name of "Ann Jane" the first meaning lovely, the second meaning good, ever since the name has been honered as a gift from Christian parents, who trained their childern in the fear of God and gave them the best advantages they could, denying themselves that their children might be a blessing. years passed and we were educated in the Public schools, at the age of ten, the parents took the little girl with the rest of the family to try their fortunes to find a home in the West, coming to LeClaire, Iowa from Pittsburg on the Ben Bolt on the Mononghehela Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers, quite a new experience for a little Ann. New scenes, new freinds and new joys. We had to unladen our boat in crossing the Mississippi, and all the men on board had to walk to lighten the load. ! Farther off with others on land. Ann wanted to set her foot on solid sand, so ran down the plank and when she came back ran around the boat which was tossing fiercely over the rapids, frightening her mother until she was taken inside and told the dangers of the trip. We were welcomed by friends who had cme in advance and entered into the new homes. We found churches and schools and were soon interested in them and new associations were formed, among them we note the meeting of Van Miller who some years afterwards became the constant companion of Ann's life, but school days then were more precious and home and family tiew more dear than anything else. How we loved to roam those woods and gather the sweet wild flowers which were so plenty those long summer days. One of the great delights of early childhood in the winters in Iowa we enjoyed the skating, long winters with the music of sleighbells, glorious indeed' with sister Kate a constant companion who still lives to enjoy! much in life, with whom we often communicate, we have the ties some of love and friendship and interest in the same things. We greatly enjoyed horse back riding and loved fast riding. Time changes and Ann has grown into a teacher of schools with a strong love for education and children, and feeling a responsibility for development of finer charactors. She loves the work and proves successful and much desired as a teacher. When sixteen of age mad profession of her faith in Christ as her Savior and united for service in the United Presbyterian Church of Le Claire, Iowa. Had read the Bible through and committed a number of psalms and other portions of the Bible. Later read it through 24 times and studied it through. Once, from 1861 saw some of the horrors of war of the Rebellion- Father and brothers going to defend our Nation and preserve the Union that Old Glory might still wave over a "United States of America." Some it was farewell to home and all home ties, those who were permitted to return still have sad visions and memories of war years of danger but often hearing of friends at home. How anxiously we looked for the news from every battle and scanned the list of names to see if our friends were still among the living. When the sad news came of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln it was a terrible shock to all the country was enveloped in gloom. It was hard to believe that a life so sacred so important to the trust should be permitted to be so ruthlessly blotted out by the hand of an assassin.