OBIT: John W. DUNCAN, 1887, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ MAJ. JOHN W. DUNCAN DIES SUDDENLY IN HIS ROOM IN THE LOGAN HOUSE LAST NIGHT. He Retires In His Usual Health and, During the Temporary Absence of His Servant, Falls to the Floor in a Fatal Apoplectic Fit. Major John W. Duncan, the well-known ironmaster of Philadelphia, died from a supposed apoplectic stroke in Room No. 85 of the Logan House here about 8 o'clock last evening. No one was with him when the fatal shaft severed his life chords. At 6 o'clock he had said good night to his friends in the Logan House office and had retired to his room, ordering his supper to be served him there. This being done he ate quite heartily, and shortly before 8 o'clock sent the servant attending him on an errand. At 8.15 o'clock the boy returned to the room. Entering, he was struck dumb with horror on seeing the Major lying on his side upon the floor, a vacant stare in his eyes and his naturally rubicund face o'erspread with a death-like pallor. Without waiting to examine closer the servant hastened to the hotel office. The startling intelligence he bore soon brought Clerk Adams and Superintendent Dunham to room 85. Here their worst fears were confirmed. The Major was indeed past all human aid. Dr. John Fay was summoned and he pronounced instantaneous death to have resulted from apoplexy. The body was turned over to Undertaker Tipton and friends and relatives of the deceased notified by wire. Major Duncan came to Altoona on Thursday of last week. Although he called the American House, Philadelphia, his home, he spent fully half his time at the Logan House here, especially during the summer months. On this last visit his friends were conscious of an air of melancholy about him, but this was construed as a brooding over the recent death of his wife, to whom he was strongly attached. The Major himself, however, seemed to be laboring under a premonition of death. A few days ago he alarmed a gentleman acquaintance by letting drop the remark that he had come to Altoona to die, it being the nearest desirable point to the place he had selected for his last resting place, the Allegheny City cemetery, and then he touchingly alluded to the fact that his first wife and two children were sleeping there. These remarks were brought up with startling clearness when the death of him who uttered them was known. The subject of this sketch bore a national reputation as an iron master and capitalist. His operations extended over the entire State. During the war his furnaces at Bloomfield, this county, supplied the greater part of the cannon metal used by the Fort Pitt cannon foundries at Pittsburgh, and he was at that time considered one of the best authorities on iron ordnance in the country. His personal service during the war was also very valuable, he having won great honors in his military career. He went out with the Fifth Regiment mustered at Pittsburgh, and served to the close of the war, gaining the rank of Major. John W. Duncan was born in Allegheny county in the year 1827. While quite young he entered Washington and Jefferson College, and graduated from that institution with high honors. Soon afterward he was married to Miss Martha Shoenberger, daughter of the great iron master, Peter Shoenberger. Under the direct tuition and backed by the resources of his father-in-law, young Duncan soon became an active and prominent iron operator. For thirty years he has been the iron king, so to speak, of Blair county. On the death of his wife, twenty years ago, he was given a life interest in an estate valued at $300,000. From the income thus derived he was able to live comfortably and even luxuriously throughout his life. Three children resulted from his marriage, one of whom is now dead. The others, Peter and Sarah, now reside at Bedford, Pa. Several years after the death of his first wife Mr. Duncan married Miss Mary Cash, of Philadelphia, who died on the day before Christmas, 1886. Since that time he had become morose and dejected, and seemed to court the death that would end his sorrow. He was extensively acquainted in this county and city, and his figure was a familiar one in and about the Logan House. It is altogether probable that the remains will be taken to Allegheny for interment, such having been his desire. The friends of the deceased will arrive in the city to-day, and then final arrangements will be effected. J. King McLanahan, manager of the Bloomsburg furnaces, arrived in the city last evening just as a message bearing the announcement of his employer's death was being wired him. He was greatly shocked on learning of his sudden demise. To Mr. McLanahan we are indebted for much of the information contained in the above. Altoona Times, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, March 16, 1887, page 1