BIO: W. Linn Duncan, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                             CHAPTER LIII.

                            NEWTON TOWNSHIP.

  W. LINN DUNCAN, farmer, P. O. Oakville, is a grandson of John Duncan, 
of Southampton Township, Cumberland County, who died there many years 
ago, and who had eleven children:  William, John, Alexander, Samuel, 
David D. G., Mary, Jane, Theresa, Eliza, Sarah and Rebecca.  Six of 
these are still living.  David D. G., known all over the county as D. 
D. G. Duncan, is W. Linn's father, and is living in West Pennsborough 
Township, this county; his wife, Grizelda (Linn), was a native of 
Southampton Township, Franklin Co., Penn., a daughter of William Linn, 
a prominent citizen and leading elder in the Middle Spring Church, and 
well known in political affairs, in which took an active part.  Mr. and 
Mrs. D. D. G. Duncan also had eleven children:  W. Linn, Samuel A., 
David Glenn, John Knox, James Patterson, Mary Gilbreath, Emma Jane, 
Elizabeth Ann, Sarah Ann, Flora and Eva.  W. Linn, the eldest, born 
December 5, 1845, in Southampton Township, this county, was raised on 
the farm on which his father now lives, on the Big Spring.  Getting his 
education in the public schools, he acquired a business training in the 
Iron City College, Pittsburgh, and then lived on the farm until he was 
twenty years of age, when, for a year, he was in the railroad office at 
Bergettstown, Penn.; then returning to Cumberland County and buying a 
farm in Newton Township, near Newville, where he stayed until 1871, 
when he rented it and traveled in the West for three years, then 
returning to Bergettstown, where, for four years, he was assistant 
secretary and treasurer of the savings bank at that place.  In 1879 he 
bought the old John Gracey farm on the Ridge road, and has settled down 
as a farmer.  This farm has been in only three names since it was 
patented, and the papers relating to it are now in Mr. Duncan's 
possession.  December 19, 1867, he married Arabella Davidson, of West 
Pennsborough Township, who died January 15, 1872, leaving three 
children, one of whom died in infancy.  The living are Hugh Linn, born 
October 25, 1868, and Hudson Davidson, born February 9, 1870.  
September 21, 1876, Mr. Duncan was married to Miss Lydia Belle Tritt.  
They have three children living:  James Linn Patterson, born June 10, 
1877; David Daniel Glenn, born July 29, 1879; and Charlotte Grizelda, 
born November 27, 1882.  One child, 

518 	BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

Matthew B. Boyd, born October 26, 1880, was instantly killed by the 
sudden starting of a horse on which he was sitting with an older 
brother.  Mrs. Duncan is a great-great-grandchild of Isaac LeFevre, who 
fled from France late in the seventeenth century, to escape the 
persecutions inflicted on the Huguenots, landing in Boston.  His son, 
Philip, was Mrs. Duncan's great-grandfather, and Philip's daughter 
Elizabeth was her grandmother.  She (Elizabeth LeFevre) married Peter 
Tritt, and her son Christian (Mrs. Duncan's father) was born July 25, 
1796, in West Pennsborough township, where they had come many years 
before, and where the family owned a farm for over a hundred years.  
Christian Tritt was married to Lydia Stough and had twelve children.  
After her death he married Mrs. Frances Charlotte McCulloch, and had 
one child, Mrs. Duncan, who was born August 16, 1854.  Her father died 
January 10, 1871; her mother is now living in Florida.  Mr. Duncan has 
held many township offices.  In politics he is a Democrat.  He and his 
wife belong to Big Spring Presbyterian Church.  He is a member of Big 
Spring Lodge, No. 363, A. Y. M.  He is known as an upright man and 
enterprising citizen.