was born in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, on the ninth day of April, 1837, and, at the age of seven years, came with his parents to Henderson. He was educated in the private schools of Henderson. At the age of twenty, on the eighteenth day of April, 1857, Mr. Duncan set upon life's journey for himself, and some months thereafter, found himself in California, where he resided until August, 1876. During his residence in the golden State, he was variously engaged, principally in hoteling, steamboating and mining for gold. On the twelfth day of July, 1860, he married Miss Kate Driscoll, of Sacramento, and unto them have been born three children, Harriet Ellen, Mary Josephine, and John George. The eldest daughter married Thomas Trusty, who, after a few years, departed this life. She again married Thomas L. Myers. Mary Josephine died just as she had attained to womanhood. John George is engaged in business with his father. The father of our subject, John Duncan, was born near Fairfax, C. H., Virginia, in the year 1787; the mother, Harriet Stroud, was born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, April 16th, 1809. They were married November 16th, 1835. In early life, John Duncan immigrated from Virginia to Pittsburgh, Penn., and was engaged in flatboating to New Orleans until 1840, a portion of the time teaching school. Colonel Stroud, as he was known, the maternal grandfather of Captain Duncan, fought with the flatboatmen in the rifle brigade under General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. In 1831 he commenced farming in the bayou, opposite Henderson, and died September 1st, 1844.
On the first day of September, 1876, Captain Duncan returned from California to Henderson and engaged in the hotel business. In 1878 he purchased his present hotel and has continued to provide for his guests in a bountiful way. Captain Duncan is a member of the I.O.O.F., and of the encampment of the order of "Red Men" of the A.O.U.W., and of the Select Knights of the same. In 1863 he was a member of the California Volunteer Cavalry Service, Co. F. He also served for thirteen months as First Lieutenant of the California State Guard, doing provost duty and Indian fighting. In politics he has ever been a Republican. He has lately been appointed, by the City Council, a member of the Board of Health.
The History of Henderson County, Kentucky by Starling 1887 page 800-01;