Seated in front from left to right:  David Duncan, his son Whitney and wife Emma Jane (Whitney) Duncan; back row from left to right: daughter, Blanch; son, George; daughters, Caroline and Mary Duncan.

A Duncan family gathering, standing far left is George Elliot Duncan, the couple to his left is thought to be Mary (Duncan) and Benjamin Zigler; several unknowns.  From the far right: David and Emma Jane (Whitney) Duncan.  The young man in the dark suit in front of Emma Jane is her grandson, my grandfather, Clive Elliot Duncan.  Clive's mother, Mina (Church) Duncan is in the very back between Emma and David Duncan.

George Elliot Duncan, his wife Mina (Church) Duncan and son Clive Elliot Duncan, photo in about 1914.

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"Date of License - 23 February 1906

St. Louis- Geo. E. Duncan age 30
Parents- [David] Duncan and Emma J. Whitney

Mina Church age 18
Parents- W.C. Church and Margaret Muhn
Mr. L. Sheldon, clergyman
Witnessed by F.M. Campbell and Mrs. Myrtie Campbell"

The 1930 Federal Census of Alma, Gratiot County, ED# 2, sheet 7B, taken on 3 April,  shows some discrepancies in their ages and perhaps their memories (it was recorded by Emma Brown, she may have flustered the men in the family).  George who was age 44 in 1920, stated in 1930 that he was 50 years old, meaning that he had aged only 6 years in the last ten years.  He also stated that his parents were both born in New York, when in actuality his father was born in Scotland and his mother was born in Ohio.  George listed his occupation as a proprietor of a "Dray Line".  Mina did much better with her age, she listed her age as 42, however, she slipped with the birthplace of her parents and listed both her father and mother's place of birth as Michigan.  Clive, their son, went in the opposite direction of his father and stated that he was age 20--he had aged 12 years in only ten!  Their address was listed as 224 Woodworth Avenue.

Mina (Church) Duncan died on 29 March 1947 and George Elliot Duncan died in 1950, they are both buried in Riverside Cemetery in Alma, Michigan, near her parents, Willard and Margaret Church.  George's obituary from the Alma Record, dated 10 August 1950:

Mina's parents, Willard and Margaret Church were living in Seville Township, Gratiot County, Michigan in the 1900 Federal Census, ED# 59, pages 1A and 1B, enumerated on 1 June (6 years before Mina married George Duncan in 1906).  The Church household begins on the bottom of page 1B, with Willard, who stated that he was born in January 1850, his age was 50 years old and he listed his occupation as a farmer.  He also stated that he was born in Michigan and his parents were both born in New York.  Margaret stated that she was born in April 1855 in Pennsylvania, she was 45 years old and that her parents were both born in Germany.  She also stated that she had given birth to 8 children all of whom were still living (only seven were still living in the household).  Willard and Margaret both stated that they had been married for 29 years.  The first three children living in the household were sons, Frank, age 25, born in May 1875; Harvey, age 21, born in August 1878; and John, age 18, born in December 1881.  On page 1B, their household continued: daughters, Mirtle [sic, probably Myrtle, poor spelling by the enumerator], age 16, born in December 1883; Carrie, age 14, born in February 1886; Mina, age 12, born in March 1888 and Viola, age 9, born in August 1890 (all the children were born in Michigan).

In the 1910 Federal Census of St. Louis City, Gratiot County, ED# 77, sheet 18B, enumerated on 6 May, Willard C. Church stated that he was age 60, they both stated that they had been married for 39 years, his birthplace was listed as Michigan, his parents birthplace was listed as New York and his occupation was listed as "Own business" (I don't know if that meant he owned his own business or it was his own business and not that of the census taker!).  Margaret was now age 65, which makes no sense, she should have been about 52), she gave her birthplace as Pennsylvania, and her parents place of birth as Germany.  Margaret also stated that she had given birth to 8 children, all of whom were still living.  Their youngest daughter, Viola, age 19, single was still living in their home.

Also living in the same enumeration district were the following Church families:

Sheet 16A Church, Frank Head m 34 M1 6  Michigan  Un  Pennsylvania  Carpenter house
                         Anna  Wife   f  32 M2 6 1 1 Can  Engl. Can English Can English none
                    Edna   Daughter   f   11           Michigan       Michigan       Michigan

Sheet 16A Church, John Head m 24 M1 5 Michigan  Pennsylvania  Un Cooper sugar factory
                         Kate  Wife  f  24 M1 5   2  0  Michigan  Pen  Ger  Can Engl. none

Willard C. Church and Margaret were also listed for the last time in the 1920 Federal Census of St. Louis City, Gratiot County, Michigan, ED# 53.  Willard was 70 years old and Margaret was a young 64.  Eventually I will sort out and add the next generation of the Church family....

1.2 Mary Duncan was born in September 1876 (1880 census).  She married Benjamin Zigler, their marriage was recorded in Gratiot County, Book C, page 244, on 9 May 1900:

"Benjamin I. Zigler age 23 born in Clinton County
Parents I. Zigler and Mary Hermon

Mary E. Duncan  age 23
Parents D. Duncan and Emma Whitney

Geo. Brown, Minister
Witnessed by David Duncan and L. Zigler"

Benjamin's WW I Draft registration card listed his date of birth as 20 August 1876, his occupation as self employed in meats and grocery and his nearest relative as Mary W. Zigler.  He listed "three fingers on right hand" as lost and disqualifying for the draft.

In the 1920 Federal Census they were living in Elba Township, ED# 34, Mary Mabel, age 43; and her husband Benjamin, age 43, occupation “meat man” in a meat market; his father Isaiah age 70, widowed was also listed in their home.

In the 1930 Federal Census of Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan, ED# 77, sheet 8B, enumerated on 9 April, address 68 South Johnson St., Benjamin I. was age 53, occupation listed as none and Mary M., was now age 53, they both stated that they had been married for 23 years.  Benjamin and Mary had no children.

1.3 Caroline “Carrie” Duncan was born in about 1880 (from the 1880 and 1910 census), the Whitney Genealogy of the Brothers, Judge Joshua and Gen. William Whitney of Binghamton, N.Y.; History gathered by Hallam S. Whitney, Cleveland, Ohio and Compiled by Dr. F. E. Weeks Kipton, Ohio, 1932, gives her birth date as 9 March 1880.  It also shows her (1st) marriage to Lester Chappell, as 31 May 1896.  She had one son by her first husband, Henry Chappell (Henry is found living with his grandparents, David and Emma Duncan, in the 1900 and 1910 censuses, and with his aunt and Uncle James and Elizabeth Welch in 1920).  Caroline was married a second time to Bert Palmer (this was also his second marriage) on 20 February 1904 (the year matches the 1910 census data).  Her father's biography published in 1913, stated that Carrie and Bert were living in Owosso in 1913.  From the 1910 Federal Census of Owosso Township, Owosso City, Shiawassee County, Michigan, ED# 93, Sheet 4B, address shown as 1319 Stewart St., enumerated on 18 April (Carrie stated that she had bore two children and that they were both living; both Carrie and Bert stated that this was their second marriage and that they had been married for 6 years):

#91 91 Palmer, Bert m 32 Michigan Michigan Michigan Assembly Room Carriage Factory
                Carrie    f  30  Michigan  Scot Scotish   Ohio   None
                 Duncan m   [unreadable]   Michigan  Michigan  Michigan  None

The Whitney Genealogy also lists Carrie's date of death as 29 June 1919.

1.3.1 Henry D. Chappell, was born on 6 March 1897 in Michigan and died in March 1972 (SSN# Death Index).  Henry and his wife, Elsie, were living in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, ED# 822, sheet 83A, in the 1930 Federal Census, street address listed as 3358 Evanston Avenue.  Henry D., age 33, listed his occupation as a sales engineer for a heating and ventilating company.  Elsie A., listed her age as 34, her birthplace as Michigan and her parents' place of birth as Germany.  They had one daughter in the 1930 census:

1.3.1.1 Ellen C. Chappell, was born in about 1924 in Michigan.

1.3.2 Duncan Palmer, was born in about 1920 in Michigan.

Simeon S. and Blanche Lindley, Riverside Cemetery in Elsie, Michigan.

1.4 Olive Blanche Duncan was born on 30 June 1882 in Gratiot County, Michigan.  Blanche married Simeon S. Lindley in about 1902 (marriage record not located in Gratiot County) and later married Frank Bennett.  Her father's biography stated that they were living in Elba Township in 1913.  I located the Lindley's living in Elba Township in the 1910 Federal Census Gratiot County, ED# 66, sheet 11A (they both stated that this was their first marriage and that they had been married for 8 years; Blanch stated that she had given birth to 3 children all of whom were still living):

#216    Lindley, Simeon S.  Head   m  38  Ohio   Ohio  New York   Farmer  General Farm
                        Blanch      Wife    f   28  Michigan   Scot Gaelic   Ohio      None
                      Ruth G.    Daughter f    6  Michigan   Ohio          Michigan  None
                        Avery B.   Son     m    4  Michigan   Ohio          Michigan  None
                        David F.   Son     m   1 ^11/12   Michigan    Ohio  Michigan  None

Ten years later in the 1920 Federal census of Elba Township, Gratiot County, ED# 35, sheet 3B, their household listed:

#63 64    Lindley, Simeon  Head  m  48  Ohio    Farmer  General Farm
                         Blanch    Wife   f   37  Michigan   None
                          Avery     Son   m   14  Michigan   None
                        David       Son   m   11  Michigan   None

She is later listed in her older brother's obituary as Blanche Bennett of Bannister.  Blanche is listed in the SSN# Death Index as Olive Bennett, date of birth listed as 30 June 1882, date of death listed as March 1975 in Bannister, Gratiot County, Michigan (issued in Michigan in 1963).  Her obituary from the Gratiot County Herald, dated 6 March 1975:

Blanche Bennett

Mrs. Blanche Bennett, 92, who resided most of her life in the Elsie and Bannister area, died March 1 at Maple Valley Nursing Home, Ashley.  She was born June 30, 1882 in Gratiot County daughter of David and Emma Jane Whitney Duncan.  She was married to Simeon Lindley who died in 1945 and she later married Frank Bennett, who passed away in 1964 [SSN Death Index lists his date of birth as 18 April 1882, date of death as May 1964].  She was a member of the Bannister Methodist Church.  Survivor's include a daughter, Mrs. Roy O. (Ruth) Britton of Florida; two sons: Avery B. Lindley of Ithaca and David F. Lindley of Lake, four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.  Services were conducted at 1 pm, March 4 at Carter Funeral home in Elsie.  Rev. Miriam DeMint officiating and burial was at Riverside Cemetery, Elsie."

1.4.1 Ruth G. Lindley, was born in about 1904 in Michigan, she married Ray or Roy Britton.  In the 1920 Federal Census of Flint, Genesee County, Michigan, ED# 21, sheet 18A, address 1065 E. Holbrook Ave. (Ray stated that he was married at age 19; Ruth stated that she was age 20 at the time of marriage--which may have been her second):

 #372 393  Birtton, Ray  Head   m    25    Michigan    machinist    Auto Factory
                         Ruth   Wife    f     26    Michigan    clerk           dime store
   Christler, Pauline   step daughter   f    9   Michigan  none
       Lindley, David   brother in law   m  21  Michigan  machinist    Auto Factory

Note--the Whitney Research Group shows Ruth's daughter as "Pauline Chrysler", father Raymond Chrysler, mother Ruth Lindley, [census and death records indicate that his last name was Christler not Chrysler].   Ruth is listed in the Florida Death Index, date of birth listed as 15 June 1903, date and place of death listed as 27 July 1982 in Palm Beach County, Florida, age listed as 79 years.

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1.4.2 Avery B. Lindley, was born on 11 January 1906 in Michigan and died on 7 July 1997 in Apache Junction, Pinal, Arizona (SSN# Death Index).  His obituary from the East Valley Tribune, in Mesa Arizona dated 16 July 1997:

"Services will be held for Avery B. Lindley, 91, of Apache Junction will be
2 pm Sunday at Palmas Del Sol East, 3400 S. Ironwood Drive, Apache Junction.
He died Monday, July 7, 1997, in Apache Junction. Mr. Lindley , a farm
machine mechanic, was born in Ashley, Mich. Survivors include ,his wife,
Doris; son Larry; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Mountain
View Mortuary handled arrangements."

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1.4.3 David F. Lindley, was born on 1 May 1908 and died on 31 January 1994 in Frankenmuth, Saginaw County, Michigan (SSN# Death Index).

1.5 Whitney Mortimor Duncan  was born in 1888 in Gratiot County, Michigan.  At the time of the printing of his father's biography in 1913, it stated that he was living in Detroit working at the barber's trade.  Whitney Duncan, married Violet (her maiden name is unconfirmed; the Whitney Genealogy gives her maiden name as McKinley, the California Death Index lists her maiden name as "Hirzel").

Whitney's cemetery marker shown below indicates that he served as a Private First Class (PFC) in WW I, his WW I draft card, dated "6/5/17", in Detroit, listed his place of birth as Ashley, Michigan and his date of birth as 14 April 1888.  His build was listed as medium, with blue eyes and light hair, his occupation was listed as a chauffeur.  He listed a "wife" (she was not named) as someone who depended on him for his sole support.

In the 1920 Federal Census of Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, ED# 76, sheet 15B, Whitney, age 31 was recorded as "Whitney Mortimore D."  He listed his occupation as a "hammerman" sheet metal.  Violet was also age 31, born in Michigan and listed her father's place of birth as Canada, and her mother's place of birth as New York.  She was working as a saleslady in a department store.

Whitney did later move to California and owned a chain of barbershops, in the Pasadena, California area.  My father visited his great uncle Whitney in about 1961 in California.  The California Death Index gives Whitney's date of birth as 14 April 1888 and his date of death as 18 August 1963 in Los Angeles, age at death 75 years, his residence was listed as Alhambra, California.  I was able to find his obituary, which gave very little information:

"DUNCAN: Whitney M. Duncan of 116 S. Sierra Vista, Monterey Park, passed away August 18, 1963.  Survived by his wife, Violet Duncan.  Services 3 p.m. today at the Chapel of Pierce Brothers Monterey Park (AT 8-2610) with Rev. Willard Glaeser officiating."

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