Album, Bios, & Obits: John and Laura Hayden Duncan

Family Album
for the extended family of
John H. and A. Laura (Hayden) Duncan
with their Biographies and Obituaries

also see GenForums for
Duncan * Hayden

More Duncan family pictures

(Click on any photo to enlarge)

Ancestry.com resources: "D" Surnames * "H" Surnames * Census Records Online * Ohio Databases * Free searches
John
John H. Duncan
wedding day, 1870 or 1875
John
John Duncan with his grandsons,
Donald (baby) and Lester Longman (1912)
John
Dr. John Duncan
Laura
A. Laura Hayden Duncan
wedding day (1870 or 1875)
Ross
Ross Hayden Underwood may be Laura Hayden Duncan's nephew.
Laura
"Grandma Doctor" Duncan
(black dress)
with Maybelle George's family
July, 1928
John and Laura had two children. Their son died in infancy. Their daughter, Leoti Viola Duncan was born November 25, 1875. She went to college at Otterbein University, Westerville, OH, and married Rufus A. Longman in 1896. They had two sons, Lester (1905) and Donald (1912) before she died in 1916, the year after her father died.
The children of Laura's husband's niece, Maybelle Duncan George, called her "Grandma Doctor". Laura died at the George's in Butler County Ohio in 1929.
Leoti
Maybelle Duncan George
and Leoti Viola Duncan
Leoti
Leoti and sons,
Lester and Donald,
about 1915.
more Family Albums by SweenThis album was set up Dec 21 2001
Ancestry Search over 500 Million Names Now!
First Name Last Name

John H. and Laura (Hayden) Duncan Family History Notes
compiled by Nancy Sween

Bios & Obits:
Also see information on their daughter's family - Longman - and their niece's family - George


Notes: John H. was a son of John and Nancy (Jones) Duncan, of Miami Co, OH. The date of John H. Duncan's marriage in one biography was 1870, and 1875 in the other. This source says he was the 9th of 10 children of John, but "The History of Miami County, Ohio" (1880) lists 11 children, with John H. 4th youngest. John H.'s year of death is probably 1915, not 1913.
John Duncan
Biography provided by Miriam George VanMason
Dr. John H. Duncan, next to the youngest of the ten children, was born October 27, 1843 in Miami County, Ohio and died April 4, 1915 in Cincinnati. On August 14, 1862 he enlisted in the army at Tippecanoe City, Ohio and went into camp at Piqua on the 18th of August, 1862. His regiment, the 94th O.V.I., left for the South, September 1. He was in the battle at Tate's Crossing on the Kentucky River, September 10. On the 15th they were captured at Lexington, but fought their way out, when for seven days they were without food except raw "sow belly." He was crippled by being run over during the night by a stampede of mules, and on November 1st was honorably discharged.

After attending National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio he taught school for ten years. He was married to Anna Laura Hayden of Oxford, Ohio, March 20 1870. On May 7, 1878 he was graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio. His thirty five years as a family doctor were not only for relieving physical ailments, but also for encouraging his clientele by means of his happy outlook on life. He was a member of the G.A.R. for 41 years and a faithul member of the I.O.O.F.

This incident, told by his family, suggests one of his methods of dealing with an inquisitive youth. A neighbor boy, who was a frequent caller at the home, often opened doors just to see what may be there. In wondering how to cure the boy of this habit, the Doctor arranged to have what all physicians prized at that time, a human skeleton, behind one of those doors. In due time that particular door was opened by the boy. With a shriek of horror his curiosity ended rapidly.


Death of Dr. John Duncan
[source of clipping, unknown; provided by Frances George Ertel]
Dr. John Duncan, an aged citizen of Harrison, died in Cincinnati Sunday evening, April 4th. [1915] The remains were brought here Monday morning and the funeral was held at his late residence Tuesday afternoon. The interment was in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Wednesday. H.C. Slete, funeral director.

The services at the home were conducted by Rev. Stephens of the U. B. Church, assisted by Revs. Van Saun and Weilbaum. The singing was by Mrs. W. W. Davison and Mrs. Walter Cheetham. The Odd Fellows were in charge, with the G. A. R. well represented.


Dr. Laura Hayden Duncan
Biography provided by Miriam George VanMason
Dr. Laura Hayden Duncan was born near Oxford, Ohio, February 2, 1852 and died at Okeana, Ohio, 1929. She was married to John Duncan, March 20, 1875. Their home was in Franklin County, Indiana where he taught school and studied medicine. A daughter, Leoti, was born to them November 25, 1876. Later, they moved to New Haven, Ohio where he was a practicing physician for many years.

Laura was graduated from the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College 1891. Soon after this the family moved to Harrison, Ohio where both were active in the medical profession. She practiced as long as she was physically able, which was until 1924. She went as cheerfully to destitute homes as to those of abundance. She was a faithful member of the Rebekah Lodge at Harrison.


Death of Dr. Laura (Hayden) Duncan
[source of clipping, unknown - Harrison paper?] Clipping provided by Frances George Ertel
Obituary
The passing of Mrs. Duncan will renew in the hearts of her friends, relatives and formed [former] neighbors, the memory of many kind deeds and cheerful words. Seventy-seven summers have come and gone since her birth and made happier the lives of her friends because of her presence.

Laura Hayden was born near Oxford, Ohio, February 2 1852. Her education was received in the public schools of that community. In March, 1870 [note: or 1875], she was united in marriage with J. H. Duncan and their home was established in Franklin County, Indiana, where he taught school and later studied medicine. They then moved to New Haven, Ohio, where he was a practicing physician for many years.

During these years Mrs. Duncan became greatly interested in medicine and was graduated from Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College in 1891, soon after which the family moved to Harrison, Ohio, where both were active in their chosen profession.

A son and daughter came to brighten this home, the son dying in infancy. The daughter, Leoti, was the idol of their hearts and the joy of their lives. No sacrifice was too great for them to make for her happiness. She grew to womanhood and became the wife of Rufus A. Longman, passing to her eternal reward from their home in Cincinnati December 20, 1916, her father having preceeded her on April 4, 1913. [note: or 1915]

Mrs. Duncan continued her practice in harrison as long as health permitted. She had a kindly interest in the affairs of her acquaintances and a tender sympathy in sickness and sorrow.

It was her great pleasure to minister to the needs of others and she went as cheerfully to destitute homes as to those of abundance. She always lent a helping hand to the needy of the community and was a faithful member of the Rebekah Lodge of Harrison. During the past few years the pride of her heat was her two motherless grandsons in whose welfare she had a keen interest and delighted to add to their happiness.

Three years ago, on account of failing health she was removed to Ofleana [Okeana], Ohio, to the home of her husband's niece, Mrs. Fred George, where loving hands kindly ministered to all her wants until the summons came on May 8, 1929.

There remain of her immediate family to honor her memory, a son-in-law, two grandsons, a nephew and an aged cousin, with many other relatives and friends.

CARD OF THANKS
We wish to express our thanks to the many neighbors and friends for their acts of kindness and sympathy during the sickness and death of Dr. Laura Duncan. Also thank Rev. Andrews and wife and Paul Robison and the Rebekahs of Harrison.
MRS. GEORGE.

Click Here!