----- Original Message ----- From: James Laird To: Jim Laird Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2002 7:37 PM Subject: Fw: Mr. and Mrs. James N. DUNCANSON... ----- Original Message ----- From: James Laird To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2002 7:36 PM Subject: Mr. and Mrs. James N. DUNCANSON... The Valley Falls New Era Thursday May 11, 1916 Nearly 50 Years on Same Homestead. The following old settler story from the Leavenworth Times will be of interest to our local readers as the pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. James N. DUNCANSON of Tonganoxie, the subjects of the sketch, are the parents of Wm. M. DUNCANSON of Valley Falls, the well-known contractor and builder, and with his good wife is prominent in lodge and social circles. The early settlers of Leavenworth county who came to these parts when the Indians roamed around have nearly all passed out of existence but some of them remain to enjoy life at ease in their old age. Among these are Mr. and Mrs. James N. DUNCANSON, who will soon observe the forty-eighth anniversary of their emigration to the plains of Kansas. Mr. DUNCANSON is 76 years old and his wife is almost as advanced, yet neither of them will grant for a moment that they are not practically able to remain on the old homestead and live as they have don for nearly half a century engaged in active work. On the same section of land which Mr. DUNCANSON "homesteaded" forty-eight years ago, he still lives and works. When he came there accompanied by his wife, the country was almost a wilderness. his nearest neighbor was three miles distant, and the rich land surrounding him for miles on every side lay, for the most part, untouched by men. It was covered by acres of scrub oak and underbrush on the rolling plain, while virgin forests hid the courses of the streams and the sides of the hills. Witnessed Many Changes. Today the two pioneers cannot look away from their substantial, old-fashioned home without meeting the evidence of human work and prosperity. Silos, great barns and windmills break the landscape which Mr. DUNCANSON remembers as it appeared nearly fifty years past, and poultry hatched in incubators have taken the place of flocks of prairie chicken and quail. They came to the "Golden West" with a small colony of families from the East soon after the Civil war, picked out a piece of land, built a house on it, cleared and cultivated it and they have noted with satisfaction its increase in value from year to year every since. Mr. DUNCANSON, in addition to looking after his farm tok a more or less active interest in public affairs. He held about all the positions of trust in his township and exerted a strong influence in county politics. he is well posted on current events and can talk clearly on all questions of public interest. Married 56 Years. The couple were married in Highland county, Ohio, in 1860. It was eight years later that the trip to this county was made. Mr. and Mrs. DUNCANSON have raised five children, all of whom are married. One son lives in Pueblo, Colo., another in Valley Falls, Kansas and the third in Tonganoxie. One daughter resides in Texas and the other in Lawrence, Ks. Poultry raising and gardening on a small scale served to occupy Mr. DUNCANSON's time and give him outdoor employment. His wife, also, has a hobby to which she devotes herself--beekeeping. She does not try to produce honey for market, but cares for the bees for pleasure. She usually has enough honey in the fall to supply the needs of herself and children for the winter, however. The DUNCANSON homestead is in the heart of one of the richest fruit districts of the state. Mr. DUNCANSON has the reputation of being a practical horticulturist of much ability, and was a successful fruit raiser. There is still a large orchard on the farm. Most of the homestead is rented for cultivation, as the owners have retired from active farming for several years. They still retain the house and its immediate surroundings for their own personal use and enjoyment, and expect to remain there for years to come.