California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


   O. H. P. DUNCAN. As a pioneer citizen of worth and ability, O. H. P. Duncan is remembered by 
all and honored for the qualities which distinguished his manhood. He was born in Illinois 
October 16, 1836, and when only sixteen years old started across the plains to California. 
Through a painful and severe accident - the breaking of his thigh - he was compelled to remain 
a year in Salt Lake City. The following year he came on to California and went to mining in 
Placerville. After four years of this life he came to Tulare county and engaged in the sheep 
business, and the following year (1858) he bought eighty acres of land on Deep creek. After his 
marriage, which occurred in December, 1860, he located on his wife's land, five miles east of 
Visalia, removing in 1866 to that city while he served as deputy sheriff. In 1867 he went to Kings 
river, near Kingston, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres and bought eighty acres 
adjoining, making that location his home until the spring of 1872. He then moved to Lemon 
Cove and bought all of the land, seven hundred and forty acres, which he sold in 1874, then 
located in Springville. He there purchased eighty acres, including the hotel and springs, and 
engaged in stock-raising for two years. In December, 1876, he went to the South Tide district 
and bought one hundred and sixty acres and pre-empted a like number, and also secured 
eighty acres from the railway company. This continued to be his home until his death, which 
occurred in June, 1889, after a long and lingering illness following a paralytic stroke. Mr. 
Duncan's widow was in maidenhood Matilda Swanson, a native of Peru, La Salle county. Ill., 
where she was born February 20, 1843. Her father, John Swanson, was a native of Union 
county, Ind., who came to Illinois and located in Putnam county, where he conducted a flour 
mill. Later he engaged in farming, in 1850 crossing the plains to California by means of ox teams. 
Upon his arrival he engaged in mining in Eldorado county until the following year, when he 
returned east for his family, which he brought back in 1852. They left their home in the Prairie 
state March 5, and arrived in Placerville in August. There the father engaged in mining for a 
time, in the same year locating at Knights Ferry on Stanislaus river, where he conducted a store 
in conjunction with his mining operations. He eventually went to Suisun City, Solano county, 
and took up land, which he found was a Spanish grant, so in June, 1854, he located near Visalia, 
Tulare county, where he bought four hundred and eighty acres of land. Later he added two 
hundred acres of school land, and in 1858 bought the seven hundred and forty acres which 
comprise Lemon Cove. He there built the Lemon Cove ditch and did much toward the 
development and upbuilding of this section. The freshet of 1861 and '62 washed out everything 
in this section, and he afterward sold the property. His death occurred in August, 1863. His wife, 
formerly Hannah Sherman, of Ohio, also died near Visalia. After the death of her husband, Mrs. 
Duncan, to whom all the property was deeded, took charge of the land and conducted it for a 
time, finally disposing of all but one hundred and twelve acres, which is devoted to general 
farming and stock-raising. To herself and husband were born the following children : John W., 
of Portersville ; Oliver K. ; Clara V.; May M. ; Pelham ; Rev M.; Ada I., the wife of D. Pratt, of the 
North district; Hayne ; and Claude. Four children are deceased, Oliver K., Clara V., May M. and 
Hayne. The others are located in the vicinity of their childhood's home, while Claude is living 
with his mother and caring for the home property. Mr. Duncan was always active in the 
counsels of the Democratic party. 

When Mrs. Duncan first came to Tulare county the Indians were very troublesome and had 
massacred many of the settlers. They were met at Kaweah Bridge and at Woodville by Indians, 
who told them not to cross. Her father traded and made friends with them, so they came on to 
Cameron creek. She learned the' Indian language and for some years the Indians were her only 
playmates. In 1855, on one of her trips to the Indian camp all the squaws were gone, and 
shortly afterward an Indian girl came to see her and told her that the Indians were going to kill 
all the white people. In a panic the little white pioneer girl ran with the news to older people, 
and thus the settlers of that section escaped, the Tulare county Indian war following. She has 
witnessed great changes during her long residence in the west and has taken an active part, 
with her husband, in the progress and development of this section.