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N. E. DUNCAN – It is with pleasure that we are
enabled to write concerning the estimable
gentleman whose name is at the head of this
article, since he has been one of the potent
factors in the development of Harney county, has
manifested wisdom and enterprise in all his ways
here, has labored as a true pioneer in many
other sections of the country and has always
manifested the same unswerving integrity, moral
uprightness and sound principles, having
sustained a reputation as an exceptionally
reliable man, and ever arraigned on the side of
right.
Mr. Duncan was born in Williamson county,
Illinois, on March 27, 1838, being the son of
Dudley W. and Elizabeth Duncan. On April 16,
1859, Mr. Duncan started to New Orleans on the
Panama route to California. He had an
adventurous spirit and was ready to grapple with
the hard problems of pioneer life and has since
proved himself of the right kind of stuff. He
stopped five days on the way, at Havana, and
then landed in San Francisco on May 16. He
worked for wages until the fall of 1861, then
went by steamer to Portland, Oregon. On April
16, 1863, he started to Auburn, Baker county,
arriving there on the 16th of May,
and for fifteen years he was numbered with the
hardy and worthy miners of that vicinity. It was
1878 that he came to upper Willow creek and took
up ranching. In 1884 he came thence to the
vicinity of Drewsey, and there engaged in
farming and stock raising. He took raw land, two
hundred and forty acres, and made of it a fine
farm, and was successful in raising stock. Later
he sold the farm and neat stock and handled
sheep and horses exclusively. In 1899 he sold
his entire property holdings in this section and
retired for a time from active business. He is
at present continuing his retired life.
Fraternally he is affiliated with the I. O. O.
F., Drewsey Lodge, No. 147. Mr. Duncan was
nominated for county commissioner on the
Republican ticket, and notwithstanding his
protests he was elected, but refused to qualify.
Mr. Duncan has never ventured on the matrimonial
sea, but is enjoying the quieter placidity of
the celibate. He is a man of unquestioned
integrity and stands high in the estimation of
the people.
Transcribed from Pages 667-668 of Harney
County Biographies from “An Illustrated History
of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties
with a brief outline of the early history of the
State of Oregon”, Published 1902 by Western
Historical Publishing Company
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