Built in 1865
Dr. William C. Duncan’s Obituary, published in the Louisiana Press Journal on June 14, 1878
“While we were penning the paragraph which appeared in the Journal last week in reference to the unfortunate condition of Dr. W. C. Duncan, and the certain result of his disease, he was already in the embrace of death, and his body surrounded by his weeping, sorrowing family. He died last Thursday morning shortly after day-break, without a struggle, his passage from earth to the Eternal City being a striking synonym of deceased’s calm, gentle, and even disposition in life.
The night following Dr. Duncan’s death a post-mortem examination was made by a number of prominent physicians, seven o f the medical profession being present.
The examination revealed the diagnosis of all the physicians, that the condition of deceased from the beginning was owing to a natural disease- softening of the brain- and that this disease had been doing its deadly work for probably several years. The intellectual faculties were not disturbed, however, until recently. The physicians all agree that the mental derangement of the deceased is not attributable to any condition of his business affairs. The brain at its based was found to be in badly softened condition, while the left frontal lobe was also affected.
Dr. Wm. C. Duncan was born in Lincoln County, Mo., near Troy, Nov. 7th, 1824. He received his early education in Troy, and after reading medicine a sufficient length of time attended a course of lectures at Louisville (Ky.) medical college. He then practiced medicine one year with Dr. Henry Wright in Warren county ; but not yet satisfied with the knowledge he had acquired, he went to Philadelphia (Pa.) entered Jefferson Medical college in that city, where he remained until he graduated. With his diploma he returned to Troy, and followed his profession for one year. From Tory, he moved to New Hope, in the same county, and from thence to Louisiana. While in this city he purchased from Mr. Robt. Allison the farm which he occupied at the time of his death, 6 miles southeast of Louisiana. Deceased has been a resident of Pike county for 21 years. On Oct. 2, 1849, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Zimmerman, near New Hope, Lincoln county, the marriage ceremony being performed by Rev. John Davis. He leaves a wife and five children, three sons and two daughters, and hundreds of sorrowing friends.
Deceased was gifted with many fine traits of character. None knew him but to respect, honor, and esteem him. Kind in disposition, mild in his manners, courteous in business, yet firm and self-reliant, he was a model to be patterned after. He was a good physician, conscientious in his treatment and devoted to his patients. We sorrow with those dearer to him than all else on earth. We mourn with his friends, but as he died in the hope of a blessed immortality and faith in Christ Jesus, we know he is beyond the river, awaiting with the saints the final resurrection .
The funeral of the deceased took place on Friday. His remains were buried in the graveyard near New Hope.”
