Duncan, Joseph, Gov.

The following data is extracted from Counties Of Todd And Christian, Kentucky - Christian.

Some of the older citizens of Hopkinsville still remember a bright and intelligent young man named Joseph Duncan, who was Deputy Circuit Clerk here for several years under James McLaughlan. He was a nephew to Mr. McLaughlan, and was born in Paris, Bourbon Co., Ky., February 23, 1794, and came to Christian County as a Deputy Clerk to his uncle, who had been appointed Circuit Clerk of the county. Though young, he took an active part in the war of 1812, and was with Col. Croghan at Fort Stephenson. Having emigrated to Illinois, he first appeared to the public as Major General of the Militia. In 1826 he was elected to Congress over Hon. Daniel P. Cook, a prominent politician of that day, and who had never before been defeated for a public office. From this time until his election as Governor, he retained his seat in Congress. In the Black Hawk war of 1832, he was appointed by Gov. Reynolds a Brigadier General. He was elected Governor of Illinois in 1834, over ex-Lieut. Gov. Kinney, by more than 17,000 majority.

Gov. Duncan was a man of limited education, but with naturally fine abilities. A portrait of him, which the writer once saw in the State House at Springfield, presents him with swarthy complexion, high cheek bones, somewhat like Abraham Lincoln, broad forehead, piercing black eyes and straight black hair. His administration was an able one, though to a large extent unpopular, owing to the fact that he deserted the Jackson party, to which he had belonged, and which was largely in the ascendancy in Illinois. As President, Gen. Jackson had shown such a decided hostility to several Western measures in which Mr. Duncan was greatly interested, he refused longer to act with the party. Gov. Duncan died in Illinois a number of years ago.

Source: Counties Of Todd And Christian, Kentucky - Christian

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