DUNCAN

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 06:20:23 :

The Marin Journal
Thursday, April 22, 1915
Page 5

Father of R. L. Duncan Dies At Advanced Age

James P. Duncan, father of R. L. Duncan, a local merchant, passed away last Saturday at the home of his son at the age of 94 years. He was the oldest member of the Masonic lodge in California, and probably in the United States, at the time of his death, having joined the lodge when he was 21 years of age, 73 years ago, and was a member of the Santa Rosa lodge for 45 years.

Mr. Duncan in 1863 crossed the plains in a prairie schooner, drawn by a team of oxen, and came to California, where he had since made his home. Active and in good health until a few years prior to his death, he had followed his trade of stone mason up to a decade ago. He had made his home particularly in Santa Rosa, where he was well known and highly respected locating there in 1870.

The funeral was held at the home of R. L. Duncan here Monday morning and the remains then shipped to Santa Rosa for burial by the Masonic lodge of that city, of which the deceased was a member. Mr. Duncan came from Santa Rosa to his son’s home here since the earthquake. Death was due to extreme old age.

Rev. C. Stevens conducted the services more as a friend of the family than as a minister.

Splendid music was furnished both at the residence in San Rafael where Mrs. Clara Newnoon sang and in the lodge room at Santa Rosa where a large circle of friends gathered to pay their respects to the departed pioneer.