Ezekiel Lewis married Sarah Pickle on October 17, 1865. Their first child, John Floyd, was born in 1866. Then soon after, there were a great many families of Duncans and Pickles who set out for Texas. According to writing of Robert A. (last child of Ezekiel and Sarah), there were "ten or twelve families, all kinfolks of theirs." He also wrote that some freed slaves chose to come with them. That would mean that prewar Duncans were slave owners.
In the desire to start a new life, these families loaded up their meager belongings and headed for Texas, knowing they might have to contend with Indians and knowing that trials and deprivations would travel with them every step of the way. They met adversity when they tried to cross the raging Arkansas River, so they settled in Franklin County, Arkansas. It seems the whole tribe traveled together and settled together, for Eudora writes as a child in Arkansas, her Uncle Pickle was her school teacher.
They left Tennessee after 1866, and arrived in Arkansas before 1869, for their second child Adelia Jane was born in Franklin County, Arkansas, on March 20, 1869. In Eudora's (3rd child) memoirs, she tells of her childhood life in Arkansas, and for her, it was wonderful. Ezekiel farmed, growing wheat and corn, having a peach orchard, and harvesting blackberries and strawberries in season. She writes of good neighbors, and pleasures in attending church. She writes about the strictness of her father about Sunday observance and activities and of the good food her Mother cooked. She writes with an innocence and cheerful outlook that remained with her all the days of her life. Even the primitive conditions under which they lived were looked back on as being the best years of her life. (Ezekiel still harvested wheat with a cradle 30 plus years after the McCormick reaper was invented.) So we know by these readings that Ezekiel and Sarah made a happy, if strict, home for their children and by the time they moved to Texas Eudora Lee, Oscar, Homer, Frederick and Robert, the last child, had been born.
After living in Arkansas from 1869 till the last of 1883 (14 years), they moved. As Eudora tells it, "Father sold our home. He decided to go to Texas. He got two good wagons ready." Remember where the Duncans went, so did the Pickles and where the Pickles went, so did the Duncans, for Eudora writes that Pickle relatives were already settled in Collin County. There may have been others in the 350 miles trek through the untamed lands of Arkansas and crossing the Arkansas River by flat boat drawn by cables. They had an eventful journey, which you may read in Eudora's writings, and finally crossed the Red River near Denison, Texas. They first went to Nickleville, "a small place in the road" in Collin County. They settled permanently on a farm near Wylie, Texas, where Ezekiel bought farm land. Not much is heard of Sarah Katherine's activities, but I presume she had her hands full caring for her family, for they had few of the conveniences that most society availed themselves of in the late 1800's. Ezekiel was a prominent figure in the community, a prosperous land owning farmer, who served on the school board, was a charter member of the Shiloh Baptist Church, an active member of the Masonic Lodge, and owned and managed a "Staple and Family Grocery Store."
Family members tell that Ezekiel Lewis lived with a condition that a modern diagnosis might determine as being anxiety attacks or a worrying obsession. One example was related by his son in law, Tom Marshall. He tells that on a fine spring morning, Ezekiel would harness the mules, and start plowing the fields for planting. As he plowed, he would think "This ground is just right for planting. There is good moisture, and the sun is shining. But if it stays sunny, then the field will dry out, and the seed won't come up. If a few seeds do sprout, then a heavy rain storm will wash them all away. Then I won't have a harvest, so I can't make money, and my family will suffer." By this time he had worried so, the poor man would be in such a panic that he became sick and would unhitch the plow, drive the mules back to the barn, and spend the rest of the day in bed with a sick headache. [Note: Today, Ezekiel's condition might be diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder from his experiences fighting in the Civil War.]
It was here that Ezekiel and Sarah's family grew to adulthood. As the boys were preparing for college, they were given a portion of the farm land on which they were obligated to make a profit to see through their years of schooling. Each summer they farmed and with the harvest money, they went to college. Either the daughters did not want a college education, or more likely Ezekiel did not think it was necessary for women, since they would be wives and mothers. But when the two daughters Adelia Jane (Delia) and Eudora Lee (Dora) had a double wedding, his present to them was $2,000 each, a very handsome sum at the time.
In spite of what some people might call a repressive religious upbringing or because of it, every child was a valuable member of society. John Floyd was a successful farmer; Oscar, a successful businessman; Homer, a Doctor of Divinity and superintendent of several public school systems; Frederick, a successful lawyer; and Robert, a Medical Doctor specializing in Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Practice.
Of Ezekiel it was written, "Mr. Duncan was a man of strong convictions and had the courage to stand by them. No one could have brainwashed him. He would have been burned at the stake for his convictions." He died in Graham, Texas, November 22, 1919, while living with Robert's family and was buried in Wylie, Texas at the age of 80.
(information provided to me by Edwin and Patsy Duncan of Texas)
Article from the Graham Leader November 27, 1919:
Ezekiel Lewis Duncan died at the home of his son, Dr. R.A. Duncan in Graham, Texas after a stroke of paralysis. His body was transferred to the old home of Wylie, Texas and laid to rest in the family lot.
Mr. Duncan moved to Graham in 1918 to make his home with his son. He was well advanced in years but was enjoying good health for one of his age.
In the desire to start a new life, these families loaded up their meager belongings and headed for Texas, knowing they might have to contend with Indians and knowing that trials and deprivations would travel with them every step of the way. They met adversity when they tried to cross the raging Arkansas River, so they settled in Franklin County, Arkansas. It seems the whole tribe traveled together and settled together, for Eudora writes as a child in Arkansas, her Uncle Pickle was her school teacher.
They left Tennessee after 1866, and arrived in Arkansas before 1869, for their second child Adelia Jane was born in Franklin County, Arkansas, on March 20, 1869. In Eudora's (3rd child) memoirs, she tells of her childhood life in Arkansas, and for her, it was wonderful. Ezekiel farmed, growing wheat and corn, having a peach orchard, and harvesting blackberries and strawberries in season. She writes of good neighbors, and pleasures in attending church. She writes about the strictness of her father about Sunday observance and activities and of the good food her Mother cooked. She writes with an innocence and cheerful outlook that remained with her all the days of her life. Even the primitive conditions under which they lived were looked back on as being the best years of her life. (Ezekiel still harvested wheat with a cradle 30 plus years after the McCormick reaper was invented.) So we know by these readings that Ezekiel and Sarah made a happy, if strict, home for their children and by the time they moved to Texas Eudora Lee, Oscar, Homer, Frederick and Robert, the last child, had been born.
After living in Arkansas from 1869 till the last of 1883 (14 years), they moved. As Eudora tells it, "Father sold our home. He decided to go to Texas. He got two good wagons ready." Remember where the Duncans went, so did the Pickles and where the Pickles went, so did the Duncans, for Eudora writes that Pickle relatives were already settled in Collin County. There may have been others in the 350 miles trek through the untamed lands of Arkansas and crossing the Arkansas River by flat boat drawn by cables. They had an eventful journey, which you may read in Eudora's writings, and finally crossed the Red River near Denison, Texas. They first went to Nickleville, "a small place in the road" in Collin County. They settled permanently on a farm near Wylie, Texas, where Ezekiel bought farm land. Not much is heard of Sarah Katherine's activities, but I presume she had her hands full caring for her family, for they had few of the conveniences that most society availed themselves of in the late 1800's. Ezekiel was a prominent figure in the community, a prosperous land owning farmer, who served on the school board, was a charter member of the Shiloh Baptist Church, an active member of the Masonic Lodge, and owned and managed a "Staple and Family Grocery Store."
Family members tell that Ezekiel Lewis lived with a condition that a modern diagnosis might determine as being anxiety attacks or a worrying obsession. One example was related by his son in law, Tom Marshall. He tells that on a fine spring morning, Ezekiel would harness the mules, and start plowing the fields for planting. As he plowed, he would think "This ground is just right for planting. There is good moisture, and the sun is shining. But if it stays sunny, then the field will dry out, and the seed won't come up. If a few seeds do sprout, then a heavy rain storm will wash them all away. Then I won't have a harvest, so I can't make money, and my family will suffer." By this time he had worried so, the poor man would be in such a panic that he became sick and would unhitch the plow, drive the mules back to the barn, and spend the rest of the day in bed with a sick headache. [Note: Today, Ezekiel's condition might be diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder from his experiences fighting in the Civil War.]
It was here that Ezekiel and Sarah's family grew to adulthood. As the boys were preparing for college, they were given a portion of the farm land on which they were obligated to make a profit to see through their years of schooling. Each summer they farmed and with the harvest money, they went to college. Either the daughters did not want a college education, or more likely Ezekiel did not think it was necessary for women, since they would be wives and mothers. But when the two daughters Adelia Jane (Delia) and Eudora Lee (Dora) had a double wedding, his present to them was $2,000 each, a very handsome sum at the time.
In spite of what some people might call a repressive religious upbringing or because of it, every child was a valuable member of society. John Floyd was a successful farmer; Oscar, a successful businessman; Homer, a Doctor of Divinity and superintendent of several public school systems; Frederick, a successful lawyer; and Robert, a Medical Doctor specializing in Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Practice.
Of Ezekiel it was written, "Mr. Duncan was a man of strong convictions and had the courage to stand by them. No one could have brainwashed him. He would have been burned at the stake for his convictions." He died in Graham, Texas, November 22, 1919, while living with Robert's family and was buried in Wylie, Texas at the age of 80.
(information provided to me by Edwin and Patsy Duncan of Texas)
Article from the Graham Leader November 27, 1919:
Ezekiel Lewis Duncan died at the home of his son, Dr. R.A. Duncan in Graham, Texas after a stroke of paralysis. His body was transferred to the old home of Wylie, Texas and laid to rest in the family lot.
Mr. Duncan moved to Graham in 1918 to make his home with his son. He was well advanced in years but was enjoying good health for one of his age.
Ezekiel Lewis married Sarah Pickle on October 17, 1865. Their first child, John Floyd, was born in 1866. Then soon after, there were a great many families of Duncans and Pickles who set out for Texas. According to writing of Robert A. (last child of Ezekiel and Sarah), there were "ten or twelve families, all kinfolks of theirs." He also wrote that some freed slaves chose to come with them. That would mean that prewar Duncans were slave owners.
In the desire to start a new life, these families loaded up their meager belongings and headed for Texas, knowing they might have to contend with Indians and knowing that trials and deprivations would travel with them every step of the way. They met adversity when they tried to cross the raging Arkansas River, so they settled in Franklin County, Arkansas. It seems the whole tribe traveled together and settled together, for Eudora writes as a child in Arkansas, her Uncle Pickle was her school teacher.
They left Tennessee after 1866, and arrived in Arkansas before 1869, for their second child Adelia Jane was born in Franklin County, Arkansas, on March 20, 1869. In Eudora's (3rd child) memoirs, she tells of her childhood life in Arkansas, and for her, it was wonderful. Ezekiel farmed, growing wheat and corn, having a peach orchard, and harvesting blackberries and strawberries in season. She writes of good neighbors, and pleasures in attending church. She writes about the strictness of her father about Sunday observance and activities and of the good food her Mother cooked. She writes with an innocence and cheerful outlook that remained with her all the days of her life. Even the primitive conditions under which they lived were looked back on as being the best years of her life. (Ezekiel still harvested wheat with a cradle 30 plus years after the McCormick reaper was invented.) So we know by these readings that Ezekiel and Sarah made a happy, if strict, home for their children and by the time they moved to Texas Eudora Lee, Oscar, Homer, Frederick and Robert, the last child, had been born.
After living in Arkansas from 1869 till the last of 1883 (14 years), they moved. As Eudora tells it, "Father sold our home. He decided to go to Texas. He got two good wagons ready." Remember where the Duncans went, so did the Pickles and where the Pickles went, so did the Duncans, for Eudora writes that Pickle relatives were already settled in Collin County. There may have been others in the 350 miles trek through the untamed lands of Arkansas and crossing the Arkansas River by flat boat drawn by cables. They had an eventful journey, which you may read in Eudora's writings, and finally crossed the Red River near Denison, Texas. They first went to Nickleville, "a small place in the road" in Collin County. They settled permanently on a farm near Wylie, Texas, where Ezekiel bought farm land. Not much is heard of Sarah Katherine's activities, but I presume she had her hands full caring for her family, for they had few of the conveniences that most society availed themselves of in the late 1800's. Ezekiel was a prominent figure in the community, a prosperous land owning farmer, who served on the school board, was a charter member of the Shiloh Baptist Church, an active member of the Masonic Lodge, and owned and managed a "Staple and Family Grocery Store."
Family members tell that Ezekiel Lewis lived with a condition that a modern diagnosis might determine as being anxiety attacks or a worrying obsession. One example was related by his son in law, Tom Marshall. He tells that on a fine spring morning, Ezekiel would harness the mules, and start plowing the fields for planting. As he plowed, he would think "This ground is just right for planting. There is good moisture, and the sun is shining. But if it stays sunny, then the field will dry out, and the seed won't come up. If a few seeds do sprout, then a heavy rain storm will wash them all away. Then I won't have a harvest, so I can't make money, and my family will suffer." By this time he had worried so, the poor man would be in such a panic that he became sick and would unhitch the plow, drive the mules back to the barn, and spend the rest of the day in bed with a sick headache. [Note: Today, Ezekiel's condition might be diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder from his experiences fighting in the Civil War.]
It was here that Ezekiel and Sarah's family grew to adulthood. As the boys were preparing for college, they were given a portion of the farm land on which they were obligated to make a profit to see through their years of schooling. Each summer they farmed and with the harvest money, they went to college. Either the daughters did not want a college education, or more likely Ezekiel did not think it was necessary for women, since they would be wives and mothers. But when the two daughters Adelia Jane (Delia) and Eudora Lee (Dora) had a double wedding, his present to them was $2,000 each, a very handsome sum at the time.
In spite of what some people might call a repressive religious upbringing or because of it, every child was a valuable member of society. John Floyd was a successful farmer; Oscar, a successful businessman; Homer, a Doctor of Divinity and superintendent of several public school systems; Frederick, a successful lawyer; and Robert, a Medical Doctor specializing in Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Practice.
Of Ezekiel it was written, "Mr. Duncan was a man of strong convictions and had the courage to stand by them. No one could have brainwashed him. He would have been burned at the stake for his convictions." He died in Graham, Texas, November 22, 1919, while living with Robert's family and was buried in Wylie, Texas at the age of 80.
(information provided to me by Edwin and Patsy Duncan of Texas)
Article from the Graham Leader November 27, 1919:
Ezekiel Lewis Duncan died at the home of his son, Dr. R.A. Duncan in Graham, Texas after a stroke of paralysis. His body was transferred to the old home of Wylie, Texas and laid to rest in the family lot.
Mr. Duncan moved to Graham in 1918 to make his home with his son. He was well advanced in years but was enjoying good health for one of his age.
In the desire to start a new life, these families loaded up their meager belongings and headed for Texas, knowing they might have to contend with Indians and knowing that trials and deprivations would travel with them every step of the way. They met adversity when they tried to cross the raging Arkansas River, so they settled in Franklin County, Arkansas. It seems the whole tribe traveled together and settled together, for Eudora writes as a child in Arkansas, her Uncle Pickle was her school teacher.
They left Tennessee after 1866, and arrived in Arkansas before 1869, for their second child Adelia Jane was born in Franklin County, Arkansas, on March 20, 1869. In Eudora's (3rd child) memoirs, she tells of her childhood life in Arkansas, and for her, it was wonderful. Ezekiel farmed, growing wheat and corn, having a peach orchard, and harvesting blackberries and strawberries in season. She writes of good neighbors, and pleasures in attending church. She writes about the strictness of her father about Sunday observance and activities and of the good food her Mother cooked. She writes with an innocence and cheerful outlook that remained with her all the days of her life. Even the primitive conditions under which they lived were looked back on as being the best years of her life. (Ezekiel still harvested wheat with a cradle 30 plus years after the McCormick reaper was invented.) So we know by these readings that Ezekiel and Sarah made a happy, if strict, home for their children and by the time they moved to Texas Eudora Lee, Oscar, Homer, Frederick and Robert, the last child, had been born.
After living in Arkansas from 1869 till the last of 1883 (14 years), they moved. As Eudora tells it, "Father sold our home. He decided to go to Texas. He got two good wagons ready." Remember where the Duncans went, so did the Pickles and where the Pickles went, so did the Duncans, for Eudora writes that Pickle relatives were already settled in Collin County. There may have been others in the 350 miles trek through the untamed lands of Arkansas and crossing the Arkansas River by flat boat drawn by cables. They had an eventful journey, which you may read in Eudora's writings, and finally crossed the Red River near Denison, Texas. They first went to Nickleville, "a small place in the road" in Collin County. They settled permanently on a farm near Wylie, Texas, where Ezekiel bought farm land. Not much is heard of Sarah Katherine's activities, but I presume she had her hands full caring for her family, for they had few of the conveniences that most society availed themselves of in the late 1800's. Ezekiel was a prominent figure in the community, a prosperous land owning farmer, who served on the school board, was a charter member of the Shiloh Baptist Church, an active member of the Masonic Lodge, and owned and managed a "Staple and Family Grocery Store."
Family members tell that Ezekiel Lewis lived with a condition that a modern diagnosis might determine as being anxiety attacks or a worrying obsession. One example was related by his son in law, Tom Marshall. He tells that on a fine spring morning, Ezekiel would harness the mules, and start plowing the fields for planting. As he plowed, he would think "This ground is just right for planting. There is good moisture, and the sun is shining. But if it stays sunny, then the field will dry out, and the seed won't come up. If a few seeds do sprout, then a heavy rain storm will wash them all away. Then I won't have a harvest, so I can't make money, and my family will suffer." By this time he had worried so, the poor man would be in such a panic that he became sick and would unhitch the plow, drive the mules back to the barn, and spend the rest of the day in bed with a sick headache. [Note: Today, Ezekiel's condition might be diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder from his experiences fighting in the Civil War.]
It was here that Ezekiel and Sarah's family grew to adulthood. As the boys were preparing for college, they were given a portion of the farm land on which they were obligated to make a profit to see through their years of schooling. Each summer they farmed and with the harvest money, they went to college. Either the daughters did not want a college education, or more likely Ezekiel did not think it was necessary for women, since they would be wives and mothers. But when the two daughters Adelia Jane (Delia) and Eudora Lee (Dora) had a double wedding, his present to them was $2,000 each, a very handsome sum at the time.
In spite of what some people might call a repressive religious upbringing or because of it, every child was a valuable member of society. John Floyd was a successful farmer; Oscar, a successful businessman; Homer, a Doctor of Divinity and superintendent of several public school systems; Frederick, a successful lawyer; and Robert, a Medical Doctor specializing in Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Practice.
Of Ezekiel it was written, "Mr. Duncan was a man of strong convictions and had the courage to stand by them. No one could have brainwashed him. He would have been burned at the stake for his convictions." He died in Graham, Texas, November 22, 1919, while living with Robert's family and was buried in Wylie, Texas at the age of 80.
(information provided to me by Edwin and Patsy Duncan of Texas)
Article from the Graham Leader November 27, 1919:
Ezekiel Lewis Duncan died at the home of his son, Dr. R.A. Duncan in Graham, Texas after a stroke of paralysis. His body was transferred to the old home of Wylie, Texas and laid to rest in the family lot.
Mr. Duncan moved to Graham in 1918 to make his home with his son. He was well advanced in years but was enjoying good health for one of his age.
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