William Benson Duncan was the eldest of twelve children and eldest of seven sons born to Dudley Whitaker Duncan from Kentucky and Elizabeth Spiller from Tennessee. William married Sarah Tabitha Osteen from Illinois, the daughter of William Osteen and Lucretia Dillon. They were married 30 Aug 1849 in Franklin, Illinois and had one son, Joseph W Duncan, who was born and died 20 Oct 1852, as did his mother three days later. William remarried to Martha Barbara Kinser 13 Sep 1853 in Williamson, Illinois. They had five children in Illinois, six while living in Kansas and one last child born in Mariposa, California: * Henry Lewis Duncan 1854–1879 * Sarah Tabitha Duncan Clow 1855–1931 * Charles Walter Duncan 1857–1875 * Barbara Ann Duncan Dunning 1860–1943 * John A Logan Duncan 1862–1914 * Louisa Marian Duncan Palmer Cathey 1864–1928 * Anna May Duncan Smith 1866–1935 * Ida Bell Duncan Stockton 1869–1955 * William Benson Duncan Jr 1871–1936 * George Washington Duncan 1873–1873 * Martha Adelia Duncan 1874–1875 * Ninian Edward Duncan Sr 1877–1944
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W. B. Duncan, Mariposa Gazette Saturday, April 12, 1902

One of Mariposa County’s oldest and most respected citizens passed away at his home at Chowchilla Tuesday. He had been in poor health for some time, but his death was unexpected.

Mr. Duncan was a native of Illinois, aged 73 years. For the past thirty years he lived at Chowchilla. He leaves a wife, five daughters, Mrs. F. S. Clow and Mrs. Ida Cathey of Mariposa, Mrs. W. H. Dunning of Chowchilla, Mrs. I. Stockton of Ventura county, and Mrs. T. Smith of Fossil, Ore.; and three sons, N. E., W. B., and J. L. Duncan.

The funeral was held from the family residence Thursday. Many friends attended to pay the last tribute to the respect of the departed.