Tribute is Paid to Mrs. M. W. Duncan

Nashville Tennessean, Tuesday Morning, December 31, 1918

The death this Sunday morning at the age of 85 of a Christian woman of great character, like Mrs. Martha Williams Duncan -- the woman who was born in the immediate vicinity of Nashville and who here lived a long useful and influential life," implored the passing tribute of a sigh" from older citizens, if not, indeed from many younger ones who knew and loved her and where beneficially influenced by her noble example of Christian womanhood.  She was the youngest and last surviving member of a family of 14 children.

She was the daughter of Josiah and Margaret Williams and was born about 85 years ago at Maplewood, the family homestead, on the Gallatin road in a house built by her father and adorned with beautiful and lasting woods cut from his estate. Her latter years, though made most happy by her children, where years rather of memories. She lived to see passed away her father and mother, and also some in their prime and some in their old age, all of her brothers and sisters with whom in her childhood she had played on the lawn of her beautiful home.

She passed through the critical period of the Civil War and all of its sorrows, seeing her own home on the Franklin Road leveled to the ground that the guns of Fort Negley might have an unobstructed range against her Confederate kindred who were advancing in  a return to their homes.

She lived through the harsh days of Reconstruction, but afterwards saw her country reunited and again, with brotherly love all fighting together to maintain the safety and freedom of their united country, as well as giving freedom and peace to the rest of the world.  During her long life she had her share of trials and sorrows, but bravely maintained throughout her cheerfulness of spirit, comforted by the love of those who had ever been the objects of her love and care.

It may be of some interest to some of her friends to be reminded of those in her large family who preceded her, for many of them were citizens of Nashville throughout their lives.  Her six sisters where Milbrey, who married Orville Ewing:  Rebecca, who married Edwin H. Ewing:  Rowena, who married Edwin Ewing:  Mary, who married James C. Warner:  Sarah, who married Dr. Whittaker of Clarksville:  Margaret, who married Dr. Kennedy of Chattanooga.  Her brothers were James, Henry, Joseph and John, two others having died in infancy.  The first named four removed from this vicinity in early manhood. They became the fathers of large families.  John, the youngest, lived in Nashville.  He died two or three years ago near Goodlettsville. He was a much beloved citizen of East Nashville and is most kindly remembered.

Mrs. Duncan's three older sisters married three brothers and each raised a large family. Their numerous children were closely allied as first double cousins. Her sister, Mary lived for a while in Chattanooga but later her husband, James C. Warner returned to Nashville and became one of the best-known citizens in this entire section, because of his marked ability in the development of the natural resources of this section. He was the father of Leslie, Percy, Joseph and Edwin Warner.

In Mrs. Duncan's early days very great importance was attached to family life and the influence of the home fireside was very strongly felt. The profoundest respect was paid by children to their parents and the family ties between brothers and sisters were of the strongest. The home, the trees, the spring, the birds, were all dear to those who, as children, filled their homes with glee. With the order of these things changed, as they afterwards became, it was truly delightful to the younger element to listen to Mrs. Duncan refer with great liveliness of recollections to the many delights of her girlhood.

She was however, to no sense resentful of the change, because she kept abreast of all happenings, appreciated the philosophy of some of the advances in modern life and was as companionable  to the younger set as they were to themselves, because she continued to be in her sympathies and interest a part and of them.

She was very beautiful in her youth and quite early in life married Mr. A. J. Duncan. Not long after her marriage her husband established as his home the house on the northeast corner of Church and Vine street, subsequently the home of Mr. J. F. DeMoville, and now occupied by the Castner Knott Company store. She made this home a very happy one as she did also the one subsequently occupied on the Franklin Road. She was the mother of nine children, six daughters and three sons.

In their love and reverence for her they but showed an inherited trait. Ms. Duncan sustained in a truly admirable way all of the higher relations of life, for she was a duitiful(sic) and loving daughter, a true wife, a most affectionate mother, a very sincere friend, and above all, a Christian of true faith, with the tenderest of hearts, quickly responsive.  She has closed a long and useful life and now rests in peace under the trees of beautiful Mount Olivet.

ROBERT EWING - One of her many nephews

The following court filing shows us where Jack Duncan and Martha owned land.

R. M. Samuels vs. W. L. B. Lawrence- Levy- The following papers were brought into court to be recorded: W. L. B. Lawrence was commanded to personally appear in court to answer to the complaint made by R. M. Samuels that the defendant owes the plaintiff $500. It is determined that there is not personal property which to levy the judgment so it is then levied on a tract of land in Davidson County. The land is as follows: A tract of land about 2 miles from Nashville on the Franklin Middle Turnpike Road commonly known as Granny White Pike containing about 90 acres, bounded on the west by the mentioned turnpike road, bounded on the north by W. T. Berry’s land, bounded on the east by W. T. Berry’s land, Protestant Orphan Asylum lot and A. J. Duncan’s land. It is ordered by the court that the property be levied to satisfy the plaintiff’s judgment.