Amelia E. Sorgs

1904-1995

Amelia E. Sorgs was born on 22 July 1904, the daughter of Harry Sorgs and Elisabeth Deppen. She married Edward John Duncan 1983-1961 on 6 Oct 1925 (#2216). Amelia was Edward's second wife. His first wife Ursula Christine Frank died in 1924. Edward and Amelia had 3 children, Eleanor, Edward and Robert. When Edward retired from the Cincinnati Salvage Corps in 1959, a division of the fire department, they lived at 6579 Shiloh Road, Clermont County, Ohio. They enjoyed raising chickens, small farm animals and growing their vegetable garden. Amelia's husband Edward died on Valentines Day,14 Feb 1961. Amelia later moved away from their home on Shiloh Road in Clermont County. Her last residence as stated on her obituary was West Harrison, Dearborn County, Indiana. Amelia (Sorgs) Duncan died on 9 April 1995. Amelia and Edward, as well as Edward's parents, are buried in Laurel Cemetery, Madisonville, Hamilton County, Ohio.

Photo (L-R)- Amelia (Sorgs) Duncan, with niece, Evelyn Elisabeth (Kohus) Slayback 1909-1978

Edward John Duncan 1893-1961 and wife Amelia (Sorgs) Duncan

(L-R) Addie Marie (Duncan) Martin 1896-1987, Evelyn Elisabeth (Kohus) Slayback 1909-1978 and  Amelia (Sorgs) Duncan.

I always referred to Amelia (Sorgs) Duncan and Edward Duncan as Aunt Meel and Uncle Ed. Some of my fondest memories as a child were visits to their house in Clermont County. I was always treated special there. I remember the dinners we would have there. My Aunt Meel was an unbelievable cook. Uncle Ed would go to the chicken coop and I would watch while he caught an unlucky hen and take it to the chopping block. One whack with the hatchet and off with it's head. It was quite a sight for a boy raised in the suburbs. Next thing I would see was the pot of boiling water in which the chicken was dropped. I remember that Aunt Meel would take over from there. After the feathers were plucked, into the soup pot it would go, along with hand made noodles and other secret ingredients that made it some of the best soup anyone ever ate. Then she would top off the dinner with her special cake that was also some of the best cake ever eaten. The saddest day as an adult was when we lost the recipe for Aunt Meel's heavy cake.

My Uncle Ed was a very large guy and could intimidate any kid, but he was one of the kindest persons I knew. I remember when he gave me my first hand-me-down BB gun. It had a wooden stock and was loaded one BB at a time, dropped down the barrel. It must have been the first BB gun ever made, but it was gold in the hands of an 11 year old. I remember helping pick strawberries in their strawberry patch and watching Uncle Ed feed the chickens. I still remember the smell of the chicken coupe as we entered the structure in search of eggs. I was quite intimidated by the hens who were not quite ready to give up the eggs without a fight. The last time I saw Uncle Ed was on a chance meeting at the local barber shop in Milford, Ohio. I was told that he had cancer, but I had not seen him since he got sick. I remember being shocked at the sight of this large man who was beaten down by a horrible disease. I was about 15 at the time and knew nothing about cancer back then. How great are my memories of Aunt Meel and Uncle Ed. They will always live in my memory. By Mike Kohus