Edward John Duncan

1893-1961

Edward John Duncan was born on 20 Mar 1893 in Madisonville, Hamilton County, Ohio. He was the son of Orson D. Duncan 1865-1958 and Anna Elisabeth Walters 1869-1956. Edward grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and lived in the area his entire life. Edward's first trade was a stone mason, taught to him by his father, Oscar D. Duncan, a stone mason and contractor. By about 1937 Edward was working for the Cincinnati Salvage Corps, a division of the Fire Department. The job of the salvage corps was to go into burning buildings to try to salvage property before the fire destroyed it. He worked there until they disbanded in 1959 at which time he retired.

Edward married his first wife Ursula Christine Frank 1896-1924 in 1914 (#2229). According to her death certificate (#1165), Ursula died 1 Feb 1924. Ed and Ursula had two children, Delores 1915-2001 and Howard 1920-1995. Edward married his second wife Amelia Sorgs 1904-1995 on 6 Oct 1925 (#2216). They had 3 children, Eleanor, Edward and Robert. Edward and Amelia moved to 6275 Shiloh Rd. Goshen, Clermont County, Ohio, and were living there by the 1950's. There they raised chickens, small farm animals and grew a garden. I have nothing but fond memories of my trips to visit them when I was young. Uncle Ed would hunt rabbits on his property with his 410 shotgun while Aunt "Meel"  would cook some of the best food I can ever remember eating. Uncle Ed gave me my first, second-hand, single-shot BB gun when I was about 11 years old. I remember eagerly hunting from one end of the fields behind his house to the other, just like I would see him do. I harassed every unfortunate rabbit that got in my way, though I don't remember actually putting one of them on the supper table.

Edward and wife Amelia were living on Shiloh Road in Clermont County, when he became ill. He battled cancer for some time before he died on Valentine's Day, 14 Feb 1961. Edward John Duncan is buried in Laurel Cemetery, in Madisonville, Hamilton County, Ohio. His Wife Amelia and parents Oscar Duncan and Anna Elizabeth Walters are also buried there.

Obituary: Duncan, Edward J. Sr. Beloved husband of Amelia Sorgs Duncan, dear father of Mrs. Eleanor Lisenby, Delores Marold, Edward J. Jr. and Robert Duncan, also survived by 10 grandchildren, brother of Addie Martin, Mabel Kohus and Wilber Duncan, died Tuesday, February 14, 1961; residence 6275 Shiloh Rd. Goshen, Ohio.

Photo - The SUHOK CLUB,  (top left 1st) Edward John Duncan 1893-1961  (top 6th from left) Herbert Bernard Kohus Sr. 1886-1969. The SUHOK CLUB (SUHOK is Kohus spelled backwards) was probably organized and sponsored by John Kohus' Saloon owned by John William Kohus 1880-1917, where John's brother Herbert Bernard Kohus Sr. also pictured above, tended bar there. John owned the saloon from about 1907 until John Kohus died from tuberculosis in 1917. The business was located at 1215 Main Street, in Cincinnati. Ironically, some time after the John Kohus' saloon closed the original building became the St John Baptist Church from at least the mid 1960's when I visited the location. Some time afterward, the original building was replaced, probably after a fire but as of this writing it is still the St. John Baptist Church.

Edward Duncan, Cincinnati Salvage Corps. between 1937-1959

Ed Duncan in Clermont County, Ohio. I remember the day they told me they came home and found that the pig had escaped the pen and ate half their vegetable garden. Uncle Ed wasn't happy about it at all.

Orson "Oscar" D. Duncan 1865-1958,  Edward John Duncan 1893-1961,  Anna Elisabeth (Walters) Duncan 1869-1956

Laurel Cemetery, Madisonville, Hamilton County, Ohio