Kansas City – Missouri Genealogy

Biography of Abraham Merrill of Polk Township

Plat Map of Nodoway County Missouri 1910

Abraham Merrill, born April 3, 1843, in Wayne County, New York, was an esteemed farmer in Polk Township, Nodaway County, Missouri. Son of Ripley and Maria (Van Alstine) Merrill, he moved to Rock County, Wisconsin, in 1847. During the Civil War, he served in the Twenty-second Regiment Wisconsin Infantry, participating in numerous significant battles. Captured at Brentwood, Tennessee, he spent three months in Libby Prison. In 1867, Merrill settled in Nodaway County, purchasing and developing a 120-acre farm. He married Sarah E. Semans in 1869, and they had seven children. A member of the Grand Army of the Republic, Merrill was respected for his contributions to agriculture and his community.

Biography of Benjamin Franklin Duncan of Maryville

Prof. Benjamin Franklin Duncan, born April 29, 1842, in Shelby County, Kentucky, was a distinguished educator in Nodaway County, Missouri. Son of Daniel Boone and Eleanor (Cook) Duncan, he pursued his studies at Jewel College and Georgetown College. Duncan held significant positions, including president of Concord College and superintendent of schools in Richmond and Maryville. He was also elected county superintendent of schools and later taught Latin and economics at the Fifth District Normal School in Maryville. Married to Sallie E. Buchanan in 1867, he had four children. Duncan was a dedicated Baptist and well-respected community member, known for his educational contributions and personal integrity.