Looking Back: Duncan Road

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society

     In last week’s column, I mentioned there were thirteen children in the McQuerry family who lived on McQuerry Road, northeast of Grain Valley.  Ruby Elizabeth McQuerry, the seventh child, married Elmer Sylvester Duncan and they lived northwest of Grain Valley on Duncan Road.
     Sanford Sylvester Duncan came with his family from Kentucky in the 1890s. For a while he resided in Fort Osage Township where he met and married Matilda Mae Vanarsdale in 1901. They had five children, Elmer Sylvester, 1902-1977; Spurgon Arthur, 1904-1983; Lola Mae, 1906-1979; Wilbert Lyle, 1909-1962; and Bessie Gertrude, 1911-1989. Spurgon moved to Marceline, Missouri, Lola Mae moved to Independence, and Bessie lived in Sedalia.
     My father would from time-to-time talk about Lyle Duncan who worked on Sni-A-Bar Farms from his high school years until the farm dispersal sale in 1945. Lyle’s main job was working with the grade cattle in the barns on Ryan Road.
     When the farm was sold, Lyle moved his wife Ann Laure (Lierman) Duncan and their family to Mt. Kisco in the state of New York.  He managed a cattle operation there until his death in 1962.
     Only Elmer remained in Grain Valley. Although the 1910 U. S. Census reported that Sanford Duncan farmed on rented property, at some point the farm was purchased. Growing up, I remember the Duncan farm just west of Tyer Road. Ruby graduated from Grain Valley High School in 1921 and Elmer graduated in 1923.
     They were married on September 11, 1925 and the had one daughter Paulina Duncan Graff, Class of 1948. The Duncans were members of the Grain Valley Christian Church and Mr. Duncan served on the Grain Valley School Board from the late 1940s until 1956. 
 
Now that I’ve mentioned Tyer Road, I suppose I will tell you about Luther and Paulina Tyer next week!