John Samuel Duzan was born in Pulaski, Hancock county, Illinois, on October 5, 1850. He died at his home in Holton, Kansas, July 1, 1922, his age being 71 years, 8 months and 26 days. He was the son of Jacob Taylor and Matilda Pettit Duzan, who were among the early settlers of Pulaski county, coming there in the early thirties from Kentucky. The father was a cabinet and casket maker by trade. The deceased had two sisters and one brother who have preceded him to the great beyond. The youngest brother, Don, died about three years ago at his home in Dayton, Oregon. Mr. Duzan had one half brother and three half sisters, all older than he. Brother George died some three years ago in Texas; a half sister, Mrs. Rebecca Chatman, died at Parson, Kansas, a few years ago. The one surviving member, Mrs. Hester Shreeves, resides at Ashley, Illinois. She is in her 85th year. Mr. Duzan came to Kansas in the fall of 1871, coming by wagon from Illinois to Kansas City, Mo. There was not a car line laid in Kansas City when he first came. The fare by bus to Westport was 50 cents. Mr. Duzan had an uncle living south of Kansas City and he resided with him when he first came. Later he was married at New Santa Fe, Mo., to Lida J. Payne of Washington county, Ohio. They went into housekeeping in Johnson county, Kansas, and were farming there in the grasshopper year. As they lost their crops they moved to Girard, Crawford county, Kansas, where crops were better. Here the deceased and brother Don ran a horsepower well drill and threshing machine. It was their drill that struck the first gas in Crawford county, but was not used until years after. Mr. Duzan and family later moved to the state of Illinois, northwest of Chicago and had been there a short time when his wife died, leaving four small children, the youngest a baby ten days old. He was there among strangers, both parents of the deceased and wife were dead. He had no one to help care for his children. He did the best he could for them. ... He had been in poor health for over four years. He and his daughter Grace made two trips to Excelsior Springs, Mo. thinking perhaps he would be benefited. He was a member of the M. E. church ... Mr. Duzan has lived in Holton the last eleven or twelve years; he was well known throughout this county, having brought horses and mules all over this part of the state. The deceased leaves to mourn his loss his children Jesse and Grace at home, Mrs. C. C. Kenkle, near Rockford, Ill., Best S. Duzan, a lawyer of Chicago, one half sister, several nephews and nieces, two grandchildren, the twin sons of Bert, and a host of friends.

The Holton Recorder, July 6, 1922