Linder, Usher F.; Gillespie, Joseph. Reminiscences of the Early Bench and Bar of Illinois . Chicago: The Chicago Legal News company, 1879. [format: book], [genre: memoir]. Permission: Northern Illinois University
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=linder.html

JOSEPH DUNCAN was Governor of the State at the time I landed in Illinois, and was also Governor during the session of 1836 and '37. I remember his message was a very severe assault upon General Jackson and the Democratic party, which was referred to a select committee, of which John A. McClernand was chairman. As I have mentioned in a former part of these pages, Governor Duncan had been for many years a member of Congress from this State; was a Whig in his politics. He was thought to be immensely wealthy, but having been security for his brother-in-law, William Linn, Receiver of Public Moneys at the Land Office at Vandalia, who proved to be a defaulter to a very large amount, Gov. Duncan was reduced to poverty. It stripped him of all his fine lands which he had entered in the State of Illinois, which some were malicious enough to say he had entered with money furnished by his brother-in-law Linn out of the public moneys. How that is, I don't know, but certain it is he did not shun his liabilities, but gave up his property like an honest man. He died, as I have understood, a very devout Christian, and this is about all I now remember of Governor Joseph Duncan.

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