Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-04
FORT DODGE PIONEER DIES
Hon. John F. Duncombs guccumbs b an
Attack Of ApOplsEy.
FoRrY-sEWN YEARS RESIDENT OF CITY
Distinguished as a Lawyer ana Dsno-
cratic PoIitician for Thirty
Y~ears-stoOd High IN
His Profession.

FORT DODGE, Ia, Aug. 3.-(Special)-
Hon. John Francis Duncombe died here
at t0;40 Saturday night. The cause OF death
was q stroke Of apoplexy, following a
general collapse Of the nervous system.
The funeral win be held at 2:s0 D. m.
Tuesday and will be under the auspices Of
the Masons. an order Of which Nh. Dun
combe was a prominent member. having
taken the Knight Templar degree.
Mr.. Duncombe leaves a wife and i've
children and passed away surrounded By
loved ones. He had been unconscious for
several days before the end came.
Mr.. Duncombe was a pioneer citizen Of
Fort Dodge, and prominent in legal and
political circles OF the state. His name
was mentioned as a possible democratic
candidate for governor in the last cam
paign- He was n years OF age and for forty
OF them had been q resident Of this city.
For thirty years Mr.. Duncombe was A
leader In democratic politics Of the state.
He has served as state senator n rep
resentative and had been nominated "A
lieutenant governor, supreme Judge and rep-
resentative to congress, being defeated
only by the overwhelming republican ma
~jorities OF the communities in which he
lived. In 1872 he was chairman Of the Iowa
delegation to the national convention which
nominated Horace Greeley for president
and in 1892 held a similar position In the
national convention at Chicago. but re-
signed In order that he might present the
name OF Horace Boise as q candidate for the
presidency. For ten years Mr.. Duncombe
was a lecturer on railroad law at the State
University OF lowe and served for eight
cen years as regent OF that institution.
Mr.. Duncombe's ability aa a lawyer wac
unquestioned. For many years he served
as district attorney for the Illinois Central
railroad, which position, In conjunction
with Judge w. S. Kenyon. he held at the
time Of his death. He had also a large
general practice and had been connected
with some OF the most famous trials in the
history OF the state.
Mr.. Duncombe sprang from good English
stock, His ancestors were the Duncombes
of England who filled many prominent state
positions. Charles Duncombe, father Of the
American branch Of the family, was a
staunch supporter Of the patriot cause
in the war Of the revolution and contrib
uted literally to the support OF the colo
NAL government. His grandfather served
with distinction in the war Of 1872.
Mr.. Duncombe was born on a farm IN
Erie county, Pennsylvania, In 1881 and OBJ
tanned his education at Allegheny college
at Meadsyille. Pa. and Center college. Ken
lucky, taking diplomas from both colleges.
later being granted the degree OF master
Of arts from Allegheny college. He studied
law and WAS admitted to practice in 1854
and came to Iowa In 1856, locating at Fort
Dodge. then a struggling village Of a few
hundred people In the midst Of a sparseIy
settled community. From the first he made
his mark as a man OF ability, and rose
rapidly as the country developed. When the
country was shocked At the report Of the
Spirit Lake massacre, Mr.. Duncombe was
one Of the FIRST to volunteer. He COM
manded, oompanysB, ora little less than 100
men, which set out to the rescue from Fort
Dodge, under command OF the veteran Major
Williams. The expedition experienced un-
told hardships on the march through win
ter SHOWS, and two OF their number died on
their return home. In commemoration Of
their heroic efforts the state erected a
on the spot where the massacre
started. Mr.. Duncombe was appropriately |
named as q member Of the commission
which superintendent its erection.
Mr.. Duncou1be was an honored citizen and
his loss cannot easily be replaced.