DUNCAN, MOLLIE PORTER COHEN (1858-1943) ~ Mollie Porter Cohen Duncan was born on August 28, 1858, near Buda, Texas to L.T. Porter and Elizabeth Isbell both of Kentucky.
Mollie first married William Martin Duncan who was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky. There is no proof that William served in the Confederacy for the War Department states that his records are lost. William and Mollie had two children, none who were living by 1937. William died in Hays County, Kyle, Texas and Mollie remarried.
Her second marriage was to a Mr. Cohen. Mr. Cohen and Mollie did not have a happy union. He took most of Mollie‘s posessions, mistreated her, and left her after only three years of marriage. She was legally entitled to a divorce, but financially she could not proceed. Having no idea where her current husband was, she retook her first married name, Duncan, and proceeded to attempt a pension application and admittance to the home.
As mentioned before there was no proof that her first husband, William, served in the Confederacy to warrant her to live in the Confederate Women‘s Home. Mollie was able to secure room and board there due to the Superintendant at the time who led an investigation into the background of Mollie Duncan. She gathered affidavits of reputable people and saw that since Mollie received a pension from the Old Age Assistance program, that there would be no extra costs incurred in housing Mrs. Duncan. The Superintendant gathered information that William Duncan had been seen numerous times in a photograph wearing a Confederate uniform. Mollie was finally admitted to the home on May 28, 1937 and stayed there until her death on July 24, 1943. Mollie was interred at the State Cemetery two days later.
Sources: Death Certificate, Confederate Home Application, letters from Superintendant, personal letters, 1860, 1870, 1900 US Census Records. |
Follow Us