LANCASTER, Dr. Gabriel Scott, was a son of Col. David L. Lancaster and his 2nd wife, the former Cynthia Duck (daughter of 1st settlers Jonathan and Basheby Woodward Duck) who settled (late 1820's), lived and died near Fellowship. Relatives of Lancaster forebears settled in and gave their name to Lancaster, Pa. Further back, ancestors played prominent parts in England's wars between the House of York and the House of Lancaster. Dr. Lancaster's parents first settled in Williamson Co., Tenn., then came on to locate near Dunbar.
Dr. Lancaster taught adacemic subjects in college classes in Memphis while he worked out an M.D. Degree in the College of Medicine by 1882. A proud citizen to the core, on July 4, 1861 he married Lucy Ann Altom. His practice was first at Cerro Gordo, but after a few years he was back at the old ancestral place to serve his own people until his death at age just 50, in 1908.
These Lancasters played prominent roles in early Decatur County as well as later in widely removed areas. Among them have been farmers and teachers. (See the Civil War Chapter). By the early 1900's, Bill and Ack Lancaster were Lexington attorneys, well-known throughout the west-state.
Dr. Lancaster's children included: W.O. who married Bertie McCorkle, then Ollie Kelley; Vester A. ("Bess") who married Callie, daughter of the Babe Montgomerys; Joe D; Eliza B. ("Sid") who was the first wife of our Bunyan (Bun) Duck; and Mamie (Mrs. Farris M.) Austin who with her husband lives at Parsons.
Incidentally, Dr. Lancaster's sister, Sarah B., became the wife of Reuben Houston Tucker (See the Civil War Chapter), the youngest child of whose big family is Beatrice (Mrs. A.H.) Taylor, well-known historian and writer, yet living in Lexington.
- Gordon H. Turner, Sr., The History of Scotts Hill,
Tennessee
(Carter Printing Company, Southaven,
Mississippi, 1977).