Duckworth Genealogy (Chapter 8)
Union County, Georgia
Duckworth Family Section
My Family
written
and compiled by John Francis Duckworth
contributed by John Francis Duckworth and Jerrell Duckworth
Updated August 12, 2012
Chapter 8
John Francis ("Jack") and Laura Jane Noblet Duckworth
John Francis "Jack" Duckworth had little or no education and could
write his name only a short time before his death. He was strong in his
belief of going to school. He made the remark, "If I had the education
of Tom Jackson, I would turn Union County upside down." He urged his
children to go to school and supported all educational programs.
John Francis Duckworth was a farmer, mail carrier, and horse trader.
The latter was his life and joy, and it is said that he had planned to
move to Gainesville and open a livery stable. He told his boys to
always tell the truth in a horse trade and never tell anything that
could be seen in the animal unless asked. Then tell the truth. He may
want to trade again in the future.
Two short stories of his horse trading follow. John Duckworth always
kept a cow. His cow went dry and there was no milk for the children.
While on his mail route, he observed a fresh cow at the Cook farm and
traded cows in a short time. The cow he traded was a young cow and
calved a short time after the trade. The cow he traded for was an old
cow. Mr. Cook laughed about beating "Jack" Duckworth in a cow trade. He
may be a good horse trader, but he sure can't trade cows. Shortly after
this, "Jack" was carrying the mail and riding a three-year-old filly.
He stopped at the Cook residence and told Mrs. Cook to look at the
young mare he had traded for Laura to drive to Sunday School. Mrs. Cook
was impressed with the young mare and called Mr. Cook to come look at
her. He came and began talking trade immediately, but "Jack" repeated
his plans for Laura to drive the mare to church. However, Mr. Cook
insisted they trade, which they did eventually. In a few weeks, Mr.
Cook came for a trade back; the mare was a "stump sucker". "Jack" told
Mr. Cook that he was no cow trader but the best horse trader in Union
County and he would not trade back. This ended the matter.
One more horse trade: John Duckworth traded for a poor old blind mare
from one of the Spivey's on Upper Choestoe. He took the mare home, fed
her, and doctored the eyes. Come spring the horse had gained
weight and the eyes were well. A Mr. Reece came by and bought the horse
and took her home. A short time afterward, Mr. Reece met his nephew,
Zack Jackson, who inquired where he was going. Mr. Reece replied "to
Blairsville to hire Pat Harrison to sue Jack Duckworth for lying about
the old Spivey mare." Zack Jackson told his uncle he couldn't do that
because Jack Duckworth had a license to tell lies. Mr. Reece replied,
"The heck you say!" and returned home.
Laura Jane Noblet was the illegitimate daughter of Elsie Noblet. She
had an older full sister, Tine, who married a Mr. Bagwell and resided
in Dalton, Georgia. Laura also had two half brothers, Claude Wood, who
married Elizabeth Duckworth, and William Nicholson. Laura came to live
with Francis Marion and Nancy Davis Duckworth when a small girl. She
attended two or three short school terms but could read, write, and
figure. It is said "Jack" would ask her to figure the interest on
a note due him, which she did in her head, and gave the correct answer.
John Francis "Jack" Duckworth and Laura Jane Noblet were the parents of
the following children:
1. Frank Calloway and Sarah Christine Duckworth will be discussed in
the next chapter.
2. G. Vester Duckworth, 16 October 1892 - 14 October 1965. Married
Rubye. One child: Don.
3. William Henry Duckworth, 21 October 1894 - 9 August 1969. An
attorney. Married Willabel Pilcher. Three children: Mary, Dorothy, and
William Henry, Jr.
4. Nellie Jane Duckworth, 29 December 1896 - 6 February 1868. Married
John A. Wimpey, a merchant. Four children: Charley, Ethel, Ruby, and
Charlene.
5. James Lon Duckworth, 29 October 1899 - 31 October 1964. An attorney.
Married Ruth Paden. One child: Margaret Jane.
6. Pearl Duckworth, 10 May 1902 - 5 October 1995. Married Herbert
Carter Dyer. Six children: Maudie, Elbert, Clyde, Ruby Nell, Tannie
Charlene, and Herbert Clinton.
7. Bonnie Emiline Duckworth, 26 August 1905 - 22 May 1994. School
teacher. Married Lewis D. Snow. Two children: John William "Bill" and
Lonnie Ruth.
8. Verdie Emiline Duckworth, 28 July 1907. Married Franklin Ensley.
Seven children: James Cecil, Willibel, Robert, Mildred Ruth, Samuel
John, Sarah, and Franklin Jr.
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This page was last updated on September 1, 2012
Copyright © 2012 John Francis
Duckworth
Format Copyright © 2012 Tim Seawolf-Self /
Barbara Ann
Peck. All Rights Reserved