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Pioneer - DUNCAN, James
Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County
Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906
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DUNCAN, James
(d.), b. in Aberdeenshire, Scot., about 1810, d.
at 70, about 1880. He was a shoemaker by trade. He came to Canada in
1858, and worked at his trade in Pickering Tp.; later he lived
with his son James, and d. at his home. He was a Presbyterian and a
Liberal. He m. Mary Davidson. Issue: Mrs. John Forgie, Pickering
Tp.; James, Mrs. Matthew Dykes, Muskoka; Mrs. Wm. M. Smith, Palmerston; Mrs.
Wm. Murison, Scarboro; Mrs. Wm. C. Miller, fruit dealer, in Minneapolis;
Mrs. Harry Baker, New Liskeard, and George, Pickering Tp.
James, b. in Aberdeenshire, Scot., 1844, was 14 years old when he came with his parents to Canada, and had earned enough money to pay his own passage out. His first venture was to rent a farm in Pickering Tp. for seven years; then he bought 80 acres in Goderich Tp. and farmed it for nine years. In 1884 he came to Maryborough Tp. and bought 125 acres of lot 14, con. 11, and later bought 25 acres of lot 14 con. 11, and in 1900 bought the west half of lot 15, con. 11, making his holdings 249 acres. Mr. Duncan has been on the Executive Board of the West Wellington Farmers' Institute since it started 22 years ago, and was President for two years. He was President of the first Mechanics Institute in Drayton, and has represented the Farmers Institute on the Library Board ever since amalgamation took place. He was President of the West Wellington Reform Assoc. for 5 years, retiring in 1904 and was also Pres. of the Tp. Reform Assoc., and has been on the Board of the Peel and Drayton Agr. Soc. for 19 years. He has been on the Board of Directors of the Peel and Maryborough Mutual Fire Ins. Co. for 10 years, and the Vice-Pres. 3 years, and Pres. 4 years. He was in the Tp. Council 1900-1903, and ran for Reeve but was twice defeated. He was School Trustee in Goderich Tp. Mr. Duncan is the heaviest tax payer in the section, and a first-class farmer, making a specialty of raising Durham thoroughbred cattle. He is a Presbyterian and Liberal. He m. Margaret J. Farley, of Pickering Tp., who d. 1901. Issue: Surviving are: Mary, who has been teaching school for about twelve years, and was three or four years Principal of Moorefield P.S., George at Edmonton; Frederick, near Regina; Jennie, at home. Eight children have died. From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906 |
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