William B. Duncan is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and ten acres of land, a part of which is in Ursa township, and the remainder in Ellington township. He was born May 9, 1863, in Adams county, and is the son of John W. and Mary (Booth) Duncan. The father, also a native of this county, was born July 16, 1830, and died here, April 2, 1890, being at that time the oldest native son living within the borders of the county. His parents were Gavin V. and Elizabeth (Frazin) Duncan, who came to this state from Kentucky and were pioneer residents of this part of Illinois, taking an active part in promoting the early upbuilding and progress of the county. John W. Duncan was a farmer and died upon the farm now owned by his son William. At the time of his demise he had one hundred and thirty acres of good land, which had been acquired through his own labor and which he had placed under a high state of cultivation. His wife survived him for several years and died on the old homestead in 1898. They were the parents of three children: Mrs. W. H. Putnam, who was born December 5, 1861, and lives in Ellington township; William B., of this review; and Mrs. R. A. Chase, who was born December 26, 1867, and is also living in Ellington township.
William B. Duncan was educated in Quincy, spending one year at high school and two years at Chaddock College. He is living on the home farm and early in life gained practical experience of the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. His home is about four miles southeast of Ursa, on section 32, Ursa township. He owns eighty acres of the old homestead and thirty acres in Ellington township, adjoining this place. Here he carries on general farming and his land is highly cultivated, bringing him good crops in return for the care and labor he bestows on the fields.
On the 16th of January, 1896, Mr. Duncan was married to Miss Cora Perkins, a daughter of W. H. and Mary (Felt) Perkins, of Melrose township. She was born March 23, 1874, and by her marriage has become the mother of two children: Johnnie W., born October 16, 1899; and Richard P., born April 10, 1904. Mr. Duncan is a republican in his political views, but never seeks or desires office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his farm interests, in which he is meeting with merited success.
Source: Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, p. 676-677; by William H. Collins, Cicero F. Perry, joint author; John Tillson. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]. Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. 1905.
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