JAMES A. DUNCAN.

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         A highly successful and well known stockman of Louisa county is James A. Duncan, who was born in Seaton, Illinois, on the 20th of November, 1879. His parents, A. L. and Lucinda C. (Gilmore) Duncan, were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. The father is a prominent stockman of western Illinois, making a specialty of the breeding and raising of Percheron horses and Hereford cattle, and is president of the Illinois Cattle Feeders Association. He was also one of the organizers of the Oakville State Savings Bank but has since transferred his stock to his son, James A. In his family were six sons and one daughter: Leemoine G., a resident of Seaton, Illinois; Mary A., who married William Keating, of Seaton; Fred T., who is residing in Gainesville, Texas; James A., our subject; John K., of Dallas, Texas; and Frank L. and Harland H., also residents of Seaton. The father and his sons, Leemoine and Frank, . . .

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. . . are the proprietors of the only lumberyard and elevator in Seaton, which is conducted under the name of A. L. Duncan & Sons.

         After the completion of his education, which was acquired in the public schools of Seaton, James A. Duncan became associated with his father in business affairs. In 1895 he came to Oakville to take care of the grain and lumber business which his father had purchased of Elrick & Thompson and of which he had the management until 1905. After he had been conducting the business two years, or until 1897, his brother John K. became identified with him and for eight years they continued to have charge of their father’s interests here. At the expiration of that period they disposed of their lumberyard and James A. Duncan purchased his brother’s interest in the grain business, which he continued to operate until January, 1907, when he sold out and went to Texas, where he remained until 1908. Returning to Oakville he was elected manager of the Farmers Grain Company, which was being organized, and was retained in that capacity until October, 1909, at which time he withdrew in order to devote his entire time to the administration of his private affairs. Some time previously, in 1908, Mr. Duncan had purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land on section 2, Huron township, Des Moines county, and section 35, Elliott township, Louisa county. On the 1st of March, 1910, he took up his residence on his farm and is now devoting his undivided attention to the breeding and raising of stock. He makes a specialty of Poland China Hogs, owning registered thoroughbreds, and he is also an extensive stock-feeder. In addition to his stock-raising Mr. Duncan is engaged in general farming and is meeting with most gratifying success in both of his ventures. His farm is highly improved, carefully cultivated and well stocked with a high grade of horses, cattle and hogs. In the fall of 1909 he and his brother-in-law, William Keating, bought five hundred acres of land of Isaac Wagler, but in February, 1911, they sold this to T. G. Jamison and took two hundred and forty acres of his farm. Mr. Duncan now owns four hundred and forty acres in Louisa county. He is not only a director of the Farmers Grain Company but is also a director of the Oakville State Savings Bank.

         On the 29th of November, 1899, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Duncan and Miss Maude Waterhouse, a daughter of Moses T. and Alice M. (Bell) Waterhouse, who were the parents of eleven children: William T.; James O.; John M.; Daisy B., the wife of G. W. Campbell, of Oakville; Maude, now Mrs. Duncan; Jacob; Ralph Roy; Nellie M., the wife of G. H. Williams; Violet E., who married Oscar Swanson; Raymond P.; and Elva M., who is at home. All reside in Oakville. To Mr. and Mrs. Duncan have been born five children but the youngest died in infancy. Those living are Myrtle M., Della F., Arthur L. and James H.

         Both Mr. and Mrs. Duncan hold membership in the Presbyterian church and he is also affiliated with the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Rebekah lodge, of which his wife is also a member. His political views coincide with those of the republican party but his time and attention have always been too much absorbed by . . .

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. . . his business for him to participate in public affairs. Being placed in a responsible position in his early youth Mr. Duncan, although still young, has had the business experience of men several years his senior, and as a result he has developed the decision, judgment and sagacity absolutely essential in the conduct of big undertakings in any vocation.