The subject of this biography was born in Allegheny County, Penn sylvania, December 14, 1840, and for thirty-six years followed the life of a farmer. He never attended college, but acquired his education in the public schools and by hard study at home when not actively engaged in farm work. In the year 1855 his parents removed to Scott County, and here he has resided ever since. Becoming somewhat tired of farm life and desiring to see something of the world in 1859 he went to Kansas, where he remained one year. In 1860 he went to the mountains during the Pike's Peak gold excitement, crossing the American Desert with an ox team. He remained there " prospecting” with indifferent success for a year, when he returned to Davenport, and again took up the independent life of a farmer. August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Twentieth Iowa, and served until the close of the war. His regiment won distinction in many battles, and took an active part in the last battle of the Civil War on April 9, 1865, capturing Fort Blakely, fifteen miles from Mobile. At the close of the war Mr. Duncan returned to his farm near Davenport.
Mr. Duncan was married on May 28, 1862 (not quite three months before he enlisted in the army), to Nancy J. McConnell, a native of Scott County. He has never taken an active part in politics, neither has he ever sought public office. Being of a quiet and retiring disposi tion he prefers the legitimate work of his calling and the pleasures of domestic life to the honors or emoluments of politics.
During the year 1876 and a part of 1877 he attended the Bryant, Stratton & Merrill Business College in Davenport, from which institu tion he graduated with credit. He has made mathematics a study, and few if any excel him in this branch of learning. Shortly after his graduation he was sent for and offered a position as teacher in the college, which he accepted, and from 1877 to 1883 he taught mathematics in that institution with great credit to himself and to the benefit of the many students under his charge.
Believing that he had found the line of business to which he was adapted, and possessing the essential qualifications for the conduct and management of an institution of this character, he bought the entire interest of the college, and from that time until the present has successfully conducted it. Mr. Duncan devotes his entire time and attention to his college, and has surrounded himself with the very best teachers, who, like himself,are devoted to their work, and offer to those under their instruction every facility and encouragement for acquiring a thorough business education.
Besides managing the details of the business Mr. Duncan still continues instruction in mathematics, as he considers facility in rapid and accurate figuring to be one of the most essential qualifications of a business man, and for this reason he does not graduate any one from the commercial department unless he can add correctly one hundred figures per minute and is likewise proficient in other branches of mathematics commonly used in business.
In many of the banks and mercantile houses of Davenport, as well as throughout the great State of Iowa, are to be found men holding responsible and lucrative positions who are indebted to Mr. Duncan and the thorough training they received at his hands for the positions they hold to-day. Mr. Duncan's Commercial College on Second, near Brady, is always the scene of activity and bustle, and here he can be found early and late actively engaged.
He has by devotion to the interests of his students, diligence and untiring energy earned for himself a name and fame as an instructor second to none in the Northwest. He has ever been self-sacrificing, being far more desirous of promoting the interests of his students than indulging in personal comforts, and it can be truly said of him that he has never neglected his duty.
For nearly a quarter of a century he has resided in Davenport and during all that time he has so demeaned himself as to merit the admiration, respect and confidence of the entire community, and none of the citizens of Davenport is more highly esteemed or more admired for his true worth than is Mr. James C. Duncan.
BIOGRAPHIES