J. C. Duncan Biography >From "History of Davenport and Scott County" Vol. II by Harry E. Downer-S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago. Surnames: Duncan, Wilson, McConnell, Freytag. One of the prominent citizens of Davenport, whose name at least is known throughout the state, is J. C. Duncan, of the Duncan Davenport Business College. He was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, December 14, 1840, of Scotch ancestors, for his grandfather, James Duncan, came from the land of hills and heather in the latter part of the eighteenth century. His son, James Duncan, was born in Virginia, but was reared by a farmer in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where he made his home until 1844, when he came to Iowa, locating near LeClaire, Scott county. There he lived throughout the remained of his life and there died at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife, who had been Miss Jane Wilson, before her marriage, was a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and lived to the ripe age of sixty-eight years. Eleven children were born to them, all of whom grew to maturity and eight are still living. The second in this family and the eldest son, J. C. Duncan, grew to manhood with many of the responsibilities that fall to the share of the eldest among a number of children. He was about fourteen when his parents came to Iowa and can well remember the tedious trip by water in those days, when conveniences for traveling were few. He had received his early education in the state of his birth, but after his advent here attended the public schools of this county while giving the best of his labor to the cultivation of the farm under the guidance of his father. When he was nineteen he started out to make his own way in the world. He went first to Kansas with the intention of remaining for one month, but he discovered opportunities in that state and it was tow years before he returned to Scott county to take up farming. For the next fifteen years he toiled assiduously in the cultivation of the soil, except three years during the Civil war, but although he was successful in a meas! ure, he was confident that larger opportunities and a more congenial occupation awaited him elsewhere. Accordingly he entered, as a student, the Bryant and Stratton Business College of Davenport and, having competed the course of study, accepted a position as teacher in that institution, which he held until 1883, when he became part owner of the concern. Three years later, in 1886, he bought the interests of his partners, changed the name of his school to Duncan Davenport Business College and as such has conducted it to the present time. Its students and graduates are found throughout the country, but in the state of Iowa alone fifty-six cashiers of banks were initiated into the intricacies of business in his school. This is surely a gratifying percentage, but it does not include the many other graduates who are proving a credit to the institution and its head in positions of equal responsibility, for Mr. Duncan has made a name for himself as a thorough instructor, a man of ! fine business ability and high principles, so that the college I recognized a san institution in which thorough instruction is given and the nobler ideals of life inculcated. The students as they issue from his doors are well fitted to fill responsible positions and by their achievements spread the fair reputation of the Duncan Davenport Business College more effectively than paid advertising. In 1862, Mr. Duncan wedded Miss Nancy McConnell, who like her husband was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. Of the children born to them three sons and four daughters are still living. They are Ella, now a teacher; E. H., head accountant for the Armour car lines of Chicago, Illinois; Violet, at home; Katie, the wife of Phillip Freytag, of Reynolds, Illinois; J. D., the manager of J. H. C. Petersen's general store in Davenport; Charles, who is in the wholesale grocery business in Davenport; being secretary of the company and also of the Crosset Timber Company; and Laura, a stenographer for the J. H. C. Petersen Company. For more than half a century Mr. Duncan has been a resident of Scott county, and while he has taken little active part in the affairs of local government his influence ha ever been exerted in behalf of the best interests of his fellow citizens. His support has always been given to the republican party. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen and the Masons. In the latter organization he is particularly active for he has advanced to the thirty-second degree, has been knighted I the commandery and has been admitted to the Order of the Mystic Shrine. He is one of the well known men of Davenport, where h enjoys an enviable reputation as the result of his many years of earnest endeavor and devotion to what he believed to be the right. During the dark days of the Civil war he manifested his patriotism by enlisting as a private August 15, 1862 in Company G, Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, which was engaged in frontier service through Missouri, Arkansas, and Indian Te! rritory. The regiment also took part in the siege of Vicksburg and Fort Morgan and continued in active service until hostilities ceased. Mr. Duncan is now an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann Assist. CC: Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm. for: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES