Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 819 - 820

CHARLES A. DUNCAN, one of the County Commissioners of Sedgwick County, and a Union soldier during the late war, although still in the prime of life, has a history rich with experience. From it he has learned much and made the most of his opportunities. After years of labor and sacrifice, he has now a good farm and a comfortable home, on section 13, in Park Township, where he is surrounded by the desirable things of life and enjoys the esteem and confidence of his neighbors.

            The boyhood of our subject was spent in Iowa County, Wis., where his birth took place on the 10th of June, 1847. His parents, Robert and Rachel (Gard) Duncan, were natives respectively of Indiana and Illinois, the former a resident of Wichita and the latter deceased. Charles A. was but eight years of age when the family removed from Wisconsin to Sibley County, Minn., where he acquired his education in the common schools, and became thoroughly familiarized with farming pursuits. In 1868 Robert Duncan resolved to seek another home, and coming to this State resided first two years in Pottawatomie County, and thence came to this county, in February, 1870, settling in Park Township.

            Our subject soon after the arrival of his father's family, homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 13, in Park Township, upon which he has operated since that time. The first four years, in connection with the necessarily slow cultivation of the soil, he herded stock until he could gain a foothold, and then began in earnest to build up a homestead. When he found that he would probably be able to support a family he secured a wife and helpmate in the person of Miss Kate Ackerman, to whom he was married on the 30th of October, 1871.

            Mrs. Duncan was born in Anamosa, Jones Co., Iowa, Oct. 17, 1853, and is the daughter of Erastus B. and Annis (Bennett) Ackerman, who subsequently removed to Sibley County, Minn., where she was reared to womanhood and received a common-school education, and where she first met her future husband. This union resulted in the birth of seven children, namely: Estella May, Emma, Clara, Laura, Charles, Robert and Lee. These are all living and continue under the parental roof, making a family group which the parents may reasonably regard with pride.

            Upon the outbreak of the late Rebellion, Mr. Duncan was but a lad of fourteen years. He would gladly then have entered the ranks but his youth forbade it. Although so young, he kept keen watch of the struggle, and on the 27th of February, 1863, enlisted in Company D, Independent Battalion, Minnesota Cavalry, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out on the 11th of June, 1865. His regiment was assigned to duty principally in the Northwest Territory, and latterly among the Sioux Indians, who at that time were making considerable trouble on the frontier.

            Mr. Duncan, politically, votes the straight Democratic ticket, and has held the various township offices, the duties of which he has discharged intelligently and with fidelity. Mr. Duncan was elected County Commissioner in 1887, which office he is filling with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. The present Board of Commissioners have an unusual amount of work to attend to and great responsibilities resting upon them. Among the many improvements necessary in a county growing so rapidly are a court-house and jail; these must be constructed by the present board.

            In religious matters Mr. Duncan is a Universalist, and socially, a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to Wichita Lodge No. 99, and Wichita Chapter. He has also dealt considerably in real estate in that city as a member of the firm of Williams & Ault.

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