USA > Missouri > Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference, Vol. II > Part 60
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Duck, Harry M., banker, was born in Galion, Ohio, August 5, 1863, and is the third child and second son of Oliver and Saralı (Seig) Duck. He began his education in a primary school in his native town. In 1869 he accompanied his parents to Parsons, Kan- sas, and afterward resided for brief periods at Galion, Massillon, and Seven Mile, Ohio, and at Schell City, Missouri, until he attained the age of fifteen years. In each of these places he continued his studies in the public
schools, except at Seven Mile, where he at- tended a boarding school for two years. At the age of fifteen years he entered the cele- brated Kemper School, at Boonville, Mis- souri, where he concluded his studies in 1881. Mr. Duck began his business career by man- aging the Schell City Hotel for his father for two years after leaving school. In 1884 he removed to Wichita, Kansas, and entered the Bank of Wichita, which in that year had been established by his father. Here he remained for another two years, when the institution was absorbed by the Fourth National Bank of Wichita. He retained his interest in the business, however, and remained with the Fourth National Bank until 1889, when he removed to Nevada, Missouri, and assisted his father in establishing the Bank of Ne- vada. The latter became president of the new institution, and the subject of this sketch cashier, which office he still holds, being practically in control of the management. He was one of the founders and is now vice president of the Farm and Home Savings and Loan Association of Nevada. Politically a Democrat, he served two years-1897 and 1898-as a member of the City Council of Nevada. He is a member of the Blue Lodge in Masonry and an Odd Fellow. Mr. Duck was married, November 10, 1885, to Miss Daisy Winters, daughter of Adam and Mary (Westroph) Winters, of Schell City. They are the parents of two children, Sara and George M. Duck. Mr. Duck is accounted one of the most prudent and sagacious finan- ciers of southwest Missouri, and by investors is regarded as a safe adviser. His record while a resident of Nevada shows that he has the best interests of the city at heart, and he has given frequent evidence of broad-mind- edness in public and private affairs. He and his wife occupy an attractive home, where they dispense a genial hospitality among their numerous warm friends in Nevada.
Duck, Oliver, banker, was born at Mas- sillon, Ohio, September 20, 1833, where he attended the public schools. Early in life he learned the tinner's trade, having been thrown on his own resources by the death of his parents. During the early days of the California "gold fever" he crossed the plains to the coast, on two different occasions, first in 1853, when he went to California, and again in 1856, when he went to Denver. His
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experiences during these long journeys were frequently of the most exciting character. These expeditions were the beginning of a most varied and remarkable, but unusually successful career. Some time after his final return to his Ohio home he married and re- moved to Galion, Ohio, where he established stock yards, and at the same time engaged in the hotel business. Subsequently he became one of the founders of the Citizens' National Bank of Galion, in which he still retains an interest. About 1860 Mr. Duck made a jour- ney to France, where he invested heavily in French stallions. These he shipped to Amer- ica and distributed in Ohio and other States, becoming thereby one of the pioneers in this branch of the work of improving the breed of American draft horses. In 1869 he went to Kansas for the purpose of engaging in the stock business. Locating at Parsons, he erected the first business house in that place. The Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad had just begun operations, and Mr. Duck, fore- seeing a successful future for the town, lo- cated at that point, and, though not one of the original founders of the young city, was the first man to make a comparatively large investment of capital there. Subsequent events rapidly proved the wisdom of his judgment. For several years he conducted a store there in connection with his extensive trade in cattle, in the meantime doing all he could toward the development of the place. In 1873 he removed to Schell City, Missouri, which he has since made his home. There he conducted the railroad eatinghouse on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad until 1894, when he sold the property. At the time of his removal to Kansas, and the establish- ment of his stock yards at Parsons, the Western cattle industry was almost in its in- fancy. Gradually Mr. Duck increased his field of operations in this line until he owned and operated all the stock yards on the line of the railroad mentioned. These included the yards at Denison, Texas; Vinita, Indian Territory ; Parsons, Kansas ; Schell City, and Brunswick, Missouri. He also had yards at Hannibal, Missouri; Decatur, Illinois, and Buffalo, New York. These he continued to control as long as they existed, or until the changed conditions in the cattle industry of that section of territory rendered it advisable to abandon them. He still successfully con- ducts an extensive stock business at Schell
City, where he owns about fifteen hundred acres of fine land. Mr. Duck has been prom- inently identified with the banking interests of three different States. Besides his long connection with the bank at Galion, Ohio, in 1884, he and his sons, Harry M. and W. L. Duck, bought out the Bank of Commerce, at Wichita, Kansas, which they reorganized as the Bank of Wichita. Soon after the great collapse in values in that city occurred, ruin- ing hundreds of investors, the Bank of Wich- ita was absorbed by the Fourth National Bank of Wichita. Mr. Duck and his son, W. L. Duck, disposed of their interests, but Harry M. Duck retained his interest in the institution until 1889. October 2d of the last named year Oliver Duck and Harry M. Duck established the Bank of Nevada, at Nevada, Missouri, associating with them, as directors, B. Newbauer, J. W. McGhee and W. F. Maring. Oliver Duck became president ; H. M. Duck, cashier, and B. Newbauer, vice president. Since 1892 Albert McGovney has been vice president. Mr. Duck is treasurer of the Farm and Home Savings and Loan As- sociation of Nevada, of which he was one of the founders. Though always a staunch Democrat, he has never sought nor accepted public office of any character. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Jane Seig, is a native of Harrisonburg, Pennsylvania, but accompanied her parents to Ohio in girlhood. Mr. and Mrs. Duck are the parents of three children-Lena, now the wife of William M. Hackedorn, of Galion, Ohio; W. L., agent for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad at Schell City, and Harry M., of Nevada. The subject of this sketch is one of the most striking examples of the thoroughly self- made American business man. Starting in life with almost no capital, he learned the trade of tinner. When the California craze struck the country he started for the new El- dorado, not simply in a spirit of adventure, but in accordance with his well laid plans, with a determination that his career should be crowned with success. Thereafter every plan that he formulated was pushed to con- summation with all the vigor at his com- mand. Obstacles frequently arose in his path. Many men would have become dis- couraged at their apparent enormity, but Mr. Duck was made of sterner stuff. His two trips across the continent, where for months he constantly faced unknown dangers, pre-
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pared him for the rough work he undertook, subsequently, and his perseverance, untiring energy and industry finally won the success which these traits always deserve. For many years he has been recognized as one of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of Vernon County, and a man of public spirit. Movements calculated to advance the mate- rial welfare of the community in which he re- sides always find in him a friend. In short, his career has been one which the American youth may well regard as a safe model.
Duden, Gottfried .- A highly edu- cated German who visited Missouri in 1824-5 to investigate its resources, in the interests of his countrymen who were desirous of im- migrating. He traveled through St. Charles, Howard, and adjoining counties, in company with Daniel M. Boone and others, whom he took into his employ for the purpose. On his return to Germany he embodied the in- formation he had acquired in an exhaustive volume of 350 pages, which met with a large and ready sale. The large German immigra- tion which began in 1833 is directly traceable to his work.
Dudley .- A village in Liberty Township, Stoddard County, sixteen miles southwest of Bloomfield. It has a public school, two saw- mills and two stores.
Dueling .- Dueling originated in the dark ages. Historically considered, it pre- sents itself in two phases. The first, in order of time, was "the wager of battle;" the sec- ond, the trial in single combat, outside of courts, which has come down to us of the present day, known as the duel proper, with its governing code. In its first phase, the wager of battle or judicial duel, the custom was brought into Europe by the barbarian tribes of the North, who overthrew the Ro- man Empire. Under this system all contro- versies brought into open court were settled by single combat with sword and lance. The party who proved victorious in the combat was declared innocent and acquitted; if de- feated he was pronounced guilty and punish- ed in accordance with the penalty prescribed for the offense. It was no uncommon thing for the judge to be challenged for his de- cision or assassinated on the bench. Yet in France this barbarous system became a part
of its jurisprudence. In England the judicial duel was introduced after the Norman con- quest, and, as in France, became obsolete when an attempt was made to revive and graft it on the American colonies just pre- ceding the Revolution by the British minis- try. This offshoot of a barbarous age could not survive modern enlightenment, but its twin relic of barbarism, the modern duel, sur- vives and still maintains a foothold in most European countries, in the United States and Mexico. The duel by single combat, with its system of challenges, seconds and codes, was an outgrowth of the judicial com- bat. Its growth was fostered by the spirit of chivalry and knight-errantry which caused men to go all lengths in defense of their honor or that of the ladies whose protection they assumed. A sanction was given to duel- ing in 1528 by the celebrated cartel that Francis I of France sent to the Emperor Charles V of Germany. Previous to this challenges were sent and duels fought by in- dividuals for causes not allowed under ju- dicial combat. Under that sanction gentlemen of rank were induced, by affront and injuries, to resort to the sword, and it is admitted that modern dueling, with its code of rules, dates from this period. After this cartel duels on account of private injuries became common in France. Every man of rank thought him- self entitled to draw his sword for every affront that touched his honor. In England, after the introduction of the institution of chivalry, the arrogant barons and gentlemen of rank appealed to the sword to redress their real or imaginary wrongs. In Ireland the mania prevailed at about the period of the union with England, wlien political duels be- came frequent. Ireland has the credit-or discredit-of formulating what is known as the "Galway articles" for the conduct of and rules governing duels, which may be found published at length by Sabine. These rules declare that a blow and the lie direct are the two greatest offenses; that no reconciliation can take place until after two discharges by each of the parties or a severe hit, after which B may ask A's pardon for the blow. Then A may explain simply for the lie, for a blow is never allowable, and the offense of the lie, therefore, merges in it. One of the rules de- clares that no apology can be received after the parties have actually taken their ground without exchange. of fires. Rule 17 of this
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code allows the challenged party to choose the ground, the challenger to choose the dis- tance, while the seconds fix the time and the terms of firing. Some variations have doubt- less superseded this iron-clad code, but in the main it gives a good idea of modern duel- ing. In the German universities the absurd custom has long been indulged in by the stu- dents, who usually fought with broadswords. In our own country the eastern colonies of North America were settled much about the same time as those by the cavaliers in Vir- ginia, the Dutch in New York and the Puri- tans in New England, then called North Virginia. Yet nearly a hundred years elapsed before any records were made of the gentlemanly custom of dueling. The first duel fought within the pre's- ent limits of the United States is ac- credited to New England, in 1621, the year after its first settlement. The parties in this affair of honor were Edward Doty and Edward Leister, servants of Stephen Hop- kins. The weapons were sword and dagger. Both were wounded. There being no statute law against dueling, the Puritan fathers met in assembly and, after seizing the parties, decided that they had committed an ungodly crime against the good order of society, and therefore condemned them to be tied to- gether, hand and foot, and to abstain from food and drink twenty-four hours. After this New England and the American colonies were generally exempt from dueling until it was revived during the Revolutionary War. After the war for independence numerous duels were fought in the United States be- tween men prominent in public life, and Wee- hawken, near Hoboken, New Jersey, and Blandensburg, near Washington D. C., be- came famous Eastern dueling grounds. Later public sentiment and legislation combined to drive the custom from the Northern States and to confine its observances mainly to the Southern States. Since the Civil War the same causes have operated to bring about its suppression in the South. In the West we associate Missouri and Illinois together as common ground in writing of duels and dueling. Of French origin, the inhabitants on both sides of the Mississippi were sub- stantially the same in sentiment, language and religion. The barbarous custom of duel- ing was unknown among the primitive set- tlers in this region. But in after times, when
immigration flowed in from the East, bring- ing with it a higher civilization, with its per- verted moral notions, including the per- nicious practice above indicated, the innocent condition of a happy community soon changed. Dueling gradually came into vogue, and, as will be seen, Illinois, in addition to having been the friendly asylum in times of peril and alarm, became the dueling ground for citizens of St. Louis. Preliminary to an account of duels fought on Bloody Island, and associated with the history of St. Louis, it may be mentioned that the first duel in Illinois of which there is any record was fought at the time when the British took possession of Fort Chartres. Two young of- ficers, one French and the other English, had a quarrel on account of a lady. They fought with small swords. One was killed; the sur- vivor fled. The names of the combatants have not been preserved. A duel is referred to in John Reynolds' history of Illinois as having taken place between two Northwestern trad- ers, Crawford and Campbell by name, but the date and the precise location are not in evi- dence. The affair is spoken of as so uncalled- for and brutal that it arrested for a time this cruel mode of settling disputes. About the year 1801 a duel was fought on an island in the Mississippi near Ste. Genevieve be- tween Rice Jones and Shadrach Bond, the first Governor-elect of Illinois. Jones was the son of John Rice Jones, a prominent official of the Territorial and State government of Missouri, who lived, and died in St. Louis in 1824. Party spirit raged high at Kas- kaskia, where young Jones practiced law. A controversy growing out of this state of things resulted in a duel between him and Bond. They met and when about to open fire Jones' pistol, having a hair trigger, went off by accident. Dunlap, the second of Bond, claimed that it was Jones' fire, and that Bond in return might fire at Jones. But Bond, be- lieving it to have been an accident, reserved his fire, and the controversy was settled on honorable terms. Dunlap then took up the quarrel until, in the most cowardly man- ner, he shot Jones in the public streets of Kaskaskia. The murderer escaped to Texas and was never brought before the courts for the crime. In October, 18II, a duel was fought on Moreau Island, below Ste. Gene- vieve, between Thomas H. Crittenden- brother of John J. Crittenden-and Dr. Wal-
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ter Fenwick, both residents of Ste. Gene- vieve. At the first fire Dr. Fenwick fell mor- tally wounded. General Henry Dodge and Honorable John Scott were the seconds.
A reason given by Mr. Robert A. Tryon, in his "History of East St. Louis," and by oth- ers, for the selection of Bloody Island as a dueling ground is that the island was not definitely located for some years in either Missouri or Illinois. It therefore afforded for some years a secluded resort for the set- tlement of personal disputes and an appeal to the code of honor. The island was covered with trees and a thick undergrowth, affording a retired spot-a sort of neutral ground shielded from the public view and the in- trusion of public and other officials, whose distance was too remote to watch and arrest the offenders. The first recorded duel on this famous spot was fought between Thomas H. Benton, subsequently United States Sen- ator, and Charles H. Lucas, both practicing lawyers, the latter United States Attorney for Missouri at the time. Concurrent accounts state that the duel grew out of a trial in which they were engaged, provoked by reproachful language toward each other and aggravated in a controversy at a political meeting, when Lucas challenged Benton's vote, the latter calling Lucas "an insolent puppy." After trial the first challenge was sent by Col- onel Benton to Lucas, which was very prop- erly declined by the latter, on the ground that he was not accountable for words used in professional debate. After the political en- counter alluded to it appears that Lucas, smarting under the opprobious epithet ap- plied to him by Benton, thought it became his turn to challenge the latter. Colonel Benton accepted and the parties met on Bloody Isl- and on the 12th of September, 1817. As a result of the first fire Lucas received a se- vere wound in the neck, and, owing to the ef- fusion of blood, he was withdrawn from the field by his surgeon. It appears that a tem- porary reconciliation took place through the intervention of friends, but, the quarrel breaking out afresh, the parties again re- paired to Bloody Island, not satisfied with the first meeting. They met on the 27th of September in the same year. The combat proved fatal to Lucas, and he fell, at the age of twenty-five, deeply lamented by his family. and friends. Among the traditions which have been preserved regarding this fatal
combat it is said that both pistols were fired so simultaneously that those who heard the report thought that there had been but one shot. An incident that occurred some time previously, not at all connected with the duel, but as showing the fearlessness of Lucas and his readiness to respond to the call of honor, may be related in this connection. During the time when Honorable John Scott was running as a candidate for Congress there appeared severe strictures on his course in the St. Louis "Gazette," written by various correspondents. He demanded of the editor, Mr. Charless, the names of the authors, which were given. Scott thereupon chal- lenged to mortal combat five of these cor- respondents. Among them were Rufus Eas- ton, Charles Lucas, Dr. Simpson and two others. They all declined with the excep- tion of Lucas, but through the intervention of friends the difficulty was compromised. The reply of Easton to Scott's challenge, though a little out of place in this connection, was sensible and deserves preservation. He answered: "I do not want to kill you, and if you were to kill me I would die as the fool dieth." The second duel on Bloody Island, of which but meagre accounts are preserved, occurred between Captain Ramsay and Cap- tain Martin, both officers of the United States Army, stationed at cantonment Belle- fontaine, on the Missouri River. Ramsay was wounded and died a few days afterward. He was buried with Masonic and military hon- ors. The third duel took place on the 30th of June, 1818, between Joshua Barton, United States district attorney, and Thomas C. Rector, both residents of St. Louis. The Rectors were a remarkable family, composed of nine brothers and four sisters, born in Vir- ginia. In 1806 the brothers removed to Kas- kaskia, reaching there when a survey of United States lands commenced. This was their opportunity. The whole family were strangers to fear, and an insult to any one of them never went unpunished. In the War of 1812 they were ready to shed their blood in defense of their country, and several of them held high positions in the United States Army. In 1818 General William Rector was appointed surveyor general of Illinois, Mis- souri and Arkansas. He made St. Louis his residence, where the whole family also gath- ered and resided. While the General was in Washington an article appeared in the "Mis-
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souri Republican" charging him with corrup- tion in office. The Rectors at once espoused the cause of their elder brother. The young- er brother, Thomas C. Rector, on learning from the editor the name of the accuser, at once sent a challenge to Mr. Barton, who, brave and fearless of consequences, did not disavow being the author of the charge. The challenge was accepted. The parties met in the evening in the secluded shades of Bloody Island on June 30, 1818. At the first fire Barton fell and died soon afterward. The fourth most notable duel on the island was fought between Major Thomas Biddle, pay- master of the United States Army, and Hon- orable Spencer Pettis, a member of Congress. Major Biddle belonged to a family distin- guished in the service of their country. His father, Major Biddle, a leading patriot of the Revolution, was chairman of the committee of defense, and vice president of Pennsyl- vania under the presidency of Dr. Franklin. His brother, Commodore James Biddle, of the United States Navy, won early distinction in the harbor of Tripoli. Another brother, Nicholas Biddle, became an eminent finan- cier, while Thomas and John, both majors, served with distinction under General Scott on the Niagara frontier. Pettis, in his can- vass for re-election to Congress, made charges against Nicholas Biddle, then presi- dent of the United States Bank. On account of this Major Biddle was quite naturally deeply incensed. He decided to cowhide Mr. Pettis, a gross insult that would compel most any man of spirit to respond with a challenge. Major Biddle went to work very deliberately to accomplish his purpose. Pettis had just returned from his canvass in the interior of the State. He was suffering from a bilious attack and repaired to his lodgings at the City Hotel. Major Biddle, armed with a rawhide whip, entered the sick man's room and, lifting up the sheet that covered him with one hand, with the other applied the whip. After he recovered his health, and also after the election, which returned him to Congress, Pettis sent Biddle a challenge, which was accepted. They met on the island at 5 o'clock on Friday afternoon, August 27, 1831. Biddle, being the challenged party, had the choice of distance. He fixed it at five feet on account of short-sightedness. Their weapons, when in position, actually overlap- ped each other. They stood back to back,
facing outwardly, with pistols ready. At the signal given, "One ! two! three !" both wheel- ed and fired. In such close proximity both were shot and mortally wounded. Both act- ed with remarkable bravery, and both for- gave each other for affronts received in the past. The wounded men were brought over to the Mississippi shore, where they were seen by many citizens as they were lifted from the boats. Pettis died the next day and was buried on Sunday, the day after. Biddle lived until Monday, the day after Pettis' fu- neral, when he died, and was buried on the next Wednesday by hisold military associates at Jefferson Barracks with the honors of war. In anticipation of the duel Pettis filed a sworn statement of the facts leading up to it, and, upon the advice of Thomas Benton, postponed the sending of a challenge until after the election. Both men were placed under peace bonds by a local justice of the peace some time before their fatal meeting. An account of a meeting between Waddell and Mitchell, in which Waddell fell, is only rescued from oblivion by meager traditional accounts. Probably the last duel on the island was fought between General D. M. Frost and Edward B. Sayers, the latter a civil engineer who laid out Camp Jackson. On the return of General Frost from the South- west expedition in 1860, Sayers severely criti- cised his conduct. Frost thereupon horse- whipped Sayers in the latter's office, on Chestnut, between Main and Second Streets. Sayers then challenged Frost and they met on Bloody Island. Sayers was nervous and his fire missed. Frost then magnanimously fired his pistol in the air.
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