T. S. DUNCAN is one of the leading business men of Salisbury. He has been prominently connected with the mercantile interests of that village, and also devotes considerable attention to farming and stock-raising. Being widely and favorably known throughout the community his many friends will receive this sketch with interest, and we are pleased to record it in the history of his native county. He was born in Salisbury, May 31, 1854, and is a son of William T. H. Duncan, a native of Adair County, Ky. His grandfather, Marshall Duncan, also a native of that State, was a hatter by trade and with his wife and two children, W. T. H. and James, who were twin brothers, emigrated to Illinois, locating in what was then Menard County, but is now part of Sangamon County. He entered land and engaged in farming in connection with his trade, and by the pursual of the two occupations became a well-to-do citizen. He was accompanied to his new home in the West by his father, James Duncan, who was a representative of one of the first families of Virginia. Both gentlemen died in Salisbury Township.

William T. H. Duncan, father of our subject, was a young man when his parents came to Illinois. In his youth he had learned the hatter's trade and for some years worked with his father in that line. Trouble with the Indians arising, he responded to a call for troops to bring the red men under subjection, in 1829, and served until the close of the Black Hawk War. In 1831 he married Eve Miller and then turned his attention to farming, clearing, developing and improving a small tract of land. He also engaged in the grocery business for some years with good success. He possessed more than ordinary business ability, was a well-educated man, a fine scribe, and was employed at school-teaching as a means whereby to add to his income. His success in life is due to his enterprise and judicious management, and he may truly be called a self-made man. He was honored with a number of local offices, the duties of which he discharged in a prompt and efficient manner. In political sentiment he was a supporter of the Democracy and in religious belief was a Baptist, having served for many years as Deacon in the church organization in which he held membership. He died in Salisbury in 1861, at the age of fifty-five years, and the county lost one of its best citizens.

The wife of William T. H. Duncan, and the mother of our subject, was born in Adair County, Ky., December 11, 1813, and was a daughter of Solomon Miller, who was also a native of Kentucky, where his boyhood days were spent. He married in that State and with his family came to Illinois in 1820, traveling by wagon across the country. He located on one hundred and sixty acres of raw land in Salisbury Township, and in connection with farming engaged in the distillery business. Although he was in limited circumstances on his arrival he acquired a handsome property and did not a little for the upbuilding of the community in which he made his home. He gave forty acres for the town site of Salisbury, which was named in his honor - Sol'sbury, which was changed to Salisbury, its present mode of spelling. Hunting was a favorite amusement to him and many a deer has fallen by his rifle in the early days of the county. He also took a great delight in hunting for wild honey and often returned from such an expedition with several barrels of that article. In the Miller family there are ten children, of whom the youngest is fifty-eight years of age. Only one death has occurred among the number. The eldest Barbara, is now Mrs. Buchanan, of Springfield; Eve, mother of our subject, is the second in order of birth; Mrs. Melinda Hoag died in Salisbury Township in 1888. She was followed by Mrs. Sarah Lynch, of Springfield; Docia, wife of the Rev. Tilford J. Clark, of Salisbury; Jason, of Salisbury; John, who is living in Louisiana; Allen, a resident of Petersburg, Menard County; Mrs. Nancy McMurphy, of Springfield; and G. Washington of Salisbury. The members of this family met in a reunion in 1887 in our subject's pasture, where all were present and where a most enjoyable day was spent.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, twelve in number, are: Marion M., a fruit farmer and Justice of the Peace of Salisbury; James T., a farm of Salisbury Township; Polly A., wife of O. R. Baker, of Salisbury; Simeon S., station agent and grain dealer of Atterberry, Menard County; Sarah J., now Mrs. Combs, of Shelby County, Ill.; Mrs. Martha M. Cogdall, of Salisbury Township; Margaret, wife of Dr. Purvines, of Salisbury; Mrs. Nancy E. Conner, of Macoupin County, Ill.; George W., a farmer of Menard County; Fairinda, now Mrs. Batterton, of Athens; Mrs. Alice E. Yoakum, residing in Washington; and T. S., of this sketch.

Our subject was reared in his native village and acquired his education prior to the age of twelve years, when he began life for himself. He is a self made man and deserves no little credit for the success which has crowned his efforts. He entered upon his business career as clerk for Mr. Combs who had charge of a store in Salisbury, but after a short time he was employed as salesman with Mr. Hicks, a general merchant of that place, with whom he remained until his uncle, George Miller, opened a general merchandising store, when he entered his employ, serving in the capacity of salesman and book-keeper for three years. He next engaged in clerking for O. R. Baker until 1872, when he embarked in the drug business in Salisbury, admitting to partnership, after a short time, his cousin, S. T. Duncan. For a year the business was carried on under the firm name of T. S. & S. T. Duncan, when the connection was discontinued and our subject, selling out, returned to the employ of Mr. Batterton.

In 1874, in Menard County, Mr. Duncan was united in marriage with Miss Mattie Hodgin, who was born in Texas but was reared in Menard County. She survived her marriage only about a year. Having lost all of his accumulated possessions, Mr. Duncan had to begin life anew. He continued clerking for Mr. Batterton until 1877, when his employer, purchasing a stock of goods, opened a new store. The store was sold and purchased by Mr. Duncan. After eighteen months he had been so successful that he was enabled to make the last payment upon the stock. Having now become proprietor of the store, he carried on general merchandising, but made a specialty of drugs, and an excellent trade in that line has added not a little to his income. Messrs. McMurphy and Freeman and himself are the only gentlemen that have met with success in this line of trade. He manages his business on temperance principles, selling no intoxicating liquors whatever except for medicinal purposes. By precept and example he has supported the cause of temperance and aided not a little in its advancement. He has now disposed of all other branches of merchandise, carrying on only the drug business.

About 1885 Mr. Duncan purchased the old Miller homestead of one hundred acres on section 22, Salisbury Township, and to its management gives his personal supervision. He has made a specialty of the raising of hogs and horses and kept a stable of horses for sale in Salisbury. He also owns a standard-bred stallion, Denmark, which is three years old. He ships annually about two or three carloads of hogs of the best breeds, which in consequence bring him the best market price. His farm has all the improvements necessary to a model farm of the nineteenth century, including a good brick residence and barns and a fine orchard, and is watered by never-failing springs. In politics Mr. Duncan is a Democrat, and as every true American should do, feels an interest in political affairs, but does not aspire to official distinction. Socially he is a member of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association. To say that he is a man of good business ability would give a very inadequate idea of the thrift and enterprise which has characterized his business career, which has also been marked by a sagacity and judgment which seems far beyond his years. As the result of fair honest dealing he has won the respect of all which whom he has come in contact, and the high esteem in which he is held is well merited. Since the above was written our subject has taken a life partner in the person of Miss Hattie E. Rhodes, a daughter of William and Annie Rhodes, the wedding taking place at the bride's home, October 22, 1890.