James R. Duncan. Few of the residents of Miami county have achieved a greater success in the vocation of farming than has James R. Duncan, a venerable and highly respected citizen of Spring Creek township and the owner of 1,100 acres of valuable farming land. Mr. Duncan was born November 10, 1836, in the province of New Brunswick, Canada, a son of Robert and Jane (McClintock) Duncan, his father being a native of Ireland who immigrated to Canada in young manhood and there spent the rest of his life. There were seven children in the family, of whom three are still living: Mary, the wife of William Riddle, of Miami county; Cassie, the wife of Jacob Bowne, also of this county; and James R. Robert Duncan was married in Donegal county, Ireland, after which he came to New Brunswick, where he remained for five years. At this time he came to the United States, where he followed the vocation of a school teacher. With his wife and three children he located in Staunton township, Miami county, where he began farming and teaching, and lived here until death, his wife surviving him twenty years. He was a Democrat and a member of the Methodist church, very strict in his religion. James R. Duncan was educated in Staunton township, where he was variously employed, principally at farming, until he married in Brown township, October 10, 1857, and his wife's father started the young couple on their united career with a gift of 160 acres of farming land. They moved to Spring Creek township in 1870 and from then forward he added to his holdings from time to time, through good management and wisc investment, until today he is the owner of 1,100 acres of valuable land, making him one of the wealthy men of his township. Mr. Duncan has always been a contributor to worthy causes, civic, religious and educational, and his citizenship has been of a high order, while his integrity in business matters has never been questioned. In the evening of his career, he can look back over a well-spent life, secure and content in the knowledge of the respect and esteem of his fellowman. He is a devout member of the Methodist church. Mrs. Duncan, who died in 1901, prior to her marriage, was Miss Margaret Garbry, daughter of Joseph Garbry. Mr. Duncan is a member of the Piqua Club.