Biography - GEORGE DUCKELS

A valuable farm in Bird township is evidence of the ability of George Duckels, who is known as a highly prosperous man and one who has contributed his share to the general growth of the county. He was born near Chesterfield, Illinois, November 22, 1845, a son of Richard and Elizabeth (Morris) Duckels. The father was born in Yorkshire, England, July 4, 1811, and emigrated to the United States in 1835, when he was twenty-four years of age. He spent a year at Jacksonville, Illinois, and then went to Alton where he clerked in a store for two years. After giving up this position he came to Macoupin county and located near Chesterfield, continuing in that vicinity until his death, which occurred at the advanced age of ninety-three years. He was a successful farmer and one of the public-spirited men of the community. Politically he was identified with the republican party and religiously he affiliated with the Methodist church. The mother of our subject was also a native of Yorkshire, England. She came with her parents to this country in 1835, when eight years of age, and lived at Chesterfield, this county, until her marriage with Mr. Duckels. She died about 1897 and her body reposes beside that of her husband in the cemetery at Keller’s schoolhouse. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Duckels were thirteen children, three of whom died in infancy, the others being: Matilda, who is now deceased; George, of this review; John, whose home is at Chesterfield; Henry, who lives near Chesterfield; Oscar, also of Chesterfield; Anna, who married A. D. Loveless, of Carlinville; Grant and Laura, both of whom live near Chesterfield; Roland, whose home is at Chesterfield; and Clara, the wife of Charles Wilton, of Chesterfield.

Mr. Duckels, the subject of this review, possessed advantages of attendance at the common schools and later became a student of Blackburn University at Carlinville. He assisted his father upon the farm until 1869, when he left home and located on the open prairie, in Bird township, where there were no improvements whatever. He has erected all the buildings and set out all the trees on the place and it is today one of the most attractive farms in this section of the county. He has prospered in his business and owns three hundred and forty-five acres located in section 28 of Bird township. He has devoted a great deal of time to agriculture but makes a specialty of raising shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. For twenty years he engaged extensively in buying and shipping stock to the markets at St. Louis and Chicago. Through undaunted energy and perseverance he has overcome many difficulties and attained a position as one of Macoupin county’s most successful citizens. On the nth of March, 1875, Mr. Duckels was married to Miss Mary J. Gleason and they have two children, Grace and Stanley S., both of whom are living at home. Stanley S. Duckels served as special deputy sheriff of the county for two years and for an equal length of time as regular deputy sheriff, also filling the office of game warden. He has taken an active interest in politics and is a stanch supporter of the republican party. In the fall of 1910 he was nominated for sheriff upon the republican ticket. He is well known in fraternal circles and is a member of the Masonic lodge of Carlinville.

Mr. Duckels of this review is also a supporter of the republican party and as an intelligent, progressive citizen has discharged the responsibilities of various public offices. He is now occupying the position of highway commissioner and was a member of the board of county supervisors for two years, also serving as tax collector and in other positions of public trust. He is not connected with any religious denomination but his wife is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is well known throughout this section as a man of genial nature and one who has through life been actuated by high principles and worthy ambitions. By the exercise of good business judgment he has gained a measure of success which places him among the substantial residents of the county.

Extracted 18 May 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 84-85.