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GILBERT H. DUCKETT

 

The agricultural interests of Taylor county find a worthy representative in Gilbert H. Duckett, who has devoted his entire life to that line of activity and in the tilling of the soil is meeting with most gratifying success.  Born near Burlington, Racine county, Wisconsin, on the 27th of October, 1866, he is a son of Noah and Amelia (Heath) Duckett, the former of whom is now deceased.  The mother was born and reared in Somersetshire, England, her birth occurring in 1837, and on coming to the United States she located in Wisconsin, where she gave her hand in marriage to Noah Duckett.  There the eldest children were born and the family continued to make their home in that state until 1876, in which year they came to Iowa, locating in Taylor county, where the father purchased a tract of wild land, to the transformation and development of which he devoted the remainder of his life.  His wife still survives and makes her home upon that farm.  She is the mother of two sons and four daughters, the brother of our subject being Fred Duckett, a resident of Canada.  the sisters are as follows: Anna, the wife of Charles Boydon, a farmer of Grove township; Jessie, who wedded Dwight Parks, of Oregon City, Oregon; Susie, the wife of Roy Goodlaxson, who engages in farming in Gay township; and May, who resides on the old homestead with her mother and brother.

 

Gilbert H. Duckett, whose name introduces this review, was a little lad of ten years when he came with his parents to Taylor county, and was here reared to manhood, acquiring his education in the district schools near his home.  Amid the busy activities of rural life he spent the period of his boyhood and youth, assisting his father in the arduous task of opening up a new farm, and as the years passed and his strength increased he aided more and more largely in the work of development, the lessons which he learned concerning the value of industry, energy and integrity, and the thorough and practical experience which he gained forming an excellent foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of future success.

 

Upon attaining his majority Mr. Duckett took up the management of the home farm, which had been left to his widowed mother, and has since devoted himself to the conduct of her business affairs.  The homestead, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres of land, located on section 20, Grove township, had already been brought under a good state of cultivation through the well-directed efforts of his father, and under his wise and careful management has now become one of the valuable and desirable farming properties of the township.  He has been most successful in his agricultural pursuits, and as he has prospered has been able to invest in more land, being now the owner of another farm of one hundred and sixty acres located on section 29, near the old home.  This has been well fenced and tiled and has become a highly improved property, and is a source of gratifying profit to its owner.  He carries on general farming, and in this connection also engages extensively in the stock business, raising and feeding a large quantity of cattle, hogs and sheep annually, for which he receives excellent prices in the market.  Progressive and up-to-date in his methods, he has displayed fine business ability in the conduct of his various affairs and is numbered among the successful, substantial and representative business men of the community.

 

Politically Mr. Duckett gives his allegiance to the democratic party, but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him as he prefers to concentrate his energies upon the conduct of his business interests.  He has never been unmindful, however, of his duties as a citizen but is most public-spirited and thoroughly appreciates his obligations to his fellowmen.  A man of exemplary habits, his unquestioned integrity, honorable principles and upright manhood have won for him the confidence, esteem and admiration of all with whom he has been brought in contact, and Grove township numbers him among her most valued and respected citizens.