BIOGRAPHY - E. DUCKWORTH
E. F. Duckworth, engaged in the hardware and lumber business at Cabery, owning an equal interest with Mr. Keighin in a large and well selected stock of goods, is a young man of marked enterprise, of tireless energy, of keen perception and honesty of purpose. He was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, January 21, 1870, his parents being Richard and Susan Duckworth, who were natives of the state of New York. Removing westward, they settled in Kendall county, Illinois, in 1863 and are now residents of Iroquois county. They became the parents of three children, of whom E. M. Duckworth is the eldest, his brothers, Austin and William, twins, being yet at home.
E. F. Duckworth was also reared under the parental roof and is indebted to the public-school system of Illinois for the educational privileges which he enjoyed and to the Grand Mercer Seminary. Lessons of industry, integrity and enterprise were also impressed upon his mind by his parents in his youth and after he had attained his majority he became a feature in business circles, purchasing a hardware store at Herscher, where he continued in business for three years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and came to Cabery, where he purchased a half interest in the hardware and lumber business of Mr. Keighin. They have an excellent trade, which is constantly increasing, and in their business interests they are methodical, systematic and energetic.
On the 9th of January, 1901, Mr. Duckworth was married to Miss Caroline Musson, whose parents are now residents of Watseka, Illinois. Mrs. Duckworth is their only surviving child and by her marriage she has become the mother of one daughter, Lima Margaret. The parents are consistent and helpful members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Duckworth belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Herscher, while both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekah degree. In politics he is a republican, interested in the growth and success of the party. His business success is largely due to the fact that in their business the firm aim at high standard in the character of the goods which they carry and in their service to the public and meet competition in a rivalry of merit rather than in a war of prices. Their business, too, is permeated by a spirit of courtesy, thoroughness, enthusiasm, energy and progressiveness.
Extracted 19 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 1, pages 411-412.
