from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)--pages 198-199
It is proper to judge of a man's success in life by the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him at work, in the family circle, in church, hear his views on public questions, observe the operation of his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself in all the relations of society and civilization, and are therefore competent to judge of his merits and demerits. After a long course of years of such daily observation, it would be out of the question for his neighbors not to know of his worth, for, as has been said, "actions speak louder than words." In this connection it is not too much to say that the subject of this sketch has passed a life of unusual honor, that he has been industrious and has the confidence of all who have the pleasure of his friendship.
John S. Duckworth, the present county recorder of Hendricks County, Indiana, was born in North Salem, Eel River Township, this county, on March 6, 1858. His parents were Pressley S. and Eliza (Woodward) Duckworth, his father being a native of Kentucky and his mother of this county. Pressley Duckworth was a farmer by occupation and came to Hendricks County about 1850 with his widowed mother, and settled one mile north of North Salem, where he lived all of his life, his death occurring on April 13, 1872. His widow still survives him, and makes her home in North Salem. To Mr. and Mrs. Pressley Duckworth were born eight children: John S., the immediate subject of this sketch; Oliver E., of Jamestown, Indiana; James A., St. Louis; Mollie, deceased; Allie, deceased; Mrs. Maggie Ergenbright, of Kansas City; William, of North Salem; and Lizzie, deceased.
John S. Duckworth was educated in the common schools of his home neighborhood and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. In 1873, he went to work in a saw mill and followed this occupation for twenty years. Following this he engaged in teaming and farming until his election as county recorder of Hendricks County in November 1906. His record during his first term of office was such that he was nominated for re-election and although he had three candidates against him he carried every township in the county but two and had a majority of more than five hundred. He has taken especial care to have all the records in his office bound and preserved and kept in the most approved manner. He is distinctly a man of the people, a man who has very little education, but who has that happy faculty of being able to make the very most of all of his possibilities. He is a hard worker and deservedly popular with all classes of people.
John S. Duckworth was married October 23, 1883, to Nannie O'Rear, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Newton O'Rear, of Boone County, Indiana. To this union there have been born six children: Mabel C., deceased; Fred Allen, railroad employee at Indianapolis; George P., who lives in the West; Lela and Beulah, twins. Beulah is the wife of Carl White, of Jamestown, and Lela keeps house for her father, and has been his constant companion since her mother's death, August 10, 1897; Kenneth, the sixth and last child, died in infancy.
Mr. Duckworth has always been a Republican in politics, and has been one of the most active men in the councils of his party for many years. His re-election to the office of county recorder shows the high esteem in which he is held by the citizens of his county. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church of North Salem, and is a liberal contributor to its various needs. Personally, Mr. Duckworth is a man whom it is a pleasure to know, being generous-hearted, kind and helpful. He is honest in all his dealings with his fellow men and eminently worthy of representation in a work of this character, as he is one of Hendricks County's most valued citizens.