from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)--pages 699-700
Among the young farmers of Hendricks County, Indiana, who have built up a comfortable home by their own efforts is Charles P. Duncan, of Liberty Township, who was born June 12, 1880, on the farm where he is now living. His parents were William G. and Matilda (Barnes) Duncan. William Duncan was a native of this county, his birth having occurred on June 21, 1843, and his death occurred June 17, 1911. William Duncan was the son of Charles and Delilah (Blunk) Duncan, and he spent his entire life in this county, with the exception of four years, when he was in the Civil War. He enlisted in 1861 in Company A, Thirty-third Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for the three-year service. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and after serving two and one-half years he re-enlisted and served until the end of the war, being mustered out in July, 1865, at Indianapolis. He was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea and took part in all those hard-fought battles and skirmishes which characterized that campaign. He was disabled and sent to the hospital on account of injuries, but recovered sufficiently to rejoin his regiment and be with them when they were mustered out. Immediately upon the close of the war William Duncan returned to this county and resumed farming. He was a prominent citizen of his township and served on the advisory board for some years. He was a member of the Christian Church and a deacon in that denomination on all occasions. He was a strong believer in righteous living and upright conduct in all business affairs.
The wife of William Duncan, Matilda Barnes, was a member of one of the pioneer families of this county. Her family history appears elsewhere in this volume in the sketch of W.D. Barnes, who is a brother of Mrs. Duncan. She is still living in Hazelwood, this county.
Charles P. Duncan spent his boyhood days on the home farm southwest of Hazelwood and received his education in the district schools of his township. He has spent his whole life on the farm where he is now living with the exception of ten years he spent on a rented farm of one hundred and eight acres in Franklin Township, this county. He now owns eighty acres, which includes the old farm, and is bringing the farm to a high state of cultivation by his skillful system of crop rotation. After leaving Franklin Township, this county, he bought sixteen acres north of his present farm, but sold this in the fall of 1913 before moving to where he now resides.
Mr. Duncan was married March 31, 1902, to Nida Skaggs, a daughter of Lee and Anna (Kavanus) Skaggs. Lee Skaggs was born in Tennessee, and his wife was a native of Liberty Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Skaggs are now living at Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan are the parents of five children. Ollan, who died at the age of five years, Lloyd, Chrystine Pauline and Kathryn Dee.
Mr. Duncan is an active Republican, but has never been identified as an aspirant for any public office. He and his wife are members of the Church of Christ at Hazelwood, and both take an active part in the affairs of their church. Mr. Duncan is a quiet, unassuming man, with a friendly disposition. Because of his high character he is respected by every one with whom he has been associated. He and his wife are the owners of a beautiful home, where they entertain their many friends with genuine hospitality.