Duncan Earl Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1155-1156 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	DUNCAN EARL, one of the successful farmers and honored citizens of 
Davison county, is a native of the dominion of Canada, having been born 
in the province of Ontario, on the 20th of August, 1848. and being a son 
of Hiram and Ann (Thompson) Earl, both of whom were likewise native of 
Canada, the former being of English lineage and the latter of Scotch. 
They became the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are living, 
while the subject of this sketch is the only representative of the 
family in South Dakota. 

	Duncan Earl received his educational discipline in the schools of 
his native province, where he was reared to manhood and where he 
continued to follow various pursuits until August 13, 1882, when he came 
to the territory of Dakota and took up government land in Davison county 
and also purchased deeded lands, now having a farm of six hundred and 
forty acres of most arable and valuable land, and having three hundred 
and fifteen acres under effective cultivation, while the permanent 
improvements are of substantial nature, indicating the progressive 
spirit and good management of the owner, who has ever been known as a 
man of indefatigable industry and sterling character. He is a staunch 
Republican in politics, and both he and his wife are devoted members of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, in whose work he takes a very active 
interest, being a member of the board of trustees of the church of this 
denomination at Mount Vernon, which is his postoffice address. 

	On the 18th of February, 1885, Mr. Earl was united in marriage to 
Miss Abigail Higginson, who was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, 
being a daughter of William and Candace (Atcheson) Higginson, her father 
having been a prominent farmer and miller and having accumulated a 
fortune through his own efforts, his estate being valued at twenty 
thousand dollars at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Earl have one 
son, Lorne Talmage, who was born on the 27th day of February, 1891, and 
who has been afforded excellent educational advantages. Mr. Earl is 
public-spirited and progressive, his name is a synonym of honor and 
integrity and he commands the implicit confidence of the community in 
which he has resided for more than a score of years.