JAMES M. DUNCAN.
 


	Among the prominent citizens of Regina whose connection with the
province dates back to pioneer days, James M. Duncan, a retired busi-
ness man, is deserving of special mention in a work of this character.
By their private undertakings he and his older brother, William H.
Duncan, an account of whom appears elsewhere in this work, contributed
substantially to the commercial development of the Saskatchewan capital
in the early days, when the foundations of the city's present prosperity
were being laid, and are thus most properly classed among the builders
of their community.
	James M. Duncan was born in Lanark county, Ontario, sixty-five
years ago, in 1859, a son of James and Elizabeth (Lockhart) Duncan.
As a boy he grew up on his father's Ontario farm, attending school in
Almonte, to gain his education, and remained on the farm until he was
twenty-three years old.  In 1882, when the railroad was first opening
up this region for settlement, he came west and took up a homestead
about five miles from the present city of Regina. His previous agricul-
tural experience in the east had been a good preparation for this venture
in pioneer farming, so it was with comparatively little difficulty that he
made the necessary improvements on his land, raised some good crops
and proved up on his homestead. In 1888, however, he left his farm to
come into Regina and engage in the mercantile business as the proprietor
of a general store on Broad street, which he ran for six or seven years.
He was appointed to the office of sheriff of the west district of Assini-
boia in 1901 and held that office until 1908, when he left public life to
embark on a private business enterprise as a real estate man. The rapid
growth of Regina in the past fifteen years has made this city a fertile
field for the operations of realtors, with the result that a considerable
number of men have been led to enter the business. Mr. Duncan's knowl-
edge of the local situation, and his ability as a business man have placed
him among the ranks of the successful operators who have dealt in large
properties.  While he is no longer an active business man he holds an
entire subdivision of the city, to whose management he gives consider-
able attention. The year after he embarked in the real estate business
Mr. Duncan formed a connection with Mr. Simson, in the ownership of
the Caxton Press, one of the superior printing establishments of Regina.
He also owns a fine farm near Fort Qu'Appelle, in whose management
he takes a deep interest.
	In January of 1888, Mr. Duncan was united in marriage to Miss Sarah
Louise Winter, who is likewise a native of Ontario. Mr. and Mrs. Dun-
can hold membership in the Knox Presbyterian church and Mr. Duncan
is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Order
of Canadians.  In politics he votes with the Liberal party.  As he has
accumulated a considerable fortune in the course of the forty-odd years
he has lived in Saskatchewan, Mr. Duncan no longer devotes his entire
attention to his business affairs.  On the contrary, he has his interests
so arranged that he can leave much of the routine management to others
and thus is free to travel wherever fancy leads him.  Usually he and
Mrs. Duncan spend their winters on the Pacific coast, where they escape
the severe cold of a Canadian winter and in the summer go to the lakes.
Their home in the city of Regina is a comfortable residence they built
some twenty years ago, which has since then been the scene of many a
social gathering, for the Duncans are hospitable people and have a host
of friends in the city that has been their home through all the thirty-five
years of their married life.
	Of all the events of pioneer days that Mr. Duncan can recall-and
they are many-none are more interesting than his experiences in the
Riel Rebellion of 1885. He was a member of the North West Mounted
Police during the '8Os and in this connection was called upon for military
service to help crush the rebellion.  In the engagement at Cut Knife
creek he was under fire and subsequently took part in the retreat.

	
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