Person:Thomas Duckett (1)

Thomas lived in Warren County, Kentucky. He later moved to Barton County, Missouri. He later moved to Dade County, Missouri. He later moved back to Barton County, Missouri.

Thomas was a member of the Baptist Church.

Thomas was a medical doctor.

Thomas and his parents moved to Barton County, Missouri in 1855.

In 1860 Thomas was living with his parents in Newton Township, Barton County, Missouri.

During the Civil War, Thomas was forced to move with his family to PettisCounty, Missouri, because of chaotic lawlessness in which this part of the country was plunged. At the close of the Civil War, Thomas returned with his parents to Barton County, rebuilt the buildings and fences, and began life anew.

In 1870 Thomas was living with his parents in Horsecreek Township, Dade County, Missouri.

In his early twenties Thomas entered a general store at Cedarville, thenquite a trading point, and soon he was a partner in the business. In 1882, he resolved to study medicine. He sold out his interest in the store, and entered the old Kansas City Medical College. He attended the medical college for one year and was given a license to practice. He returned to Cedarville, opened an office, and started a drugstore.

He practiced medicine until the fall of 1887, when he returned to the Kansas City Medical College, and after attending two more years, he graduated and was issued a diploma. He returned again to Cedarville and practiced about one year.

In 1890 he located in Milford, Barton County, Missouri. He continued to practice medicine for thirty-five years near where he spent his boyhood.

In 1900 Thomas was living with his family in Milford Township, Barton County, Missouri.

In 1910 Thomas was living with his family in Milford, Milford Township, Barton County, Missouri.

In 1911 Thomas was living with his family in Milford Township, BartonCounty, Missouri. (Source: Barton County Directory, Schopf and Collins,1911)

In 1920 Thomas was living with his family in Milford Township, Barton County, Missouri.

In 1924 he moved to Lamar, and practiced medicine with his son, Dr.Claude Duckett.

Thomas always took an active part in politics. He was a recognized leader of the Democrats of northeastern Barton County for years. In 1910, he was elected to the state legislature. He served as chairman of Public Health and Scientific Instruction Committee. He was also a member of the Township Organization and County Boundaries and Printing Committees. Later he was at the head of the Democratic County Committee. He served six years on the township board. Dr. Duckett was not a narrow, vindictive party man, but he believed in parties and he was a loyal, consistent Democrat.

Thomas is buried in Lake Cemetery, Lamar, Missouri.

1. ↑ Official Manual of the State of Missouri for the Years 1911 - 1912
   Page 44.
2. ↑ The Lamar Democrat, February 24, 1936.
3. ↑ Certificate of Death
   4490.
4. ↑
   
   Dr. T. H. Duckett Died Sunday Morning
   
   Had been unconscious since 12 o'clock Thursday night - cause of his death evidently Thrombosis - Suffered the same affliction three years before his death, but the clot was absorbed - Funeral Services at Konantz Chapel, Monday afternoon - Dr. Duckett was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky - When he was a child of two, his late father, Thomas Duckett moved to Missouri, and settled on what's now North east Barton when it was yet part of Jasper - attended the Old Round Prairie School - went into business at Cedarville, in early twenties, and ere long sold out to study medicine - began his career as a Practicing Physician at Cedarville in 1883 - Later spent two more years at Medical College and shortly afterwards located in Milford - Practiced there thirty five years - came to Lamar in 1925 - Grew up as a Boyhood friend of later Senator W. S. Allee and later Judge Berry Thurman - this close friendship continued during the lives of these three men - Dr. Duckett was in the Legislature, when his friend Dr. Allee was in the State Senate and when Berry Thurman was Circuit Judge - had hosts of friends where he spent his life - took great pride in the fact that his son and his grandson both followed his footsteps into the medical Profession - was not only a Physician but friend and Counselor for his clients.
   
   Dr. T. H. Duckett died Sunday morning at six o'clock, at the home of his son, Dr. Claude Duckett, in this city. The cause of his death was apparently Thrombosis, or a clot lodging in the brain.
   
   He suffered a similar affliction three years before his death but the clot was absorbed, and the Doctor for a man of his years was quite well. Two weeks before his death the Doctor was confined to the house, and had difficulty getting about. It soon became evident he had probably suffered another thrombosis. Thursday night, about 12 o'clock, he sank into a deep coma, and did not rally back to consciousness. Severe and frequent convulsions, plainly caused by the pressure upon the brain came from that time on.
   
   Thomas H. Duckett was born at Bowling Green Kentucky, December 10«sup»th«/sup», 1854. He was the youngest in a family of eleven children and he was the last of them to go. When our late townsman was a child of two, his father Thomas Duckett, moved to Southwestern Missouri purchased and improved a farm some distance south of the present Round Prairie school house. It has in more recent years been known as the old Ryan place. What is now Milford township was at the time Dr. Duckett's parents located there a part of Jasper County. A year later the county of Barton was organized. Dr. Duckett had therefore lived here since before there was any Barton County.
   
   During the war, Mr. Duckett was forced to move his family to North Missouri, because of chaotic lawlessness into which this part of the country was plunged, during those terrible years.
   
   At the close of the Civil War, Mr. Duckett returned with his family, put the buildings and fences back, and began life anew. Our late townsman was then a lad of about ten, grew up on the farm, attending the district school at Round Prairie, which then had nearly a hundred pupils.
   
   Dr. Duckett's mother died when he was yet a lad. His father and the younger children continued to stay on the farm.
   
   In his early twenties the future physician entered a general store at Cedarville, then quite a trading point, and ere long he was a partner in the business. In 1882, he resolved to study medicine. He sold out his interest in the store, and entered the old Kansas City Medical College. He attended the medical college for one year and was given a license to practice. He returned to Cedarville, opened an office, and started a drugstore.
   
   He practiced until the fall of 1887, when he returned to the Kansas City Medical College, and after attending two more years, he was graduated and issued a diploma. He returned again to Cedarville and practiced about a year, when in 1890 he located in Milford.
   
   He continued to practice at that pont near where he spent his boyhood, for thirty five years. In 1925, he moved to Lamar, and practiced with his son, Dr. Claude Duckett, until about five years ago, when he retired from active practice.
   
   Dr. Duckett always took an active part in politics. He was the recognized leader of the Democrats of Northeastern Barton for years. In 1910, he was elected to the legislature. Later he was at the head of the Democratic County Committee. Dr. Duckett was not a narrow, vindictive party man, but he believed in parties and he was a loyal, consistent Democrat.
   
   Our late townsman, when a mere youth, became a great friend, of two other lads, each of whom, like himself, were destined to make his mark on life. They were W. S. Allee and Berry Thurman. The former like Tom Duckett, as all the folks called him, was destined to be a physician. The latter cast fortunes with the law. At the time Dr. Duckett was in the legislature, Dr. Allee was in the State Senate and Berry Thurman was circuit judge.
   
   When the young doctor first returned from medical school in 1883 and established himself at Cedarville, he married Miss Matilda Elizabeth Taylor, one of the pioneer citizens of Milford.
   
   He leaves her with four children, Dr. Claude Duckett, of this city, Mrs. Delbert Webb, also of this city, Mrs. Walter Vogelsang, of Lacross, Kansas, and Mrs. W. L. Dinwiddie of Boston, in this county.
   
   Dr. Duckett loved and respected his profession. He was vastly pleased that his only son became an outstanding physician, and he was vastly and justly proud, when his grandson proved to be one of the most promising young physicians that ever went into the great Bell Memorial hospital, for final training.
   
   Dr. Duckett outlived the two great friends of his youth, both of whom he loved as brothers. Dr. W. S. Allee died twenty years ago, and Judge B. G. Thurman died about five years ago.
   
   Dr. Duckett was beloved by the people among whom he passed his life. They trusted him implicitly. He was more than their physician. He was their friend and counselor, on whom they leaned in time of stress and trouble. He loved people and he loved nature. His recreation was to get out with some friends in the woods and camp for the night, possibly fishing some, or listening to the music of the baying hounds as they chased a fox.
   
   He was wholesome, canny, honest to the core, high minded and ever true to those who trusted and loved him. His memory will be cherished long in the years to come. There is sadness at the many a fireside because of his passing.
   
   The body was taken to the Konantz Funeral Home to be prepared for burial. Funeral services, conducted by Rev. Walter Arnold and Rev. Ralph Fox were held at th Konantz Chapel at 2:30, Monday afternoon followed by internment in Lake Cemetery.