FORTY YEARS AGO

From the Daily News Files

October 29, 1891

“Squire Uriah Duckworth, aged 92, died suddenly at his home, three miles east of Barton, this county. He was born near Barton in 1799 and married Miss Ellen Wilson, daughter of Nathaniel Wilson in 1824. During the war of 1812 he tried to enlist but was only 13 years old and was turned down.

He was offered $50.00 and a wool blanket to go as a substitute in 1814, but his mother objected so strenuously that he did not go. In the fall of 1820 the “Squire” went into Hampshire County and kept a Country School two years. Two years later he returned to Westernport and kept a village school six months.

From 1823 to 1826 he kept store in Westernport for his brother-in-law, William Price. During the last fifty-seven years of his life, Squire Duckworth was a magistrate and served in Barton and Westernport.

Many of the Squire’s old pupils recalled that on court days the school was converted into his courtroom and trails were held in the presence of his pupils. The three R’s were the principal studies – Reading – ‘Ritin and ‘Rithmetic. The Squire carried his quill pen in his hatband on all occasions up to the time of his death.

He was supposed to have served as a squire longer than any man in the state and was a staunch Democrat. The deceased was the grandfather of A. B. Shaw, Esq.

The surviving children were; Isabella, wife of Jacob Meyers; Louis J., of Lonaconing; Dorcas, wife of W. H. Miller and Ezekiel, of Barton; Charles Wesley, of Westernport; Simeon H., of Lonaconing; Henry Harman and George Mason, Barton; Edward, of Lonaconing, and Rachel, wife of Samson Sigler. He also left a sister Mrs. Theopolis Wilt, who resided on the Savage River in Garrett County. She was 80 years old.

Article donated by “Millie Morrison” of Hagerstown, Maryland