Worshipful Brother Kenneth Forrest Duncan (1881-1952) was a member of the family for whom the City of Duncan is named. He was instrumental in establishing the City of Duncan in 1912. He served as the City of Duncan’s first Mayor in 1912-13. Kenneth Street in downtown Duncan is named for him.
He served as Worshipful Master of Temple Lodge, No. 33 in 1913 and played a leading role in the planning and construction of the Duncan Masonic Temple in 1912.
Kenneth Duncan ran an insurance and financial services business in the building that is now the Duncan & Christmas Heritage Mall at 149 Canada Avenue in downtown Duncan.
Here is a brief biographical sketch of W. Brother Kenneth F. Duncan, taken from the local newspaper reports of his death and funeral:
“Duncan – Cowichan lost one of its best known native sons in the sudden death on Monday evening [4 February 1952] at his home of Mr. Kenneth Forrest Duncan, aged 70.
He had been confined to his home on Ypres Street [note: this house has been demolished] for just over a week suffering from an attack of phlebitis, but his condition was thought to be improving. Death came with tragic suddenness about 6 p.m., a few minutes after he had been chatting with his wife.
Mr. Duncan, son of the founder of the city that bears his name, was born in Duncan on March 7, 1881, and had lived here all his life.
His father, the late W.C. Duncan, whose parents had lived in Sarnia, Ont., came to the district in August 1862. In 1864 he built a home on a new homestead where the city now stands. With the first pioneer, Harry Evans, he built the first St. Peter’s Church building at Quamichan in the fall of 1875. He died in May, 1919, aged 82.
Mr. Kenneth Duncan’s mother was born on a farm in Donegal, Ireland and came to Canada in 1872. She met her husband when attending a fall fair at Maple Bay and was married in 1876 in St. Peter’s Church. She died in January 1937, aged 92.
Receiving his education here and at Ottawa, where he took a course, Mr. Duncan was for many years a businessman of the city, following his profession of financial, real estate and insurance agent. He was associated first with the late J. Islay Mutter in the firm called Mutter & Duncan. This was dissolved and Mr. Duncan then had as a partner the late Herbert W. Dickie. On the last named taking over an insurance business of his own, Mr. Duncan had as his partner, the late Wilfred E. Christmas, who died suddenly two years ago.
A great part of Mr. Duncan’s share of the firm, especially during latter years, was the handling of estates for residents of the district. To this type of business he brought a wealth of knowledge, good commonsense advice and kindly interest in the families with whom he was dealing. By nature he belonged to that older generation when men had more time to give thought and consideration to all problems of life.
But business did not occupy his whole attention. Far from it. It can be truthfully said that few men have given more time and honest hard work than did Mr. Duncan to every community effort, small and large. To him fell the honour of being the first mayor of Duncan following the incorporation of the city in 1912.
In the same year he was married to Miss Agnes Paterson, eldest daughter of the late Mr. And Mrs. Walter Paterson, Koksilah.
It was in 1916 that Mr. Duncan first entered the field of politics. As a Liberal candidate he opposed the late Capt. W.H. Hayward who was seeking election as an Independent-Conservative. Mr. Duncan lost by 63 votes at the election on September 21.
Enlisting in May, 1917, in the 4th Canadian Field Ambulance, Mr. Duncan went to England in November of that year and to France in February, 1918. He saw service as a private in France, Belgium and Germany.
It was while serving overseas that he again became a candidate. Owing to the death of Capt. Hayward, a by-election was necessary and Mr. Duncan was nominated in January, 1919. His opponent was Major Frank Basil Edwards, Victoria, running as returned men’s Independent candidate, nominated by Cowichan Great War Veterans’ Association.
Mr. Duncan was nominated by the executive of Cowichan Provincial Unionist League and Cowichan Liberal Association as an Independent Soldier candidate. His agent was his brother-in-law, Mr. W.A. McAdam, now agent-general, British Columbia House, London. Won the seat by a majority of 76 at the election on January 25. He returned home on March 5, after demobilization, and immediately took his place in the legislature.
The following year he was opposed by the late G.A. Cheeke, running as a Conservative, but at the December election Mr. Duncan retained his seat by a majority of 116.
In April, 1924, he was again nominated, this time as a Provincial Party candidate in the newly formed Cowichan-Newcastle constituency. In a keenly contested campaign, in which the other candidates were the late C.F. Davie, K.C., Conservative, the late W.W. Walkem, Liberal, and Mr. Sam Guthrie, Labour, Mr. Duncan lost to Mr. Davie in the election, June 1924. He did not again enter the political field.
For many years Mr. Duncan had been a deputy magistrate, a justice of the peace and a notary public. He held high office in Temple Lodge, A.F. & A.M., and was a charter member of Duncan Volunteer Fire Department and had for many years been on the executive board of Cowichan Agricultural Society.
In 1930 he was president of Cowichan branch, Canadian Legion, and for many years president of Cowichan Branch, Canadian Red Cross Society. Last month he was again elected to its executive committee.
During its active existence, he was the mainstay of the Cowichan Historical Society. He had a remarkable memory for names, dates and places and loved to recount tales of the pioneer days. Some of these he put into writing but, with his death, goes an unwritten history of the district he loved so well and whose growth from a small hamlet to a busy city centre he had assisted in so many ways.
He was an eloquent speaker, especially on old time stories and events. Recently, while in semi-retirement, he had travelled far abroad and had the opportunity to visit the places in Canada about which he wished to learn more, having acquired much knowledge through his life-long hobby of reading.
He took a very active interest in the affairs of King’s Daughters Hospital and served on its board for a long period. With his family of daughters, he took an especial interest in Girl Guide organisations in the district.
Though sports had not occupied his attention of late years, Mr. Duncan was an ardent sportsman, the pheasant and duck shooting seasons in particular proving him an excellent shot. He played golf for many years, first on the old Koksilah course, and later on the Cowichan course in Duncan, where he was one of the better players. He also played tennis and baseball in his youth. He was an outstanding bridge player.
Mr. Duncan belonged to St. John’s Anglican Church and had served on the church committee.
Besides his wife, he leaves three daughters, Mrs. S.C. (Jean) Robinson, Ottawa; Mrs. Earl (Kathleen) Jacques (Duncan), and Mrs. George (Dorothy) Schuthe, Ottawa; four grandsons and two granddaughters; two sisters, Mrs. F.R. Gooding, New Westminster, and Mrs. W.A. McAdam, London, England. Another sister, Mrs. F.C. Holmes, predeceased him several years ago. He also leaves many nephews and nieces.
Funeral services will be held to-day at 2 o’clock in St. John’s Church, Duncan, with interment at St. Peter’s, Quamichan. Hirst Funeral Chapel has charge of arrangements. “
(Source: Cowichan Leader, 7 February 1952 – from Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives collections)
“Duncan – At one of the largest funerals ever held in Duncan, services for Mr. Kenneth Forrest Duncan, aged 70, founder and chief partner of Duncan & Christmas Ltd., who died here on Monday February 4, were held from St. John’s Anglican Church on Thursday afternoon.
Coming to pay tribute to a native son were relations from all parts of Vancouver island. Representing the B.C. Legislature were the Hon. W.T. Straith, minister of education, accompanied by Mrs. Straith, and Mr. R.A. Pennington, deputy provincial secretary.
Mayor J.C. Wragg and the full city council were present and Reeve A.E. Beasley represented North Cowichan municipality. There was a large representation from Cowichan Branch, Canadian Legion, and the various organizations to which Mr. Duncan belonged were all represented.
The Rev. Canon H.T. Archbold conducted the services, assisted by the Rev. Canon T.M. Hughes. There was a full choir and Mrs. S.H. Hoskins was organist. ‘The Day Thou Gavest’, a favourite hymn of Mr. Duncan, was sung, as well as Psalm 23 and the Nunc dimittis.
Some of the many magnificent floral tributes were arranged in the church as a setting for the flower-covered casket. Honorary pallbearers were: Col. J.H. Boyd, Messrs. F.R. Gooding, J.S. Robinson, R.W. Whittome, G.G. Baiss, F.L. Kingston, Bruce Powel, A. Kennington.
Active pallbearers were: Messrs. R.M. Lendrum, H.H. Bazett, A.C. Wilson (Victoria), K. McAdam, G. Lomas, R. Bateman.
Proceeding to St. Peter’s, Quamichan, where interment was made, were over 50 cars of mourners. Canon Archbold conducted the service at the graveside in the picturesque cemetery, where the first St. Peter’s Church was built by Mr. Duncan’s father. There were well over 100 beautiful wreaths and sprays as evidence of the high esteem and affection felt for Mr. Duncan and his family.
Hirst Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.”
(Source: Cowichan Leader, 14 February 1952 – from Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives collections)
