Dr. William Benjamin Duck

1857 - 1899  (41 years)

• Name	William Benjamin Duck
  Prefix	Dr.
  Born	4 Sep 1857	Morpeth, Kent Co., Ontario   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47475265
  Interesting	medical
  Name	W. B. Duck
  Occupation	1881	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Physician - Doctor - Dr.
  Occupation	1891	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Physican
  Residence	1891	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Anglican
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-128425
  Died	20 Jan 1899	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Buried	Morpeth Cemetery, Morpeth, Kent Co., Ontario
  Person ID	I128425	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	Isaac Duck,   b. 27 Jan 1829, , England ,   d. 4 May 1922, Howard, Kent Co., Ontario  (Age 93 years)
  Family ID	F18655	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Clara Roos,   b. 1862, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1 Jun 1895, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 33 years)
  Married	28 May 1894	Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F22556	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  DUCK, WILLIAM BENJAMIN was claimed by Victor Lauriston for his "Centennial Chronicle of Kent Doctors." "Though he practised his profession largely in Preston, Dr. Wm. Benjamin Duck by reason of his birth and professional standing merits listing among Kent doctors. Son of Isaac and Grace (Webb) Duck, emigrants from Wiltshire, England, he was born at Morpeth on September 4, 1857. Educated at the Morpeth public school, Dundas Collegiate Institute and the Toronto Normal School, he later studied medicine at Trinity College, Toronto graduating in 1879. He received an M. B. degree with honors having taken the highest percentage of marks in his final examination." He commenced practice in Preston in the year of his graduation and remained there apart from postgraduate courses here and abroad."Men of Canada, etc." published in 1891, said of him at that time: "The doctor is regarded as one of the most skilled physicians in Ontario, and his career has been marked by greater opportunity and progress than falls to most men. He has been chairman of the Board of Education for 2 years, was 3 years captain of #3 Coy. 79th. Battalion, is vice-president of the Liberal Conservative Association of Waterloo South, and has been offered, recently, a professorship in a California College, his reputation having spread so far south. He is also the Health Officer for the municipality, and medical adviser for the celebrated mineral baths of Preston." He died of pneumonia following a short illness, on January 20, 1899. His wife, the former Clara Roos, whom he married in 1894, died the summer following their marriage. Kent County claimed him in the end, as he was buried at Morpeth. The Preston correspondent of the Weekly News Record said of him: His principal characteristic was his large-heartedness and warm, social, sincere friendship. Dr. Alexander D. Campbell, Doctors in Waterloo County 1852-1925 ______________ CHATHAM CHAT. Death of W. B. Duck at one Time of Morpeth. Chatham, Jan. 21.-News reached the city last evening of the death, at Preston, Ont., on Friday, of Dr. W. B. Duck. Deceased was born in Morpeth forty-two years ago, and received his early education in that village, having been a school mate of Geo. S. Heward, ex-Mayor Patteson, Albert White and several other residents of this city. He was a son of Isaac Duck. of Morpeth and was a widower, his wife having died about three years ago. . The Windsor Star Mon, Jan 23, 1899 Page 4 _____________ Preston, Ont., Jan. 21.- Preston lost one of her leading medical men and most progressive citizens yesterday by the death of Dr. W. B. Duck, which occurred after a short illness that developed into pneumonia. The deceased was in his 42nd year, and was born in Morpeth, Kent County, and received his early education at the Public School of Morpeth, Dundas Collegiate Institute and the Normal School, Toronto, and then took his medical course at Trinity College, Toronto, graduating in 1879. He received the M.B. degree with honors. He was also a fellow of Trinity Medical College, taking the only certificate of honor granted by Trinity School for 1879, and also the degree of M.D. from Trinity University. In 1886 he took a post-graduate course in Europe, visiting the hospitals of London, Paris, Edinburgh, Dublin, Marseilles and Lyons, France. He commenced practising in Preston immediately after graduating. The deceased was president of the Liberal-Conservative Club of Preston, and was one of the pillars of the party in South Waterloo. He was also chair- man of the Preston School Board, and took an active interest in athletic sports. The remains will be interred at Morpeth on Monday. The Berlin News Record Mon, Jan 23, 1899 Page 3 _______________ Dr. Duck Dead The Preston Physician Passes Away This Morning LIFE SKETCH OF DECEASED (Special to NEWS-RECORD) Preston, Ont, Jan 20, 1899. The death of Dr W. B. Duck, which occurred this morning, has cast a gloom over the town. His sickness was of only a week's duration and was not expected to result seriously until last evening when he grew weaker, and passed away this morning. Dr Duck was well and favorably known throughout the county and had a large practice. For many years he was member of the Public School Board and during the past year was Chairman of the same. He was one of the leaders of the Conservative party and always took a great interest in the welfare of the Conservatives. His only relation here is E. J. Duck, Druggist. His other relations reside at Morpeth, and there the body will be taken tomorrow morning for burial. The faneral will take place on. Monday. Deceased was about 45 years of age. New Record Fri, Jan 20, 1899 Page 1

  
  

• Sources

  [S297] Census - ON, Waterloo, Preston - 1881, Page 46. [S2441] Census - ON, Waterloo, Preston - 1891, Section 1 Page 22. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Name:Clara Roos Age:30 Birth Date:abt 1864 Birth Place:Preston, Ontario Marriage Date:28 May 1894 Marriage County or District:Waterloo Father:George Roos Mother:Rachel Roos Spouse:William Benjamin Duck Spouse's Age:36 Spouse Birth Date:abt 1858 Spouse Birth Place:Morpeth Ont Spouse Father:Isaac Duck Spouse Mother:Grace Duck

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 4 Sep 1857 - Morpeth, Kent Co., Ontario Occupation - Physician - Doctor - Dr. - 1881 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Physican - 1891 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Anglican - 1891 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 28 May 1894 - Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Died - 20 Jan 1899 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth