Charles Duncan

Charles Duncan (1823 – 1891) was a Scottish-born stonemason in Utah.He worked on his own and with sons, sometimes known as Charles Duncan and Sons, building numerous stone houses and culverts around Davis County, Utah, and he contributed to the construction of the Salt Lake Temple.

With son John Samuel Duncan, he built the John, Harriet, and Eliza Jennett Duncan House in Centerville, Utah around 1873.It is one of a number of his works listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Duncan helped build the Salt Lake Temple during the portion of its construction from 1863 to 1867.

Duncan was born in 1823 in Dysart, Fifeshire, Scotland and in 1844 he married Margaret Bowman; they lived in Dysart where Charles was employed as a stone cutter and rock mason.

The family came from Liverpool to New Orleans by the January to March 1852 voyage of the ship Kennebec; records show Duncans with first names Charles, Margaret, Isabell, Janet, another Margaret, were on board.

"In 1852 the entire family sailed across the ocean on the Kennebec; arriving in the Salt Lake valley in September 1853. When the Duncans first arrived in Utah they lived with friends in Centerville for a brief time. Charles soon purchased land in Kaysville, and he moved the family there in the spring of 1854. Charles built a log cabin where his twin sons, John Samuel and Charles Jr., were born on May 22. The crops failed, and the family returned to Centerville in July. Word of Charles skill as a stonemason spread quickly; he was hired to build homes throughout the Centerville and Farmington area. Charles' career in masonry spanned from 1853 to 1891. Charles taught the trade to his three sons, John, Charles and Archibald. Most of the early rock buildings and culverts in South Davis County were built by the Duncans. Additionally, Charles worked for many years cutting stone for the Salt Lake City L.D.S. Temple which was constructed during 1863-67. A common, 'trademark' feature of the rock homes built by the Duncans is frequent use of quoins made from granite or sandstone. Charles brought back to Centerville pieces of stone which had been discarded or deemed unsuitable for the L.D.S. Temple. He used these stones to add decoration, as well as religious symbolism, to the residences in Centerville. Charles and his wife Margaret lived in the seven room stone house at 558 N. 340 E. with his son Archibald. Charles passed away in April 1891. John Samuel worked with his father, Charles Duncan, in building the Classical style stone house c. 1873. It reportedly was originally one large room with the adobe interior partitions added later. John bought the house from his father in 1888. According to the 1880 census records, John, age 26, lived with Harriet (Hattie) M., age 22, his wife, and Hattie M., age 2, and George W(alter) age 4/12, his two children, presumably in this house. In 1900 he was living with Eliza Jennett (Jennie), his second wife, and two children, Walter and Erma. Eliza Jennett was born in 1864 and died in August 1918. It appears that Harriet died prior to John's marriage to Eliza Jennett, however, it is unknown. In 1926 this house was sold to Harold Duncan, a son of John and Eliza Jennett born in 1904. Little is known about Harold. The house was then sold to John and Harriet's son, George Walter, in ...."

Does it have Saltbox architecture, see Category:Saltbox architecture in Utah

Check Centerville MPS

• Osmyn and Emily Deuel House, 271 South 200 East Centerville, UT (Duncan, Charles, and Sons), NRHP-listed
• John, Harriet, and Eliza Jennett Duncan House (c.1873), 445 North 400 East Centerville, UT Duncan, Charles and John), NRHP-listed
• Harris--Tingey House, 269 E. Center St. Centerville, UT Duncan, Charles), NRHP-listed
• Kilbourn--Leak House, 170 North 200 East Centerville, UT Duncan, Charles, and Sons), NRHP-listed
• B.H. Roberts Louisa Smith and Cecilia Dibble, 315 South 300 East Centerville, UT Duncan, Charles, and Sons), NRHP-listed
• William Henry and Mary Streeper House, 1020 N. Main St. Centerville, UT Duncan, Charles), NRHP-listed
• Thomas and Elizabeth Mills Whitaker House, 168 N. Main St. Centerville, UT Duncan, Charles, and Sons), NRHP-listed
• Young Men's Hall--Tingey House, 85 South 300 East Centerville, UT Duncan, Charles E., and Sons), NRHP-listed