Col. Duncan Shaw died at his residence in 71st, 9 miles West of Fayetteville, at 3:10 o'clock, yesterday 
morning. Col. Shaw has been for many years one of the most prominent citizens of Cumberland. He was born 
in 1815 and was consequently in his eighty-first year. He represented the county repeatedly in the General 
Assembly, and for many years was, we belive, chairman of the old Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions.

He was a man of unusually good common sense and of strong character. He was a Democrat of the straitest sect, 
never wavering in his allegiance to the party, or, what was or more consequence, to its principles.

He leaves seven children. Congressman Shaw is his eldest son. Mrs. Colin McRae, of this city, is a daughter. 
The funeral took place from Galatia Church at 2 o'clock this afternoon and was attended by a host of friends, 
many from this city as well as the country.

Fayetteville Observer, (Fayetteville, N.C.), Thursday, February 05, 1896

Col. Duncan Shaw, died on Sunday, February 2nd, at 2:30 o'clock, a.m. He was born on November the 9th, 1815, 
and was, therefore in his 81st year. He came of sturdy Scotch ancestry. His great grandfather, on his mother's 
side Alexander McNaughton, came from Isla in 1769; his maternal grandfather, Duncan Ray, came from Jura, sometime 
between 1740 and 1750; his father, Gilbert Shaw, came from Jura in 1792, in his 22nd year.

Mr. Shaw was possessed of a clear, strong intellect, sound judgment, with common sense to an unusual degree, 
and, although not college bred, he had a good English education. He often remarked that "a man or woman might 
get a good education by reading the newspapers." He cultivated this possibility, and was well-informed on most 
subjects.

He joined the church in his 19th or 20th year, at Longstreet, during the ministry of Rev. Evander McNair, and 
was one of the building committee through whose efforts the present church at Longstreet was built. He afterwards 
moved his membership to Galatia, where he was elected to the office of ruling elder, under the ministry of 
Rev. Daniel Johnson, about 1850, in which capacity he served the church well and faithfully.

Mr. Shaw was elected to the House of Commons of North Carolina, with B.F. Atkins, in 1844, and again in 1846, with 
Geo. W. Pegram; he also represented Cumberland County in the State Senate in 1860 and '65. By reason of his 
familiarity with parliamentary law, he was often called upon to preside over our county's conventions, etc. For a 
number of years he was chairman of the County Board of Education, and was a member of the same until the recent school 
law abolished the body. One of your townsmen says of him: "I have never heard his integrity questioned."

In 1846 Mr. Shaw was married to Miss Catharine Gillis, daughter of Col. David Gillis; she died in 1881. Seven 
children survive them-Messrs. J.A.; Colin; John G.; and Duncan; and Mrs. J.G. Brown, Mrs. Colin McRae and Miss 
Kittie Shaw, all of whom are married except two.

Perhaps the most prominent traits of Mr. Shaw's character were his liberality to the church and the poor, his 
kindness as a neighbor, his unswerving devotion to the principles of Democracy, his chivalrous courtesy to women, 
his strong attachment to friends and fondness for children. The children of the neighborhood all him; he always 
had a pleasant, cherry greeting for them, and they manifested deep interest in him during his illness.

His last days of pain and suffering were brightened by the glory of the Christian's hope; to those around him he 
said: "My feet are firmly planted on the Rock," and repeated the hymn, which was his favorite, "How firm a foundation 
ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word."

He spoke of the gracious promises as his comfort, and the merits of Christ as his sufficiency-and so he came to the 
end of the toilsome journey over hills of difficulty, through valleys of humiliation and all the varied scenes through 
which we must pass, before the balmy breezes of the land of Beulah play over our tired features. To him was verified 
the promises, "Thou shalt come to my grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season," and "With 
long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation."

He was laid to rest at Galatia church on Monday afternoon, in the presence of a large concourse of relatives, friends 
and acquaintances. Rev. A.J. McKelway conducted the exercises.

Your correspondent is aware that this sketch is very imperfectly written, by no means doing justice to the subject, 
and hopes that an abler and more practiced hand will give the public an obituary woth of 71st honored son. Scotch Lassie

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