G.W.M. Duck and his family moved to Texas in the mid-1850s, possibly along with his sister, Elizabeth Duck Lay. Following is from a brief essay on “The Pulaski Co KY Diaspora” in the Rainwater Collection:635

“The transition from wilderness to frontier to community seems to have begin in the early 1800s for Pulaski Co. and many of the families that settled there in those early days put down deep roots - remaining for the next 200 years. After the first 50 years, though, a trickle of migration, mostly westward, began with the second generation. Following the Civil War, this trickle became a torrent, fueled largely by third generation Pulaski Countians. I have a strong suspicion that this reflects post-war malaise, that these men returned to their native soil, only to discover that they no longer felt quite at home. Some voiced the opinion that Pulaski County was no longer the "good Christian place" they remembered from their youth and set out in search of new communities. This disapora affected not just the Rainwaters, but many of the families to which they were closely and distantly related.

“George Washington Marion Duck (1828-1899) left Pulaski Co. with his wife Evalina White (1829-1891) and their two children between 1852 and 1856 and migrated to Atascosa Co., TX where he was a farmer, census enumerator and county sheriff. Seven additional children were born to the couple in Texas, and following the death of his first wife, G. W. M. married Rachel Martin (d. ca 1900) in 1892. According to his nephew, C. V. Compton, Sheriff Duck served for 25 years but never owned a gun.”

From a story about the Duck Family in a book commemerating the Sesquicentennial Anniversary in 2006:636

“Duck

“In about 1852, George Washington Marion Duck, his wife Evaline, and their two little girls, Sarah and Mary Ellen, left Pulaski County, Kentucky and headed for Texas. Traveling with them were Daniel and Elizabeth Duck Lay, Martha Duck Compton [See following note], S. A. White, Betty Marr, Mrs. Peeler and Mr. Burke. The group first settled in east Texas, where they found work in the timber industry. The family story claims that their employer went broke, paying them with land deeds. This land is in the present counties of Liberty, Hardin and Jefferson, which later became the Spindle Top Oil Field. Unfortunately, they sold their land prior to the big strike. Part of the group, including G. W. M. and family, moved on to south Texas, settling in the area of Somerset, with others who had come from Someset, Kentucky.

“The Duck family began farming and in September of 1854, G. W. M. was elected Constable of Precinct Nine, Bexar County. In 1856, another daughter, Mahalia Elizabeth, was one of the first babies born in newly established Atascosa County. John W. was bom in 1858, Clementine and twin, Evaline, were born in 1861, Martha B. in 1864, Virginia in 1866 and Georgia in 1871.

“In 1873, G. W. M. was elected sheriff of Atascosa County, a position he held until 1893, except for serving a term as Tax Collector (1881-1884). One story repods that, as sheriff, he never carried a gun. Others believe that he may have chosen not to carry a side arm, preferring a rifle or shotgun, which seems more likely for that era. Another family story claims that his only son, John, was accused of stealing a horse. John allegedly hid in the brush near the family home, too afraid to face his father. His sistes brought him food and supplies so he could make it out of town. The story maintains that he headed west and was heard from only once, from Brisbee, Arizona.

“In 1884, the Duck family bought property in Pleasanton from the Doak family. An acre of the Doak homestead had been reserved to be used as a cemetery, as the Doaks had buried their young son, Gustave, there in 1865. In the years to follow, others were buried as well, including Martha Duck, in 1890. On April 3, 1891, another Duck daughter, Eva, died and three days later, their mother Evaline also died. They were buried next to Martha. In April of 1892, Sheriff Duck donated a portion of land that adjoined the Doak Cemetery. Several neighbors followed and it became the Pleasanton City Cemetery. Duck Street is named for the family.

“Sheriff Duck later married Rachel Martin, retired in 1893, and lived in Pleasanton until his death in 1899. Rachel Martin Duck died the following year.

“Sarah Duck married John Thomas, who was the county judge in Frio County. Mary Ellen married H. Clay Johnson. Mahalia Elizabeth married Edward Morris. Clementine married Robert Keisel. Evaline married James Yates. Virginia married Jim Lyons, who was a long term Atascosa County Tax Collector. Georgia married Calisto Rocha.”

[Note added by Clayton Heathcock, 25 July 2011. It was brought to my attention by Susan Rainwater that Martha Duck Compton was not in this party. The following quote is from Susan: “Martha Duck Compton definitely did not come to Texas with her brother.  She is found in the 1860 and 1870 censuses of Pulaski County, KY, and didn't even marry Erasmus Compton until 1863.  All three of her children were born in Kentucky, and Erasmus served in the Union Army from Kentucky.  Their son, C.V. Compton, wrote his own memoir in which he described the family's decision to come to Texas.  They wrote to Martha's brother, and he recommended Williamson County, where they moved ca 1883 (based on land purchases).”]