The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-05

C. From thence he walked homea
distance of 134 miles, "and, accepting
the situation in good faith, applied
himself once more to tilling the
soil" OF his conduct while in the
Confederate service Paul's history OF
Durham SAYS: "He took charge of the
batteries at Battery Brook, two miles
below Drury's Bluff, in Virginia, and
is said to have been one of the most
expert managers of artillery in the
Confederate service. Distinguished
himself in the heavy bombardment at
James Island, Charleston, s. G., and
also at Battery Brook, where he
was promoted to the rank of Orderly
Sergeant" Arriving home, he found
himself bankrupt, with nothing LETT
save the little farm. Having lost his
wife in 1861, and being left with
family of four children, upon entering
the Confederate service he arranged
a comfortable home for the three
Youngest children with their grand
father, Mr.. John Roney, of Alamance
county. The elder son, Brodle, was
placed in the care of Major Gee, super
intendent of the Salisbury prison. 80
that his first concern upon arriving al
home was to gather together his scat
tered family. This accomplished, he
applied himself with renewed energy
and determination to repairing his
shattered fortune. His capital was
6fty cents in silver (Which he had re-
ceiyed from Federal soldier for i've
dollar Confederate note) and a pair OF
blind mules, which he had obtained
from Gen. Sherman's army. Mary,
his daughter, who married Robert Il.
Lyon, was at the time only twelve
years old; but, Notwithstanding her
tender age, she applied herself with
remarkable tact and industry to the
duties of housekeeping, and sue
ceeded so admirably that her father
and brothers soon confidently left all
home matters exclusively in her
hands, and gave their united attention
to the farm and factory. The FAC
tory" was log cabin 16x18 feet. In
this little cabin Mr.. Duke and his
bows began the manufacture of smok
ing tobacco in 1865. His business had
90 rapidly increased that, in 1873, he
erected a factory in Durham, with
Hoorage capacity of 40x70 feet, three
stories high, and worked fifteen hands.
In 1875 he added another building. In
the meantime he had consolidated his
business with that of his son, B. t..
Duke, who had been engaged in the
same enterprise at Durham for three
years, enlarged their facilities from
time to time, until at the present wri-
ting they have the largest cigarette
and smoking tobacco establishment in
the world, and are doing a business
that amounts to about $4,500,000 per
annum. In addition to their mann
moth tobacco works at Durham, they
have branch factory in New York, in
which they employ over 500 hands.
They have also in Durham ware and
prize houses which, combined, would
cover five acres of land.
In 1914, Mr.. Duke was united in mar
riage to Miss Mary O., daughter of
Jesse and Rachael Viclxers Clinton, of
Orange county. N. G. To this union
was born two children, viz: Sidney t.,
who died at the age of fourteen, and
Brodie Z. This wife died November
18th, 1847. He was married again De-
cember 9th, 1852, to Miss Artelia,
daughter of John and Mary Roney, of
Alamance county, n. G. To this sec
ond union were born three children,
two sons and one daughter, viz: Mary
r., Benjamin ~, and James b. His
second wife died August goth. 1858,