The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1905-05-11

The American Tobacco Company
Dies at Durham in the 85th Year of
His Age-His Three Sons and Other
Relatives Were Present When the
End Came.
Durham, y. G., Special. Washington
Duke founder of the Duke branch of
the American Tobacco Company, father
Of J. y. Duke. president OF that COM
pany and philanthropist, who directly
and indirectly gave more than a mil
lion dollars TO Trinity College. died
Monday afternoon at 2 O'Clock. His
death was no surprise. For several
weeks he had been close to deaths
door, and Sunday afternoon began to
sink rapidly. All Sunday night 1t was
expected that the next minute would be
bis last. Monday morning he was weak
and sinking. When he passed away, his
three sons. b. L. B. N. and J. B.
Duke, with other relatives, were gath
cred by his bedside He was in tho 85tb
year of his age. He was part of the h s.
tory of Durham, and his death has cast
gloom over the entire city.
The funeral services will be con-
Quoted from Main Street Methodist
church, Of which he was a member
It II o'clock Wednesday morning. and
the body will be laid to rest in the
Duke mausoleum, at Maplewood Gem
etery. The funeral services will be
conducted by DR.. John G. kilgo, presi-
dent Of Trinity College, and DR.. E. A.
Yates, and Rev. T. A SmOct, pastor of
the church. Full details and arrange
ments have not been made for the fu-
neral as yet
Through Mr.. Duke and his influence,
there has been given to Trinity Col
lege, million dollars or more. His
hrSt great gift was when the college
was moved here in 1891, when he gave
fl90.OO0. Other gifts followed, until
MS personal gifts amounted to more
than a half-million dollars His sons
ana other relatives added to these
gitts until the amount is now more
tnan a million dollars. One gift of
floo,OOO from the deceased, opened the
doors of Trinity and other State col
IegeS to women.
Some time ago he divided a large
part OF his wealth among his relatives.
It is learned that the greater part of
the wealth went to B. N. and J. B.
Duke. In addition to these gifts. he
gave to each of his grandchildren.
some eight or ten in number, SEC, 900
each.
Practically all factories in this COM
nunlty closed upon hearing of the
death of Mr.. Duke. Other business
houses will be closed when the funeral
takes place. 1t is supposed that the city
1nlclals and business men in general
VIII Join to do honor to the man who
mas done so much for the town of Dur
nam and the State.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Born on December 20, 1920, Wash
ington Duke would have been s. years
or age had he lived until December
OF this year. He was the last of his
immediate family. which was a large
one and spent all his life in this sec
uon of the State. He came from New
england stock, but his father spent
most Of his life in this State, the fam
iiy having been identified with the af-
lalrs Of this section since colonial days.
1he deceased was one of nine chill
uren, six boys and three girls, and up
until he had passed middle life they
were people not used to the great luz
urles of life brought by wealth, but
mad to struggle like all of the early
settlers of this State and section, for
the material things of life. 1t was
under conditions of this kind that
washington Duke and his brothers and
sisters came into this life. These ear
~ surroundings taught that frugality
and developed the strong. positive
character and self-reliance that in later
lie made him the great man that he
was. Beginning life with absolutely
nothing save a strong character and
powerful will; his education being that
he learned from nature and between
the plow handles On a poor farm in
Orange county (now Durham), he re-
turned from the struggle of the Civil
War, TO poverty-stricken section OF
the country, his only assets being char
acter. poverty and family to support.
IN the forty years that now intervene
between the present and that strug-
gle, he has builded a name that is
known around the world and accumu-
lated wealth that he has used to blesis
lated wealth that he used to bless
and nobler
Washington Duke was the son of
Taylor Duke. was born near Bahama.
Orange county, now in Durham. He
resided there until he had attained his
majority and then moved to small
farm about three miles from Durham.
which he afterwards owned. and there
began the tobacco manufacturing bus
mess. the neuclus that formed the
great American Tobacco Company. His
i've brothers were: Messrs. Robert,
Brodie, kirkland, William ]. and John
Duke. His sisters were: Mrs. Amelia
Riggs. Mrs. Rena Clinton and Miss Ma
llnda Duke, who was never married.
FROM these have sprung large num-
Der Of descendants, who live in many
parts of this and other States.