Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-05-13


Duke. founder CT the Duke branch Of
the American Tobacco Company. father
OF J. 3. Duke. president OF that COM
/ pany. and philanthropist. who directly
and indirectly gave more than a mill
lion dollars 20 Trinity College. died
Monday afternoon at > o'clock. His
death was no surprise For several
weeks he had been close 20 deaths.
door. and sunday afternoon began 10.
sink rapidly. All Sunday night il was.
eNpeSsed that the next minute would be
his last. Monday morning he was weak
and sinking. When he passed away. his
three sons. p. l.. B. y. AMI J. y.
Duke. with other relatives. were gath
cred by his bedside He was in the S5th
year OF his age. He was part OF the his
tory OF Durham. and his death has cast
n gloom over the entire city
The funeral services will 90 con-
Quoted trom Main Street Methodist
church. OF which he was member.
at II O'Clock Wednesday moraing. and
the body viii De laid TO rest IN the
Duke mausoloum, at Maplewood Gem
etery- The funeral services will be
conducted by Dr. John c. Kilgo. presi-
cent OF Triufty College. and Or. f.. A.
Yates. and Rev. T. A. Smoot. pastor OF
the church. Full details and arrange
ments have not been made for the IN
neral as vet
Through Mr.. D4ke and his influence
there has been given TO Trinity Col
lege. a million dollars or more HIS
hrst great SIT was when the college
was moved here in 1891. when he nave
Sl'uVoo. Other Sits followed unru
MS personal gifts amounted ID more
than hal--million dollars Hfs SONS
and other relatives added ID these
Eliis until the amount is now more
than million dollars one vift ~
$4,000 from tho deceased. opened the
doors ~ Trinity and other state coli
leEes 90 women.
Some time ago ne divided 2 large
part OF his wealth among his relatives.
AZ is learned that the greater part az
the wealth went 90 b n and J. y
Duke. IN addition 90 these gifts. he
gave % each 81 his grandchildren.
some eight or ten in number. 500 600
each
Practically all factories in .his com
munity closed upon hearing os the
aeath oi Mr. Duke. Other business
houses VIII bee closed when the funeral
takes place. IL is supposed thar the eitv
onlcials and business men in general
VIII Join 90 do honor 20 the man who
has done So much for the town OF Dur-
ham and the state
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
born on december % 1890 Wash
inston Duke would have been ~ wears
OF axe had he lived until December
OF THIS wear. Tic was the last u his
immediate family. which was A large
one. and spent all his life in this sec
ton OF the state He came from Ne-v
England stock. but his father spent
most OF his life in this state the fam
lily having been identified with the az
ialrs % this section since colonial davs.
The deceased was ore OF nine chill
dren. SIX boys and three girls. and I'D
until be had passed middle life they
were people not used 20 the great lax
uries of life brought By wealth. bur
had 90 struggle like all OF the early
settlers OF this state and section for
the material things OF life. II was
under conditions OF this kind that
Washington Duke and his brothers and
sisters came into this life. These ear
ly surroundings taught that frugalitv
and developed the strong. positive
character and self-reliance that in later
life made him the great man that he
was Beginning life With absolutely
nothing save strong character and
powerful will. his education being that
he learned from nature and between
the pillow handles on a poor farm in
Orange county NOW Durham) he re-
turned from the struggle OF the Civil
war. 10 poverty stricken section Of
the country. his only assets being char
acter. poverty and a family 70 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 noblcr
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 20 a 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
five brothers were. Messrs Robert.
Brodic. Kirkland William J. and John
Duke His sisters were. Mrs Amelia
Riggs. Mrs. Rena Clinton and Miss Ma
linda Duke. who was never married.
From these have sprung a large num-
Der OF descendants. who live In many
parts OF this and other States.