The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-05-18
Wealthy Philanthropist Passes Away
Full of Years and HOnOrs
HEAD OF AMERICAN TOBACCO CO.
The Founder Of the Duke Branch OF
Fhe American Tobacco Company
Dies at Durham in the 85th Year OF
His Aqe-His Three Sons and Other
Relatives Were Present When the
End Came.

Duke, founder Of the Duke branch OF
the American Tobacco Company, father
OF ]. B. 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 it was
expected that the next minute would be
his last. Monday morning he was weak
and sinking When he passed away, his
three sons. B. L.. B. N. and ]. B.
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
a gloom over the entire city.
Through Mr.. Duke and his influence,
there has been given to Trinity COL
lege, a million dollars or more. His
first great gift was when the college
was moved here in 1891, when he gave
$3.50, 900. Other gifts followed, until
his personal gifts amounted to more
than a half-million dollars. His sons
and other relatives added to these
gifts until the amount is now more
than a million dollars. One gift OF
$1G0, 900 from the deceased, opened the
doors of Trinity and other State col
leges 10 women.
Some time ago he divided a large
part of his wealth among his relatives.
1t is learned that the greater part OF
the wealth went to B. y. and J. B.
Duke. In addition to these gifts. he
gave to each of his grandchildren.
some eight or ten in number, 100000
each.
Practically all factories in this COM
munity 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
officials and business men in general
will join to ohonor to the man who
has done so much for the town OF Dur
ham and the State.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Born on December 20, 1920. Wash
ington Duke would have been s. years
of 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
ton Of the State. He came from New
England stock, but his father spent
most Of his life In this State, the fam
lily having been identified with the af-
fairs of this section since colonial days.
The deceased was one Of nine chill
dren, six boys and three girls. and up
until he had passed middle life they
were people not used to the great lux
uries of life brought by wealth, but
had 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
ly surroundings taught that frugality
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 plow handles on a poor farm IN
Orange county (now Durham), he re-
turned from the struggle of the Civil
War. to a 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 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.
The Funeral Of Mr.. Duke.
Durham, Special. - All Durham
paused Wednesday to pay honor to the
memory of Washington Duke. All
business activity ceased and during
the time that the funeral was on,
thousands of people gathered at Main
Street Methodist church and in that
vicinity and at Maplewood Cemetery
to pay a last respect to the memory
of the deceased. Never before in the
history of Durham has there been
such an outpouring Of the citizenship
to pay honor to the memory of man.
A conservative estimate is that 15,-
900 people were at the cemetery and
along the line followed by the process
sion. The cemetery and that vicinity
was a block of humanity, thousands
not being able to get within the hearing
of the voices of the speakers.
The procession was Of such length
that almost a half-hour was required
for 1t to pass given point. All We
hicles of a public nature and most OF
the private conveyances in the city
were called into use and in addition to
these. quite a number OF carriages were
brought from Raleigh and assisted IN
handling the large crowd. All street
cars on the traction line gathered IN
| front of the church to carry the throng
! to the cemetery.
The request Of the mayor and board
| of aldermen that business houses close
| during the funeral was carried out to
the letter. There was not a business
house in the city too large or too
| small to observe the request and close.
| All factories and large manufacturing
! plants. with the banks and similar in
stitutions, closed for the entire day.