The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-09

TIL at the outbreak OF the war he owned
300 acres. When we remember that the
average size Of farms In this region up
to tho present time Is about ninety
acres, we shall see that he had done well.
HIS EARLY LIFE.
Although at present a very wealthy
man, Mr.. Duke looks back to these early
days of battling with life with great
interest. They were. in fact, tho fornla-i
tive period OF his life. When he built
up great fortune IN the field OF manu-
featuring, he but did over again what
he had done before in the field OF agrj-
culture, with this exception. that in the
former field the opportunity was vastly
greater. His first success was won rs
every mans business success is won, BY
industry, economy and character. he be-
loved In work. He was careful not to-
go into debt. He was sober and he did
not gamble. He did not put off duty
\ for pleasure. More than all else, he
was an earnest Christian. He was q
constant attendant on his church, hay
ing been converted early In life in re-
Syival service and having become q menu
Der of the Methodist Church. He TOOK
delight in the religious services, and
from that day to this. unless prevented
4 by sickness. he has rarely missed one.
Mr.. Duke was born December 20. 1870.
Y He was, therefore. forty years old when
the war began. He had UP to this time
been Democrat, and In his loyalty he
( had named his youngest son james Buch-l
anar, after Democratic President. But
Z he was strongly opposed to secession. He
forctold all tho evils which would follow
an attempt to leave the Union. It was
with a Sad heart that he saw how use.
less were his words. In 1853 he volun--i
&teered for the Confederate army. He
was nrst Sent to Camp Holmes. where
he was placed on guard duty. Next he
was transferred to the Confederate navy
and sent to serve on ship which was
a part OF the defenses OF Charleston
harbor. Later he was transferred TO the
artillery and attached to Battery Brook,
ono OF the defenses oflthe city OF Rich-.
mond. Here he served TIL the city was
given up; but In the retreat from the
place he was captured BY the enemy
and sent to Libby prison. A few weeks
later, when the war was over. ne was
released from captivity. The government
sent him to New Bern, N. c., and from
that place he walked to his home. q dis
lance OF 1875 miles Arrived there. ne
had besides his farm and two blind army
mules, which had been given him. fifty
cents In silver. for which he Nod ex-
changed a ave dollar Confederate bill.
GLOOMY PROSPECT.
The situation which confronted him was
gloomy: but he was no worse off than
the others. IN fact, he was somewhat
better situated than some OF them; Tor
he accept ed the issue and set bout re-
pairing his fortunes Before the war ne
had been twice married; first IN 1874 to
Miss Mary C.FClinton. OF Orange county,
and, she dying in 1877, he was married
to Miss Artelia Roney. Of Alamance
county, December 8, 1852: but the latter.
had also died on August %, 1855 BY the
first marriage he had two children-barn-
nel 7. who died at the ageBof fourteen,
and Brodie, u, who still lives. BY MS
second marriage he had three children
Mary Elizabeth, Benjamin Newton and
James Buchanan. These children nad
been left with friends and relatives WINE
he was away in the army. HIS first, care
There on the farm they formed kind
OF partnership. which neither time nor
prosperity- has dissolved. Each took MS
part in the arduous labor before them.
Father and sons cultivated the sotl ana
manufactured the tobacco, and Mary,
the daughter OF twelve, was housekeeper.
washington Dukes first tobacco nc-
tory was on MS farm. II w as q s1oes
house sixteen feet by eighteen feet IN
size. Here in the fall and winter ne
prepared by hand the leaf tobacco which
he had raised in the preceding season:
The business prospered, and In 1873 II
was moved to Durham, where his eldest
son. Brodie L. Duke, had already set
IN factory. The factory which was
now built was forty feet by seventy
feet. 1t was built OF wood, and was three
stories high. The plant began opera
tions with fifteen hands. In 1876 the
business was enlarged by the addition
OF another building the size OF the first.
This was necessitated by the growth OF
the enterprise and by tho fact that
consolidation was made with Brodie l.
Duke. Then followed a long series OF en-
lilargements. In fact, not many years
have elapsed since 1875 In which one or
moro new buildings have not been
erected. I, 8
In 1904 the w. Duke Branch OF the
American Tobacco Company covers with
| its buildings ten acres Of ground, N the
town OF Durham. and 1t manufacturees
more tobacco than any one plant IN
| c,,oh ha heer the ri llrninat tOn