Mr. Washington Duke was born on Little River, iu Durham county, (formerly
Orange) Dec. 20th, 1820. He was one of a famliy of nine children, all of whom
have died except one brother, who resides in Tennessee. The family was of
English ancestry. He was brought up as a farmer boy, his educational advan
tages being quite limited. He bought a small farm near Durham, N. C, where
he made a comfortable living until he entered the Confederate army. At that
time he had been married twice. He then had four small children, his second
wife having died prior to that time. He sold all his property, iut his three
youngest children with his kindred, and he and his eldest son went into the army.
Just before the close of the war Mr. Duke was taken a prisoner and imprisoned
in " Castle Thunder." He was released at the close of the war, footed it home,
found his property all gone, and nothing but ruin and desolation. He had a
$5.00 Confederate bill which he sold for 50 cents in greenbacks, and on this be
gan life anew. He secured a pair of army mules and some second-hand farming
implements, made a crop; he and his boys manufactured his crop of tobacco into
smoking tobacco, and peddled it from his wagon in the eastern part of the State
during the winter. His first factory was a little log house, about 10x12. feet,
and about seven feet high. In 1874 he removed to Durham, built a small fac
tory on the site of the present one, and he and his boys from that have built the
business up to its present immense dimensions.
