Conecuh County AlArchives Biographies.....Duke, Albert G. March 15 1822 - living in 1893
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Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 17, 2004, 9:17 am

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
    ALBERT G. DUKE, one of the oldest native residents of Conecuh county, and a
son of Joel and Rebecca (Watson) Duke, was born March 15, 1822. When he was
seventeen years of age his parents removed to Coosa county, but on attaining his
majority, he removed to the county of his nativity, where he has since continued
to reside. He began life for himself as a farmer on land for which he went in
debt and for which he paid in full, from the proceeds of the first crop raised.
This crop consisted of forty-two bales of cotton, which realized him the average
value of nine cents per pound. His original purchase, consisting of 550 acres of
land, has been added to from time to time, since, until he now owns a valuable
plantation of over 800 acres, the greater part of which is under a high state of
cultivation. He has given a special attention to the raising of cotton and has
sold crops, at different times, as high as forty-two cents per pound; this
immediately after the war, when the price of that commodity was very high. In
addition to his agricultural interests, Mr. Duke has, for some years been
engaged in the mercantile business, starting a general goods store at the town
of Burnt Corn in the year 1870. He still conducts this business, carries a stock
representing a capital of about $2,500, and does a yearly trade of over $10,000.
He also operates a fine steam gin and grist-mill, the former having a capacity
of over 600 bales per year. Mr. Duke has met with well earned success in his
varied undertakings and is deservedly classed with the successful men of his
county. Although having reached an advanced age he still possesses unimpaired
his faculties, physical and mental, and gives personal attention to his large
business interests. On the 12th day of December, 1850, in the town of Burnt
Corn, Mr. Duke and Miss Rebecca, daughter of Samuel D. Nash, were united in the
bonds of wedlock, a union to which the following children have been born,
namely: Frank P., resident of Burnt Corn; Elizabeth, wife of R. W. Mosely;
Samuel D., bookkeeper for a large implement firm at Dallas, Texas; Emma, wife of
J. C. Green, Pensacola, Fla., and William A., who resides at home with his
parents. In politics, Mr. Duke supports the principles of the democratic party,
and in religion he and his wife are communicants of the Baptist church. Joel
Duke, the father of Albert G., was a native of Edgefield district, S. C., born
in 1806. He was, by occupation, a planter, took an active interest in public
affairs, and was a man of much more than ordinary education for his day. He came
to Conecuh county, Ala., as early, perhaps, as 1819, married a short time
thereafter, and for a number of years resided in the vicinity of Burnt Corn
village. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was with Jackson at the battle
of New Orleans. The Dukes are of English descent, and the grandfather of Albert
G., Joel Duke, was born in the old country, and in an early day settled in South
Carolina. Mr. Duke's maternal ancestors, settled originally in Georgia from
which state they removed to Alabama a great many years ago. The following are
the names of the children born to Joel and Rebecca (Watson) Duke: Mrs. Adeline
Jones, deceased; Thomas, a farmer residing near Goldbranch, Ala.; Albert G.;
George, killed near Atlanta in the late war; John, also a soldier in the
Confederate army, killed in Mississippi in 1863; Martha, wife of John Masengill,
of Texas, and Mrs. Mary Blackman of Sylacauga, Ala.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 710-711


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