Polk-Nevada County ArArchives Biographies.....Duke, Fred 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 June 6, 2009, 10:18 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

FRED DUKE.
    Fred Duke, a successful dry goods merchant of Mena, owning and conducting a
well appointed store and building up a substantial trade by reason of his
progressive methods and fair dealing, was born in Laneburg, Nevada county,
Arkansas, near Prescott, on the 15th of January, 1893. Mention of the family to
which he belongs is found in the sketch of S. W. Duke on another page of this
work. In the acquirement of his education he attended the Prescott high school
and then started out in the business world as clerk in a dry goods store in that
city, remaining in that connection for more than two years. On the 14th of June,
1914, he arrived in Mena, where he began working for the Lockridge Dry Goods
Company and was thus engaged until with a partner he purchased the business of
his employer, organizing the firm of Duke & Magruder on the 1st of January,
1917. Later they changed the firm name to the Duke Magruder Dry Goods Company,
which is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars and of which Mr. Duke is
the president and general manager, with J. T. Magruder as the vice president and
S. W. Duke as the secretary and treasurer. They carry a large line of dry goods,
ladies' ready-to-wear garments, millinery and shoes and occupy two floors in one
of the substantial business structures of the city. Their trade is steadily
growing and the success of the enterprise has long since been assured. Mr. Duke
devotes his entire time and attention to the store, which is the largest and
most thoroughly progressive mercantile establishment in Mena.

    On the 10th of March, 1921, Mr. Duke was married to Miss Nettie Acruman,' of
Fordyce, Arkansas, a daughter of E. A. Acruman, who was a merchant and planter
of Fordyce. Mrs. Duke belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Duke is a
Mason, who has taken the degrees of the York Rite and has also become a member
of the Mystic Shrine at Little Rock. He is now senior warden in the commandery
and is a worthy follower and exemplar of the teachings and purposes of the
craft. He likewise belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
Politically he is a democrat but has never aspired to office, preferring to
concentrate his energies and attention upon his business affairs, which wisely
and carefully directed, have brought him to a creditable and enviable position
among the successful merchants of this part of the state.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


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