Howard County IN Archives Biographies.....Duke, Alexander Hamilton 1840 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 21, 2006, 7:22 pm Author: Jackson Morrow ALEXANDER HAMILTON DUKE. In presenting the biography of this well remembered gentleman, whose life was that of a high grade man, of noble ideals and laudable ambitions, we believe that the reader will be benefited and encouraged, for his was a life that made for success because of the honorable principles he employed in dealing with his fellow men and because of the many admirable attributes he possessed which made his daily walk one worthy to be emulated. Alexander H. Duke was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, September 15, 1840, the son of David and Jane (McCoy) Duke, the latter a native of Kentucky and the former of Pennsylvania. When our subject was six years old, his parents removed to Delphi, Indiana, where David Duke built a mill, which he operated until he became wealthy. Here our subject learned the miller's trade. During the war they moved to Kokomo, starting a hotel. Here the subject's mother died in 1870. David remarried and went to Goshen, where he died at about the age of seventy years, the three sons and two daughters remaining at Kokomo were: Lady Day Huff, a widow; Hattie Walsh, also a widow: Charles, George and Alexander. Our subject enlisted first for three months when he heard his country's call for troops, then re-enlisted in the Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry and served through the war with distinction, receiving an honorable discharge, having been wounded by a piece of shell striking his knee. He was in many battles and ranked as orderly sergeant, and other non-commissioned offices. While absent in the army his family moved to Kokomo. David Duke had lost his property by going securety and Alexander loaned him money to start in the hotel business. Later he engaged in the confectionary business. The father managed these affairs until our subject returned from the army when he took charge. He was city marshal for six years after the war; then elected sheriff for two years, and he remained in charge of the bakery and confectionery until his death. He made an excellent sheriff and did much to corral many noted criminals, bringing them to justice, and he became popular through his excellent management of the duties entrusted to him by the public. He had built an excellent two-story brick building on Main street, where his bakery and confectionery were housed before his death, which occurred October 30, 1899, at the age of fifty-nine years. He also served in the city council for six years, having been councilman at the time of his death from the first ward. While he always favored improvements, he looked well to curtailing expenses, being as careful of the public's business as he was of his own, which was excellently managed. He was ever ready to protect the widows and aid those who needed help. Mr. Duke was a radical Republican and was active in all elections. He had the happy faculty of devoting his undivided attention to whatever he had on hand. Mr. Duke was united in marriage on October 4, 1870, to Louisa Clatterbough, who was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, and reared at Eaton, Ohio, her ancestors first coming to Kokomo in 1869. The subject's wife operated a dress making shop in this city in company with a sister-in-law. Two interesting children have been born to this union. May and Georgia, both living at home. Mr. Duke found his greatest enjoyment with his friends and he often had gentlemen friends at his home, his splendid residence having been erected about 1881. The subject was a man who attended strictly to his own business and never mixed in other people's affairs. Prior to his death he was an invalid for some years, but he was always cheerful, giving evidence of unusual fortitude and patience. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and endeavored to live up to the noble ideals it set forth. He was a liberal minded, whole-souled, kind hearted and withal a useful and noble man, who justly won the unstinted praise and respect of all who knew him. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA BY JACKSON MORROW, B. A. ILLUSTRATED VOL. II B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (circa 1909) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/howard/bios/duke365nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/infiles/ File size: 4.7 Kb