Bio:  Col. James J. Duke, Claiborne Parish, LA
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890
Submitted for the LAGenWeb Archives by: Gwen Moran-Hernandez, Jan. 2000


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Col. James J. Duke is possessed of those advanced ideas and progressive
principles regarding agricultural like which seems to be the chief prerogative
of the average native of Georgia.  He was born in Morgan County, December 9,
1819, being one in a family of nine children, their names being as follows:
Bailey C. (died in Louisiana), Ferdinand (died, and left a family in Georgia),
Gibson (also died, and left a family in that State), Seburn J. (left a widow
and children in Georgia), Col. James J. (comes next in order of birth),
Elizabeth J. (who married David Zachariah, of Georgia, is also deceased),
Martha A. (married William Browning, of Georgia, and now is also deceased),
Polly A. (is now Mrs. J. B. Tally, of Atlanta, Ark.), and Lucy M. (is now Mrs.
Dr. E. W. White, of Roanoke, Randolph County, Ala.).  The father of these
children, Henry Duke, was a Georgian, born about 1780, his father being Thomas
Duke.  In the State of his birth Col. James J. Duke grew to maturity, and
there met and was married to Miss Atlanta F. Tate, the nuptials of their
marriage being celebrated in 1844, she being a daughter of James Tate, a
native of Virginia.  They were very happily mated, and in due process of time,
a family of ten children gathered around their hearthstone: Roan (who passed
from like while an infant), Mary R. (now Mrs. J. W. Cooksey, a widow, of
Claiborne Parish), Martha L., Elizabeth A. (wife of William Meadows, of
Lisbon, La.). Robert G. (died in infancy), James P. H., Lucy M. (Mrs. T.
Meadows of Summerfield, La.), Josephine (who died at the age of thirteen
years), Eugenie G. (at home), and Zolly C. (who died, leaving a widow and one
child).  Col. Duke came to Claiborne Parish, La., in February, 1862, and
located on the fine and extensive plantation on which he is now residing, his
acreage extending over more than four sections, he being also the owner of one
section of land in Columbia County, Ark.  He was called upon to enter the
service in 1864, but served only a short time.  Politically he was an old-line
Whig, until the Rebellion, but since that time he has been a simon-pure
Democrat, at all times supporting the men and measures of that party, taking
an active part in putting the best men forward for office.  His ability, and
thorough and sound knowledge of the general topics of the day were recognized
in 1876, and he was elected to the State Legislature from this parish, and
proved himself to be an able and competent legislator, having the interest of
the people strongly at heart.  Socially he is a Royal Arch Mason, and has been
since 1850, his union with the Methodist Episcopal Church dating from 1856. 
Through good management and energy, Mr. Duke has become the owner of his
present property, and he may well be classed among the self-made men of his
day.  As his views on all matters are sound, and as he is undoubtedly
honorable in every particular, and kind and generous in disposition, he has
the universal esteem of all.  His wife, who died in 1877, was a lady of much
intelligence, and was a true Christian the greater part of her life.

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