Demarcus Porter McDuff, Franklin Parish, Louisiana

Submitted by Jan Craven

Dec.1997

Source: History of Louisiana by Henry Chambers. vol 3, p 230.



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Demarcus Porter McDuff.

A substantial business man and leading citizen of Franklin Parish is found

in Demarcus Porter McDuff, merchant, planter and bank director at Chase,

Louisiana.  He is a member of one of the pioneer families of Franklin Parish,

seemingly a strange word to use in connection with a section so progressive

and well developed, but when Mr. McDuff's parents brought him here in child-

hood, from the old Mississippi home, it was over almost impassable swamp

logged roads, to find a practical wilderness abounding with wild game.



Demarcus Porter McDuff was born in Leake County, Mississippi, October 27,

1876, son of Andrew W. and Mollie (Burk) McDuff, extended mention of whom will

be found on another page of this volume.  When Mr. McDuff was a boy he had but

meager educational opportunities near his father's farm, but later attended

the public school at Ruston in Lincoln Parish.  He remained at home assisting

his father until he was twenty-two years old, and then engaging in farming for

himself, in which business he continued until 1906.   His farm was good land,

situated within a half mile of Chase, on which he raised cotton and hogs,

making then and since a specialty of hogs.



At all times energetic and enterprising, Mr. McDuff while growing his cotton

and hogs kept alert for other business opportunities, and finally promoted by 

business foresight, determined to open a store at Chase, although necessarily

a small one at first on account of limited capital.  Thus, in 1906, on a

capital of $500 and in a sturcture 18x24 feet in dimensions, was laid the

foundation of Mr. McDuff's present fine mercantile establishment, building and

expansion having been continuous ever since.  Later, when he sold his form on

account of the ravages of the boll weevil in his cotton, he had a further

capital of $1300 to invest in the  development of his store enterprise, this

sum putting it upon a firm foundation.



Mr. McDuff has taken an active part in the development of Chase, furthering

the town's interests in every way possible and giving hearty support to local

enterprises.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Gilbert State

Bank, in which Chase is interested, and has again become a planter, owning 400

acres of nearby land.  He devotes much attention to his fine thoroughbred

hogs, believing the investment a profitable and sensible one and proving it.



Mr. McDuff married first Miss Ellen Knight, daughter of W. B. Knight of Rankin

County, Mississippi.  She died August 3, 1904, survived by an infant daughter,

who bears her mother's name, and is the wife of W. A. Butler who is manager

for the Standard Oil Company at Winnsboro.  Mr. McDuff's second marriage was

with Miss Emma Mashburn, daughter of J. A. Mashburn, of Scott County,

Mississippi, and they have four sons and four daughters: James W., Damarcus

P., Jr., Thomas B., Maude DeLane, Jennie Kate, Margaret, "Georgie and

Ellowise.  The eldest son is a graduate of Draughon Business College, Jackson,

Mississippi.  The family does not lack in religious instruction and influence,

for Mrs. McDuff is a member of the Baptist Church at Chase and Mr. McDuff

of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Gilbert.  To some extent, as a good

citizen, he is interested in politics but has never consented to accept public

office.