Blakeley C. Duke, Rapides Parish Louisiana
Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker

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Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890

BLAKELEY C. DUKE, merchant, is a native of Georgia, his birth occurring in
Heard County on June 18, 1830, his parents, Bailey Clack and Elizabeth
(Burgess) Duke, being also born in that State.  The father was a planter
and trader by occupation, and a soldier in the Indian War.  The ancestors
on both sides were prominent people of Georgia, and it is presumed were of
Scotch Irish descent, and Protestants in religion.  In 1842 Bailey Clack
Duke removed with is family from Memphis, Tenn., and made a home for them
in Avoyelles Parish, La., where he died in 1848, his wife having borne a
family of two sons and three daughters.  Blakeley C. Duke grew to manhood
on his father's plantation, but at the age of eighteen years engage in
mercantile pursuits as clerk in a store in Marksville, and completed a fine
knowledge of the business.  In 1852 he came to Alexandria, and after
clerking for several years for other firms, he engaged in business for
himself in 1882, and his subsequent career is an example of the success
attending hard work and honest dealing.  His trade is solidly established,
and reaches far over the surrounding country.  He served throughout the
Rebellion, in the Confederate Army, and after the war was over he returned
home without a cent with which to commence anew, but, as above seen, he
succeeded, and is now far beyond the reach of want.  He was married here to
Miss Harriet Leckie, a daughter of William Leckie, Esq., and by her is the
father of two sons and one daughter:  Charles Scott, Leon and Susie.  The
family worship in the Episcopal Church, and he has been a member of the
school board of Alexandria, was police juror, and is the present city
treasurer.  He was one of the original stockholders of the Rapides Bank.