DURKE, Walter S., St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


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WALTER S. DURKE, WASHINGTON.--Mr. Durke, of the firm of Blake & Durke,
druggists, is a native of Louisiana, born in the year 1861.  He is the son of
Michael Durke and Octavia Lee. Michael Durke was a native of Bavaria.  He was
reared and received his education in that country and removed to Louisiana
when a young man, where he married our subject's mother.  Mrs. Durke is of the
old Virginia family of Lees, though a native of Louisiana. Her grandmother was
an aunt of Zachery Taylor.  Mrs. Durke is still living in Lafayette.

The subject of our sketch was reared and received his education in Louisiana.
He began active business as a clerk in a drug store in New Iberia.  In 1883 he
came to Washington, where he began a drug business in partnership with J. A.
Lee.  Mr. Lee subsequently retired from business and Thomas N. Blake, the
present member of the firm of Blake & Durke, took his place in the firm.
Their business is large, and demonstrates the business push and energy which
characterize the individual members of the firm.  Mr. Durke is recognized as
one of the most progressive and energetic business men of Washington.

Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, Biographical Section, p. 35.
Edited by William Henry Perrin.  Published in 1891, by The Gulf Publishing
Company.