McKean County PA Archives News.....DUKE Family- All Together Dec 25, 1879
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  File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
  Ronald J. Reid rreid21@cox.net December 25, 2008, 12:15 am
  
  McKean County Miner January 1, 1880
  McKean County Miner
  Jan 1, 1880
  ALL TOGETHER
  Grand Re-Union of the Duke Family At Duke Centre Christmas Day.
    Nearly a half century ago the Dukes, whose name is known as nearly every 
  fire side in McKean and adjoining counties settled at Scio, Allegany county.  
  Mrs. Duke, who still survives, was born in Devonshire, England, in the year 
  1807, and consequently is in the seventy-second year of her age, and for one 
  of her years is hale and hearty.  Some fifty years ago she and her husband 
  came to America, and after a sojourn of a few years in Binghamton, N.Y., they 
  journeyed to Scio.  Nine children, William, who is the oldest, John, Thomas, 
  Joseph, Ann, Charles, Mary, Violet and Emery were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Duke, 
  and are all now living.
    When William had reached the age of nineteen years the father died, and he 
  being the oldest of the nine children, assumed the position of a father to the 
  family, the duties of which he performed with all the care and parental 
  solicitude required.  The children being blessed with a pure, faithful, 
  Christian mother, who never re-married, were brought up to love one another, 
  and to so live that their actions might not cast a shadow upon their 
  characters or their family name.  To these teachings they have strictly 
  adhered, and to-day a more influential, honest and respectable family does not 
  exist.
    As the boys approached manhood they began the battle of life for themselves, 
  and by strict attention to their various pursuits, coupled with honesty in 
  their dealings they have all of them reached a high degree of prosperity.  The 
  town of Duke Center derives its name from Mr. John Duke, who years ago settled 
  in the vicinity, and is now the owner of much valuable property there.
    The nine children are all married and live in McKean and Allegany counties 
  thereby keeping intact the family ties, which it is now questionable will ever 
  be broken, unless it be in death.  On Christmas day a family re-united was 
  held at the residence of Mr. John Duke, at Duke Center, when fifty-two 
  persons, the whole of the family, sat down to the bountiful repast prepared.  
  There were children, grand children and great-grand children assembled, and 
  the joy of Mrs. Duke at having her health spared her to witness the gathering 
  can be better imagined than described.
    On this joyous occasion it was proposed to photograph the fifty-two persons 
  that met there, and yesterday the work was begun by Messrs. West and Waddel, 
  photographers of this city.  - Bradford Sunday News.
  
  
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