James DUKE

                       ID: I0123 Name: James B. DUKE Sex: M Birth: 15 FEB 1841 in Oxford, Butler County, Ohio Death: WFT Est. 1875-1932 Note:  The following is a history of the Dr. James B. Duke family written by Carl N. Helmick which was included in THE HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, KANSAS by The Chautauqua County Heritage Association, Copyright Curtis Media Corporation, 1987: Dr. James Duke was a veterinarian in the Pleasant Valley section of Caneyville Township. He was born in 1841 in Oxford, Ohio. He went to the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, where he met and married Eliza Dean in the home of James Nicholson, a Methodist minister (whose wife was Anne Duke and noted as the composer of the old-time religious hymn "Whiter Than Snow"). Nicholson presented the newly weds with a set of "Whiter Than Snow" pressed glassware. I have one piece--a platter. The wedding was December 25, 1870. When the father of James, Alexander, died in Oxford, James' mother, Elcey Yancey Duke, continued to live in the big two-story home with her two sons and two daughters. Then in 1870, James and Eliza joined them in Oxford. About 1879, Elcey sent her son, Billy Duke, out to Pleasant Valley area to buy a home. She sold her home, cattle, horses, and furniture. Then the family of James, Eliza, Ed, Alex "Hanner," and Alice along with Elcey "Elsie." moved by covered wagsons from Ohio to Chautauqua County, Kansas. A fourth child of James and Eliza, Tabitha Jane, was born in 1882 on their new Kansas farm. Eliza Dean was born in Mohill, County Leitrim, Ireland (now Republic of Ireland). She brought with her a small leather covered Bible which was presented to her for five years perfect attendance at the Church of England and now Church of Ireland. I have the Bible and in 1972 I visited Mohill and the church. In 1939 I visited James Nicholson's home in Philadelphia. Elcey Yancey had a brother, Ambrose Yancey, Jr. (This is refuted----her brother was Ambrose Yancey, Sr.--Rebecca Suiter) who was a lawyer, Methodist minister, and wealthy land owner in the Grenola-Caneyvolle area and Iowa. He bought soldier's land grants from those who didn't use them. I think he owned 16 sections of land at one time. A daughter of Milton Yancey, last known to live and work at Fort Riley, showed me a collection of these land grants. Elcey Yancey Duke is buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery. James was a lifelong Republican and supported Abraham Lincoln. Also, Tabitha said that James had a middle initial "B" but he discontinued use of it so he wouldn't by confused with the founder of the American Tobacco Company. Duke University was financed by the Duke Foundation. Also, they left a few milion to be split among those who could provide proof of relationship to the tobacco king. When I went to New York City in 1929, she gave me the name and address and phone number of the attorney in New York City who was authorized to receive applicants to participate in the Duke Estate. I didn't follow up for which she didn't forgive me. I really didn't think I had enough information. She later told me that the Sedan attorney, Wm. Sprowl, who gave her the information, did follow up and he shared in the estate. I'm doing this without referring to my voluminous genealogical and historical files. My mother, Tabitha, started me on my family history about 1937 and continued through August of 1977. She passed away in November of l977, at the age of 95 years and six months. She had a built-in computer for remembering dates of births, marriages, and deaths of all our relatives. Her experience as deputy register of deeds, deputy probate judge, and vice president of Kansas State W. C. T. U., gave her a wealth of leadership experience. My father taught school at Pleasant Valley among others. Two of his scholars (so called in his signature books) were Tabitha Duke and Orlie Wolfe. My father married Tabitha and many years later Tabitha and Orlie were married--after becoming reacquainted at a Pleasant Vally School reunion. The Yanceys owned land in Oxford, Ohio, and sold it to Oxford University (Miami University-
    -Rebecca Suiter). Oxford Township, Butler County, Ohio, adjoins Indiana. A village of Mixersville is in both states.   Father: E. Alexander DUKE  b: 1802 in Ireland  Mother: Elcey YANCEY  b: 17 OCT 1816 in Oxford, Butler County, Ohio  Marriage 1 Eliza Jane DEAN  b: WFT Est. 1832-1853  Married: 25 DEC 1870 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Children  Tabitha Jane DUKE  b: WFT Est. 1862-1891  Index  | Descendancy  | Register  | Pedigree  | Ahnentafel  | Download GEDCOM    Printer Friendly Version   Search Ancestry   Search AWT   Join Ancestry.com Today   Corporate Info  | Affiliate Program  | PRIVACY STATEMENT  | Contact Us   Copyright © 1998-2005, MyFamily.com Inc.  Terms and Conditions