COL. RICHARD T. W. DUKE
Was born and reared in Albemarle county, a son of Richard Duke
(died in 1849) who was a son of Cleviers Duke, of Hanover county.
Col. Duke's mother was Maria B. Walker, a daughter of Thomas, of
Albemarle, and Margaret (Hoops) Walker, of Philadelphia, Pa. His
mother died in 1852. His paternal grandfather was one of the earliest
pioneers of Kentucky and served as commissary during the Braddock
war. He was the guardian of Thomas Jefferson during his minority,
and was one of the commissioners that fixed the boundary line
between North Carolina and Virginia. His wife was a Miss Thornton,
cousin of George Washington. Col. Duke was educated at private
schools, then graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in
1845, studied law at the University of Virginia and was admitted to
the bar in 1850, and has been practicing in his profession in Albemarle
and adjoining counties since that time, also in Virginia Supreme
Court and United States court of Lynchburg; he has also been Commonwealth's
attorney for Albemarle county. He was a member one
session of the 41st congress and of the full term of the 42d and served
as a representative in the state legislature in 1879-80. He entered
the Confederate army in May, 1861, as captain of Co. B, 19th Virginia
Infantry, was commissioned colonel of the 46th Infantry in June,
1862, and remained in that command until February, 1864. In May
following he took command of a battallion of Virginia Reserves, remaining
with that command until the close of the war. From April
12, 1865, to July 25, of that year, he was a prisoner at Johnson's
Island. Col. Duke married Elizabeth S. Eskridge of Staunton, in
this state, on the 25th of July, 1846, and they have two children living
and one dead: W. R., R. T. W. jr., and Mary W., deceased. Col.
Duke is a member of the Virginia and Southern Historical Society;
and is regarded in his profession as one of the legal lights of his state.
His postoffice address is Charlottesville, Virginia.
