Stephen Polk Duke 1828-1880
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With the help of other Duke researchers, I have been able to go back to Stephen's 5th great grandfather Thomas Duke born in 1616 in Aylesford, Kent Co, England. That information was supplied to me by our own Duke family historian Frank Duke (Franklin Delano Duke born Nov 18, 1932). Frank is still very active in his research and maintains The Duke Family Website.
I have been in contact for many years with, Bud Duke, who sent me photos, names, dates and lots of information that got my quest off to a great start. Between my mother and grandmother, I already had many of the names I would need to begin my search. Later meeting Jim and Frank online I knew they were family. My grandmother spoke of the Duke family in such high esteem that I always felt as if I knew them all. On this website you will see many stories of my grandmother. I guess you can say she was my inspiration to continue on with my research. Every time I found a new fact I went to her and my mother to share it. They would be so excited to hear about their ancestors and where they had come from.
Thomas Duke came to the United States about 1637 with his wife Mary Duke, the former Mary (Marie) Barham, born Nov 12, 1602 in Saint Paul Canterbury, Kent County England. They settled in James City County, Virginia. Mary was the daughter of Thomas Barham Jr. and Ann Marie(King)Barham. From my research it is likely that Thomas' father was Richard Duke (aft. 1567-1653 of Otterton, Devenshire, or, Kent England). Thomas and Mary Duke had six sons all born in Virginia. To see his genealogy report go to the family group link on my home page.
George Washington Duke, the youngest son of Stephen and Rhoda was my grandmother Flossie Duke Stephens' father. He was called Papa, by his children and she said they all loved him dearly. George and Belle Duke were still having children when their children were having children. Most of the stories I know were told to me by my grandmother Flossie (Duke) Stephens. She spoke of her family with the greatest of respect. Her and her husband moved away to start their lives so she wasn't able to see her family as much as she would have like. However, they did stay in touch by phone and letters. When she took a vacation back to Missouri, she said her nieces and nephews treated her just like she had never moved away.
George Washington Duke married Arbelle Virginia Godwin in 1886. Arbelle was known as Belle most of her life. My grandmother Flossie was their 13th child. In those days babies didn't always live to see their fifth birthdays and they had lost a couple of little ones. Many of the adult women also died very young because of having so many children. Belle passed away when Flossie was only three years old. Flossie remembered her and the other little ones playing in her mother's room when her mother was sick. The baby would laugh as the children played with her through the bars on the foot of the bed. Flossie thought about her mother and spoke of her often in her final years. One memory that she had of her mother was the trees she planted. Belle, had loved to plant trees and watch them mature with fruit. The kids were told they could eat all the fruit they wanted that fell to the ground during the season. However, the fruit on the trees was to be picked for canning at the end of the season. Belle knew, with that many kids, her trees would be stripped clean if they were permitted to pick directly from the tree. Flossie admitted that she did climb a tree once in awhile to throw fruit down for the kids who wanted some. Of course her and Dessie always wanted a perfect piece of fruit. Flossie said Dessie was very dainty and not the type to climb a tree. She ventured to say that Dessie would probably not be able to climb. After Flossie threw enough down for everyone waiting they would then pick it up from the ground to eat it. If anyone ask them, they felt that they weren't lying, because they only ate what they picked up from the ground.
The first eight photos on this page were from photo sent to me by Bud Duke many years ago. All of the photos were on the same sheet and they have kept them in a frame all of these years. He said he had been visiting with family taking photos of their family pictures for the family history. If anyone has any photos they would like to include on this page, or any of the others, please feel free to email me.
Stephen Polk Duke 1828-1880
Nicholas Carroll Duke 1835-1901
Noah Wilson Duke- Son of Stephen 1861- 1941
John Marion Duke- Son of Stephen 1858- 1940
William Redmond Duke- Son of Stephen 1856 -1941
Jerome A. Duke- Son of Stephen 1856-1924
Nicholas Carroll Duke (called Carroll)- Son of Stephen 1860-1902
George Washington Duke- Son of Stephen 1864 -1940
George and Belle Duke abt 1900
with five of their children.
Most photos descriptions were what it said on the back of the photo. If anyone would like to identify each person in a photo please contact me.
I would gladly enter the names. The pictures aren't in any particular order.
Click small picture to view larger. Click links to open documents or photos.
Copied from back of photo;
top row- Aunt Ethel, Grandpa Duke, Aunt Minnie, Orena, (Between them), Mergie and Doskie (Ethel's daughter)
front row- Wanda Lee (Ethel's daughter) Jackie (Doskie's son), Violet (Ethel's daugher) Taken about 1939 or 1940.
(Grandpa Duke is George Washington Duke and Aunt Minnie is his second wife Minnie Sparks Godwin Duke)
Back says Duke family Sikeston Missouri 1946 Daisey, Yvone, Pauline, Steve, Steve Jr., Flossie Stephens.
Ebert Stephens and Duke family 1946 Sikeston Missouri.
George W. Duke with daughters Birdie and Ethel
Lula Duke 1906-1972
George and Minnie Duke
Flossie (Duke) Stephens with sister Birdie(Duke)Beck
All four Duke sisters.
Sitting on couch is Flossie Stephens and Birdie Beck.
On the floor in front is Dessie and Orena Dover.
Duke sisters and brother.
Left to right; Dessie, Flossie, Orena, Steve and Birdie.
Birdie Duke Beck, Emeriel Duke and Flossie Duke Stephens.
Duke sister, Birdie Beck and Lula Stewart
Hardy Duke and sister Flossie Duke Stephens.
On back says it was taken in Illinois at Hardy's place.
Spurlin and Birdie Duke Beck with their first great-great grandson Kyle.
Birdie's sister Flossie loved this picture of her sister.
Flossie Stephens in the middle behind her sister Birdie Duke Beck.
Beside Birdie is her husband Spurlin and they are surrounded by their 12 children.
Look on the family poetry page for a poem Flossie wrote, at Birdie's request, for her 12 children.
Left to right; Charley Stephens, Flossie (Duke) Stephens. I was told the other couple is one of Flossie's sisters and her husband.
Birdie Duke Beck on her 80th birthday with husband Spurlin.
Hardy Wilson & Daisy Gladys (Cummings) Duke, with children Yvonne and Wayne.
I include the Billington Family below, along with the Duke family,
as they are a very big part of the Duke family. Hazel Duke married Charles Billington
giving Martin Ebert Duke many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He did not get to stay around long enough to see them all,
however I am sure he would be proud of them all.
Following are photos sent by Frank Duke, to share with all of us.
As most of you know Frank is Hazel's brother and Martin Ebert Duke was their father.
The next 6 photos are
The Billington Family:
Woodrow Beck. Son of Birdie Duke Beck.
Photo taken in the kitchen of Dimple Daniel.
He came to California to visit his aunt Flossie Duke Stephens and family.