NOTE:
Sheriff of Orangeburg County, business man, planter and Mayor of Orangeburg. Obituary details are in PAF Notes.
This document is in possession of Andrea Stevenson of Lagune Beach, CA Some information from the Genealogy records of Philip A. Sullins (grandson of Kittie Clyde Dukes Perryclear)
John William Hazelwood Dukes was a prominent planter, Sheriff of Orangeburg County until the yankees ran him out of office, putting a yankee in his place. He was also the first intendent (Mayor) of Orangeburg. He put in the first constable. The first license fee paid in from a circus company was used to purchase the pauper's burial ground. He was also engaged in business as a merchant and a hotel keeper, but according to his obituary, the greater part of his life was devoted to tillage of the soil. Source: " Dukes" by Winnie C. Betsill.From the Files of Lynn Shuler Teague: J. W. H. Dukes was known as William. His birthdate also appears as 11 Sept 1811. However, the version given here is from the Thomas and Ann Ailer Dukes family Bible. He was a farmer, merchant, sheriff, and Mayor of Orangeburg, SC. He was Orangeburg Intendant in 1858, and later served as Sheriff of Orangeburgh County in 1867 and 1868.-----J. W. H. Dukes appeared in the 1840 U. S. Census as William Dukes. He and his wife are listed as 20-30 years old. A male 5-10 years old and 3 females 0-5 are also listed.----J. W. H. Dukes appeared in the 1850 U. S. Census at age 39 with $1700 value real estate, 13 individuals in his household, and 8 slaves. ---- William Dukes was voted a member of the roads commission, replacing L. C. Funchess, on 6 Apr 1846, and was present for meetings on 5 Apr 1847, 7 Aug 1848 and 5 Aug 1850.AN OLD LANDMARK GONE... Mr. J. W. H. Dukes, Sr., one of the oldest and most generally known citizens of our County, died at his home about a mile from town, on last Monday (Mar. 23), of paralysis, after several days illness. He was in his seventy-fourth year and leaves behind a numerous family connection and a host of friends to mourn his death and emulate his many virtues. He was at one time engaged in business in this town as a merchant and hotel keeper, but the greater part of his life was devoted to the tillage of the soil, at which he was very successful, having accumulated before the war a handsome property by his industry as a farmer. In all the relations of life, he enjoyed the reputation of being a sturdy, hard-working, honest man. He filled the office of Mayor of this town just prior to the late war, and since the war served one term as Sheriff of the County, both of which positions he filled to the entire satisfaction of the people and with credit to himself. He was a member of the Baptist Church at this place for many years, and now sleeps in its yard, surrounded by the friends and kindred of his early days. He was buried with Masonic honors, he having long been a member of that ancient order. To his grief stricken family we tender our sympathy. -- The Times & Democrat, March 26, 1885.TRIBUTE TO MR. J. W. H. DUKES ... Rev. Mr. Lightfoot Writes Feelingly of Good Citizen. Editor The Sun: Orangeburg lost one its best citizens when Mr. J. W. H. Dukes passed away. There were men who surpassed him in some ways, but none of them ever gave as much for the material success of his city as did Mr. Dukes. In his active days he had many admirers, some of who left him when business reverses came. I hope that all who were his friends in the days of his power and prosperity were the same to him in his latter days.Mr. Dukes was a big hearted man. He always thought of others first, and self afterwards. During the time that I was pastor of the Baptist Church, there were frequent demands to attend funerals of people whose bereaved ones were unable to hire the necessary vehicles. There never was trouble to get carriages for the popular or well to do, but the poor, though always with us, were not always thought of. Mr. Dukes never failed to ask one question: "Are they unable to hire?" When answered in the affirmative the best he had was sent. Upon one occasion he was unable to send his best so he apologized for it. An unusual circumstance but characteristic of the man.---- He was always my friend, though not a member of the Baptish Church. His friendship was not measured by church lines. It was always a joy to be in his home, to walk with him around the
old home place, and likewise, to hear his talk of the coming great days for the City of the Edisto.Somehow, I think, that all the prosperity of the latter days in Orangeburg are to some extent the seed sown in these early days. May the rich fragance of his generous deeds and life ever live in the hearts of all who knew him. May God's comforting presence ever live in the hearts of his sorrowing loved ones. -- E. M. Lightfoot., Columbia, S. C., April 2, 1918.
