Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky, by H. Levin, editor, 1897. Published
by Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago.  Reprinted by Southern Historical
Press.  pp. 259-60.
BASIL WILSON DUKE, of Louisville, was born in Scott county, Kentucky, May
28, 1837, and is a representative of two of the old and honored families
of the south, the Dukes and the Marshalls.  He attended private schools in
his native county, but his greatest progress along educational lines, prior
to his collegiate course, was made under the direction of Rev. Lyman W.
Seeley, who conducted a private school in Maysville.  He was a minister of
the Baptist church, a man of profound learning and a linguist of
exceptional attainment, reading and speaking almost all languages,
including Sancrit.  After continuing his studies with Rev. Seeley for some
time Mr. Duke entered Georgetown College and later became a student in
Center College, of Danville.  His law course was pursued in Transylvania
University, under the special tutorage of Chief Justice George Robertson,
of the Kentucky court of appeals.
     At the time of his graduation Mr. Duke had not attained his majority.
On leaving the university he went to Missouri, was shortly afterward
admitted to the bar and began practice in St. Louis, where he remained for
three years.  About this time he was married to Henriette H. Morgan, a
sister of General John H. Morgan, the wedding being celebrated in
Lexington, Kentucky, June 19, 1861.
     When the tocsin of war sounded General Duke at once espoused the
cause of the south and displayed wonderful military foresight and
discernment in the plans which he urged upon the leaders in Missouri.  He
became lieutenant of the company of which John Morgan was captain, and he
advocated the taking immediate possession of the arsenal in St. Louis, and
occupying all other vantage points.  Such a move would probably have saved
Missouri to the Confederacy, but those in authority did not at once act
upon the suggestion, and the Union troops, seeing the advantage, secured
possession of what Lieutenant Duke had hoped to save for the south.  When
Missouri was occupied by the Federal troops orders were issued for his
arrest, and he escaped to Kentucky and followed the fortunes of General
John Morgan throughout the war.  As his superior officer was promoted, he
was always chosen to fill the position thus left vacant, and when General
Morgan was killed General Duke became commander of the brigade.  His
course was one of unswerving loyalty to the cause he espoused, to his
people of the south and to the government of the Confederacy.  He was a
brilliant officer, intrepid, fearless and brave, ever leading, not
commanding his men.  Many wished to give General Duke credit of managing
the campaigns led by General Morgan, but the former most modestly
declined to take the credit from the man whom he regarded as one of the
finest soldiers the county ever produced, and for whom he entertained
the strongest love and admiration.
     At the close of the war General Duke located in Louisville and
resumed the practice of his profession, and very soon so impressed his
personality upon the members of the bar and the people that his success
was assured.  In 1869 he was chosen a member of the Kentucky legislature
and became an acknowledged leader in civil as well as military affairs.
He did much to cure the evils of existing statues, and was the originator
and successful champion of many new and much-needed laws affecting the
general interests.  His work was mostly in the direction of perfecting the
enactments affecting corporations.  He gave this branch of legislation
his best endeavors and became thoroughly versed in all the rights and
privileges of bodies corporate, and was regarded as an authority in the
interpretation of all laws affecting banks and railways.  At the close of
his legislative service he was elected commonwealth's attorney in the
Louisville district, and served for six years, after which he was employed
in the law department of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company, and
has since been actively connected with railroad interests as an attorney.
     General Duke has also compiled much statistical and historical
matter; has written much upon the subject of railroads and their relation
to general commerce, the physical development of the country and the
advancement of civilization.  He has also published a complete history of
the Bank of Kentucky from its organization in 1835, and of banking in
this state from the time of its admission to the Union.  He is one of
Kentucky's gifted sons, and the versatility of his talents has won him
renown in literary, professional, military and social circles.
Duke Marshall Seeley Robertson Morgan
=
Scott-KY Mason-KY Fayette-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jefferson/duke.bw.txt