William Duke, Jr.

William Duke, Jr. (April 11, 1883 – July 20, 1956) was an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. Life Duke was born on April 11, 1883, in Scio, New York, the son of William Duke, Sr. He graduated from Wellsville High School in 1900, Phillips Exeter Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1902, and Cornell Law School in 1905. While at Cornell, he was a member of Delta Chi. While Duke was admitted to the bar in 1905, he initially worked in business. He was a manager of Oak Duke Lumber Company in Wellsville, a director of the Wellsville First National Bank, a director of the Wellsville Upholstering Company, and a director of the Wellsville Business Men's Association. In 1915, Duke was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Republican, representing Allegany County. He served in the Assembly in 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923.