Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/144

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAniV

the battle. He was at Malvern Hill, and many other important engagements. While in the army and at the front he was elected attorney for the commonwealth, but the duties of the yffice were performed by Judge E. R. Watson, who kindly volunteered his services, Col. Duke remaining in the army. In 1870 Col. Duke was nominated again for commonwealth attorney, but, before the election, was nominated for congress, his Republican opponent being the late Judge Alexander Rives. While the canvass was in progress, the Hon. Robert Ridgeway, the sitting member, died, and Col. Duke and Judge Rives were nominated for the va- cancy. Col. Duke was elected and served out Ridgeway "s term in the forty-first con- gress and the full term of the forty-second congress. He was not a candidate for re- election, but returned to Charlottesville and continued the practice of law. In 1877, dur- ing the struggle between the debt paying and readjusting element of the Democratic party. Col. Duke was prevailed upon to be- come a candidate for the Virginia legis- lature, and was elected to the house as a debt-paying Democrat. On July 26, 1846, Col. Duke was married to Miss Elizabeth Scott Eskridge, daughter of William S. Esk- ridge. Col. Duke died in Charlottesville in July. 1898, after a lingering illness of some seven months.

Edmunds, Paul Carrington, born in Hali- fax county, Virginia, November i, 1836; trained by a private tutor ; attended the Uni- versity of \'irginia and was graduated in law from William and Mary College, Wil- liamsburg, Virginia ; was admitted to the bar; practiced in Jefferson City, Missouri; returned to Virginia in 1858; engaged in agriculture on his farm in Halifax county;

elected to the senate of Virginia in 1881, and served four terms; re-elected in 1884; delegate, to the Democratic National Con- vention in Chicago in 1884; elected as a Democrat to the fifty-first, fifty-second, fif- ty-third congresses (March 4, 1889-March 3, 1895) ; died at Houston, Halifax county, Virginia, March 12, 1899.

Ellett, Tazewell, born in Richmond, Vir- ginia. Januarx- I, 1856; attended the private school of John M. Strother until sixteen years old ; cadet in the Virginia Military Institute, and was graduated from that in- stitution in 1876 ; studied law in the Uni- versity of Virginia, and was graduated with the degree of LL. B. in 1878; practiced law in Richmond ; several years a member of the board of visitors of the Virginia "Mili- tary Institute; presidential elector in 1888 on the Democratic ticket ; elected as a Demo- crat to the fifty-fourth congress (March 4, 1895-March 3, 1897) ; resumed the practice of law in Richmond, Virginia, and New York City.

Epes, James Fletcher, born in Nottoway county, \'irginia. May 2^, 1842 ; attended the primary and private schools and the University of Virginia; served in the Con- federate army 1861-1865 ; was graduated from the law department of Washington and I ee University in 1867 ; was admitted to tlie bar and practiced law in Blackstone. Virginia; elected as a Democrat to the fifty- second and fifty-third congresses (March 4, 1891-March 3, 1895I ; retired to hi.« planta- tion, "The Old Place," in Nottoway county, \'irginia.

Epes, Sydney Parham, born in Nottoway county, Virginia, August 20, 1865 ; moved with his parents to Kentucky, where he