Second Factory

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The Growing Business

Following his profitable sales trip, Washington Duke began the manufacture of smoking tobacco on a part time basis.  Though farming  tobacco, wheat, corn, oats, and other subsistence crops took up much of the family's time, the Dukes were able to manufacture 15,000 pounds of their product, "Bro Bono Publico," during the year 1866.  This increase in production necessitated the utilization of other outbuildings on the farm, including an old stable--known as the second factory.  Soon, in order to lessen the heavy workload and keep production up, Duke began buying additional tobacco from neighboring farmers.

Though it was difficult to make a large profit on manufactured tobacco due to the high federal revenue tax placed on it during this period, the Duke's country enterprise continued to grow steadily in the late 1860s as the market for Duke's tobacco expanded and subsequent peddling journeys were launched from the homestead.  Prices for "Pro Bono Publico" increased but fluctuated over the next few years.

Duke Homestead, c. 1904