mine host of the Waggener House, Morganfield, is the son of
Rev. Claiborne and Jane Elizabeth (Russell) Duval, whose sketch will be found
elsewhere. Our subject was born in Union County, September 29, 1833, and
received very irregular schooling here for several terms.
On June 1, 1858, he was married to Eliza Edward Mobley, the
daughter of Thornton and Lavinia (Higgins) Mobley and the grand-daughter of
John Mobley. She was born in Union County, May 8, 1838; nine children have been
born to them: Claude Henry, a grocer of Hutchison, Kansas, married Cora White
and has two children; Lavinna Jane married Louis Meyers, a jeweler of
Morganfield, and had three children; Fannie Bettie married David Brenneke, a
dancing master of Indianapolis; William Joseph is the only unmarried child who
is absent from home; he resides in Hutchison, Kansas, and is employed in his
brother's store. The children at home are Dora Huston, one of Union County's
most successful teachers, Maggie Thornton, Nannie Muir, Claiborne Matthew and
Kate Harris. All of Mr. Duval's children are intelligent, bright and
accomplished.
Our subject farmed for many years, but ran for jailer and
held that office eight years. when he went out of office he entered the hotel
business at the Parsons House, where he remained until August 1st, 1886, when
he removed to the Waggener House. This hotel contains sixteen bed rooms, a bar,
office, dining room and kitchen. The dining room will seat forty at table, and
he had had twenty regular boarders all the time. His guests number from
twenty-five to forty, and for a short time he had fifty-four. Mr. Duval is a
quiet, easy-mannered gentleman, and makes an agreeable host. He is not a member
of any religious or benevolent organization, but his family are members of the
Methodist Church.
