Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1898 — “Duke” Joyner’s Fortitude. [ARTICLE]

“Duke” Joyner’s Fortitude.

I have heard of many cases of fortitude, but that of “Duke” Joyner excels them all. Charles J. Joyner, during his lifetime lived near the head of Crooked Fork Valley, in Morgan County. He was a man of powerful physical development, brave, fearless, and of wonderful endurance. He fought on the Union side in the civil strife, and then after the contention was over he married and went to farming. In some way when a boy the title of “Duke” was given to him, which ever afterwards he was known by. “Duke” Joyner was a hard worker and a good farmer. One day while building an underdrain, assisted by two small sons, he had a stroke of paralysis and was unable to move, but could talk. “Duke” concluded that he would superintend the operation of taking his half dead body home. He had the two boys put a log.chain around Ms body. Then he had them put down a couple of planks. Next they hitched the chain to the ox chain and th£ oxen drew his body up in the "wagon. While lying in the wagon the “Duke” by the use of his voice drove the oxen to his house. He survived and lived a number of years after.— Knoxville (Tenn.) Tribune.