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This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/BVJ.2ACIB/900.1
Message Board Post:
Was Viola Rice a Maiden name or from a preveous marrage? Do you have any dates or places? My Great aunt viola faulkner married a rice. perhaps she was widowed. She would have been born appox. 1905. in MA
To all my Relatives, Friends, and Correspondents,
My computer has been affected by several viruses and this is a warning!!
DO NOT OPEN ANY ATTACHMENTS THAT COMES ON ANY E-MAIL FROM ME!!!!!
I have NEVER sent any mail with an attachment and probably never will. I
have NEVER forwarded in bulk any of the many chain letters, pleas, etc.,
that I have received and have requested several times to be stopped.
Both of these viruses were sent to me this month. One of the virus was
with an attachment that I opened from a genealogy L-Mail List. It works
by replying to all unread email messages with itself as an attachment.
The email sent by the virus has the same subject header and message body
as the original email.
The viruses are: TROJ_BADTRANS.A and JUNKIE.1308*.
The attachments have many names but the ones that showed up on my
computer were:
"Sorry_about_yesterday.Doc.pif" and "Please_read_me.Doc".
If you dont have an antivirus program, go to www.antivirus.com and it
will explain these viruses.
I am so sorry about this. I am working at getting this problem
corrected.
Sincerely,
Kay Ohana
please compare and if can make corrections to info on cokers. NIck I think
the Ned Coker whose wife had a baby was the nephew of the Ned Coker killed
,he was my ggggrandfather. He also was killed before the baby was born. Brenda
This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Coker, Hager, Pemberton, Jackson
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/BVJ.2ACIB/6.28.1
Message Board Post:
Rodney I would love to to have your info. Since I posted the message I have found S. J. Coker's wife's maiden name which is McKinney according to her death cert. Would like to have what you have on the spouses and children of Armon's children. I have S. J. and Martha's decendants. Thanks for any help.
Descendants of Charles Coker (cont'd)
iii. SARAH COKER, b. Abt. 1791; m. (1) MIKE YOCUM; m. (2) WILLIAM TRIMBLE,
1808, Al.; b. 1778; d. April 20, 1820, White River Township, Arkansas.
Notes for WILLIAM TRIMBLE:
Title: The Turnbo Manuscripts
Author: Silas Claiborne Turnbo
Page: The Bear Caught Him by the Heel
Text: In the month of February, Mr. Trimble had come to White River below
here in 1811. His wife was a Miss Sally Coker, daughter of Buck Coker.
Trimble had married her in Alabama before coming to White River.
Text: "William Trimble was killed in 1817 on the south side of White River 3
miles above the mouth of Calico Creek. He was shot by a man of the name of
Grant."
iv. CATHERINE COKER, b. Abt. 1792, NC; d. December 1856, Ark.; m. GIRARD
LEIPER BROWN.
v. WILLIAM COKER, JR., b. Abt. 1799; d. Crooked Creek, Arkansas; m. SARAH
GREENE, Abt. 1817.
vi. CHARLES COKER, b. Abt. 1801; m. ELIZABETH TRIMBLE; b. Abt. 1803.
vii. THOMAS EDWARD COKER, b. Abt. 1801, Bedford Co., TN; d. Aft. 1865; m.
(1) MARY ELIZABETH JAMES; m. (2) WINNIE YOCHAM, 1821; d. 1860.
Notes for THOMAS EDWARD COKER:
The most important issue concerning Ned Coker is his death. It has been
repeatedly reported that he was killed by Bushwackers on his way to
Springfield, Greene Co., MO on October 12, 1864. However, it appears that he
was almost killed but survived. He and his wife even had another child a few
months later. Ned's hanging and survival is explained by S.E. Turnbo in his
article entitled, "SIMPLY HORRIBLE."
One among the oldest citizens who lived on the right bank of White River in
what is now Crocket township, Marion County, Arkansas, when the war between
the states broke out was Ned Coker. Mr. Coker was intelligent and was a good
common sensed man, very prosperous and owned several slaves. The writer has
enjoyed many pleasant hours with him for he took pains to give me many
incidents that occurred on the upper White River in the long ago. It was
supposed by some that he possessed a big sum of gold and silver which was
said to be concealed somewhere on his farm or in the near neighborhood, from
this cause he was treated very cruel by the bandits that infested the county
during the war. Mr. R. S. Holt, whose father, Wm. Holt, owned the river farm
on the opposite side of the river from the Ned Coker farm informed me that
during the turbulent days of blood and death the bad men stole all of
Coker''s horses and cattle except one wild mare as they called her which he
managed to keep out of the reach of the desperadoes. One night a band of
robbers paid him a personal visit in disguise and demanded his money which
he flatly refused to give up. They threatened to do violence to him unless
he revealed to them the place where he had hid his gold and silver, but he
had a stout heart and a resolution made of iron almost and they found that
threats were unavailing to compel their victim to give up his money. And so
they proceeded to torture him with fire and inflicted all the suffering and
pain they were able to heap on him to force him to yield up his gold but he
held out so strong against the awful tortures from their hands that they
resorted to other means and they procured a rope and tied one end around the
poor old man''s neck and passed the other end of the rope over a beam or
other object and pulled him up and tied the rope fast with the intention to
leave him suspended until he was dead, but as the bandits turned away from
him to take their departure one of the band stopped and stepped back to the
hanging and struggling form and cut the rope and he fell to the floor. After
the robbers were gone and Mr. Coker had revived he called his faithful slave
whose name was Jeff and who was a bow legged Negro to bring up the wild mare
and they would make an effort to get into Missouri where there would be some
show of receiving protection. The Negro was not long in bringing the mare to
his master''s house. The thieves had stolen Mr. Coker's saddle but the now
almost helpless old man by the assistance of his slave mounted the mare
bareback and Jeff lead the mare. They traveled night and day and went part
of the way where there was no road. Mr. Coker was not able to ride only a
few miles at a time when he was compelled to stop and rest and go on again.
In this way he rode the mare all the way into Green County, Mo., bareback
and Jeff the Negro walked and lead the mare all that distance."
So now that it is explained how Mr. Coker could have survived a hanging,
let's talk about his life.
In Turnbo's article, "HOW NED COKER WANTED THE MOLES DESTROYED":
The old Ned Coker farm which is situated on the right bank of White River in
Crocket Township in Marion County, Ark. was settled very early. Ned Coker
and Aunt Winnie his wife settled this land before 1824. Mr. Coker was a son
of Buck Coker and was quite an intelligent man. The writer learned a great
deal of information from him relating to the pioneers settlers along White.
When I was a young man I took much delight in listening at Mr. Coker''s
early reminiscences. I have heard him recite a number of strange and
interesting incidents that occurred in the upper White River Valley in the
years gone by. He was well known as a man that kept his own councils and run
his own affairs one day while he and others were conversing together one of
the men remarked, "Mr. Coker can three men keep a secret". and he quickly
replied, "Why certainly they can if two of them are dead."
Soon after Coker and his wife settled this bottom they built a small log
house on the bank of the river and cleared a few acres, of land and planted
it in corn in the spring of 1824. But the moles were so numerous that they
devoured every grain of it almost before it come up. This was all the seed
corn or any other corn the man had that spring and there was no more in
reach of him to buy at any price and the man was terribly wrought up in
temper at the hundreds of moles which destroyed his seed corn he had
planted. And in his anger he called on the great God of heaven to cause a
flood to come in White River big enough to submerge all the bottoms deep
enough to drown all the moles from the head of the river to the mouth of it.
In the latter days of August and the first few days of September of that
year when the gates of the nimbus clouds were opened and let down blinding
sheets of water which filled the channels of the creeks and hollows to
overflowing and the rush of this water into White River soon caused this
stream to be a roaring and foaming flood of water which rose so rapidly that
Mr. Coker and his wife were driven from their cabin and they sought safety
on higher ground. As they were leaving their hut Mrs. Coker reminded her
husband of what he had said and prayed for in his wicked way of calling on
the name of the good God of Heaven what he wanted him to do when the moles
eat up the corn he had planted the spring before "and now Mr. Neddie" says
she "I guess your prayers are answered but God cannot drown all the moles in
this bottom without giving you trouble. The water went on rising and
spreading over the bottom until the couple were compelled to remove their
camp a number of times before the water began to recede. Mr. Coker began to
think that it was going to be another universal flood that the Bible, spoke
of and repented of what he had desired the Lord to do and become restless
and uneasy and quoted the word of God as saying that God had promised that
the earth would never be destroyed by water any more "but my God Winnie this
rise looks very suspicious for I believe it is going to cover the entire
earth before it quits. This land is now known as the Alex Pruitts upper
farm.
>From Turnbo's article, "TOM NORMAN AND HIS FAMILY AND THE DEATH OF FOUR OF
THEM":
We have often mentioned that part of White River where Buck Coker settled in
1815. This land as we have said is on the left bank of the river in the Jake
Nave Bend in what is now Boone County, Ark. When Buck Coker went to West
Sugar Loaf Creek soon after the freshet of May 1844 Lewis Clarkstone moved
into the house vacated by Coker. Mr. Coker sold the improvement to
Clarkstone. The latter was a hunter after wild animal and kept a fine pack
of hounds to chase the fox, wild cat and catamount. Mr. Clarkstone or
[N]orman as he was commonly called. He was from the state of Virginia and
lived here in the early fifties. ... Soon after the death of ... Norman
and his wife this land fell into the hands of Ned Coker. Mr. Coker bought
the land from Mr. Clarkstone. Normans did not own the land while he lived on
it only had it rented. Coker sold the land to R. S. (Dick) Halet for the
consideration of one fine black mare and three hundred dollars in cash.
Turnbo wasn't quite clear as to the difference between Mr. Clarkstone, the
land owner, and the Normans who rented the land ... but the point is, Ned
Coker bought the land which was originally owned by Buck Coker.
Turnbo discusses one of Ned's children in "RECOLLECTIONS OF ANOTHER PIONEER
FAMILY":
"... As we have said before, Jake Nave married Miss Sallie Coker daughter
of Ned Coker. Mr. Coker opposed the marriage and the young couple not to be
out done eloped together one bitter cold night and rode all the way to the
mouth of Little North Fork where they were married. Mr. Coker was a sensible
man and forgave his daughter and son in law and Mr. Nave made his home in
the Jake Nave Bend of White River in Boone County, Ark. Here he followed
farming and blacksmithing as an occupation. Mrs. Nave was a kind hearted and
industrious woman and made a great deal of home made cloth on the spinning
wheel and hand loom. I well remember their oldest children Mary and Ned.
Mary married Bill Sheleton and she died. Ned also died. Mrs. Nave died in
1852 and lies buried in the Buck Coker grave yard at the lower end of the
Jake Nave Bend where her two children Mary and Ned lies. Mr Nave had the
grave of his wife enclosed in box form with large slabs of native stones. By
her side lies the remains of Mrs. Winnie Coker wife of Ned Coker and mother
of Mrs. Nave. ..."
>From Turnbo's article "AN INCIDENT OF THE GREAT RISE IN WHITE RIVER IN
1824":
Just below the river bottom known as the Jake Nave Bend in Boone County Ark.
is a tall bluff where a precipice reaches high up to the summit. Here one
day recently I had a fine view of scenery along White River for several
miles which includes a birds eye view of the Nave Bend. At the lower end of
this bottom is where Buck Coker pitched his tent January 8, 1815. Here on
the bank of the river he and family sheltered in this tent which stood in
the midst of tall cane until he could build a small cabin to protect them
from the cold wintry blast. In the course of a few years Cokers wife
sickened and died and she was buried near by where the dwelling stood. This
was the start for a grave yard there which we have referred to so often in
other sketches. Among the old time residents who lies in this village of the
dead is Billy Holt and his kind and industrious wife Mary L. Or Aunt Polly
Holt as she was commonly known. Here also lies their daughter Peggie wife of
"River" Bill Coker, and their unmarried daughter Mary Ann. Here also lies
Mary Coker Nave daughter of Ned Coker and the first wife of Jake Nave, and
also Aunt Winnie wife of Ned Coker. This land is known now as the Dave
McCord Farm. A short distance above this land at a fine spring of water is
where Jake Nave lived and died and lies buried in the cemetery at Pro-Tem.
Just below where Buck Coker lived is the mouth of Pine Hollow at the head of
which is a small pinery where Ned Coker and "River" Bill Coker had their
negro men to fell pine trees and out off loge of the desired length and haul
them to the river at the mouth of this hollow with ox teams where the logs
were made into rafts and floated down the river to Mike Yocums saw Mill in
the mouth of Little North Fork where the logs were converted into lumber,
and the negroes hauled it back home on ox wagons.
More information about Ned's children comes from Turnbo's article, "A PART
OF AN ACCOUNT OF THE COKER FAMILY BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL":
"... Ned Coker another son of Buck Coker married Winnie Yocum daughter of
Solomon Yocum. Their offsprings were "River" Bill whose first wife was
Peggie daughter of Wm. Holt and Sallie who married Jake Nave. Among "River"
Bills Cokers children by his first wife for he was married the second time
are George who was born in 1850 and is one of the leading merchants of Lead
Hill Ark. and Winnie who married Bill Magness son of Sam Magness and Nina
who married Eph Kelly who was postmaster at Lead Hill many years.
>From S.E. Turnbo's short story, "FACE TO FACE WITH BRUIN":
Soon after Ned Coker settled in the bottom on the right bank of White River
in 1823 in what is now Crooket township in Marion County, Ark., he and
Winnie, his wife, had an adventure with a bear one day while clearing land
near the house. They were both busy at work in a thick growth of tall cane
cutting the cane off with homemade hoes. Mr. Coker while at work noticed an
object in the edge of the cane which he took for his wife and wondered why
she was dodging around in the cane. Next moment he saw his wife busy at work
cutting the cane which brought him to his senses and raising up he was
confronted by a bear standing on Its haunches with its nose almost at his
face. Coker was much astonished at the audacity of Bruin and jumping back
from it a few feet he yelled, "Look out, Winnie", and struck the bear on its
nose with the hoe. At this the bear snorted and lowered himself and with
another snort the blood dripped from Bruin''s nose for the man had mashed it
with the hoe. The bear made off into the cane and was gone, but Coker
thought it might come back and stood ready to protect himself and wife if it
did return. But that was the last of it as far as they knew.
But later, Ned had a chance to kill Bruin. This is mentioned in Turnbo's "A
BEAR RESEMBLES A HUGE SNOWBALL WHILE ROLLING DOWN A MOUNTAINSIDE":
... When it [Bruin, the bear] stopped Ned Coker was in a few feet of it and
quickly placing the muzzle of his rifle at the bur of the bear's ear, fired
and killed it. ...
More is found in Turnbo's "AN OLDTIME COUNTRY SCHOOL":
At the lower end of the old Ned Coker farm which is owned now by Alex Prewit
is a fine spring of water which gushes out of the river bank. This water
comes out just above the level of a low stage of water in the river and Is
in Crocket Township Marion County, Ark. In the latter 50s a log house stood
in the lower end of the bottom and just above the spring, and Billy James
was employed by a few of the citizens to teach a three months subscription
school in it. The house had a puncheon floor and puncheons were used for
seats. ... There were 5 of the Jake Nave children, Ned, Mary, Bill, Dice
and John, who lived with their grandfather Ned Coker and went to school
here. George and Winnie Coker, children of "River" Bill Coker who lived
opposite the mouth of Shoal Creek were among the little men and women who
learned to spell and read in this school.
Ned was a slave owner, according to Turnbo in "A NEGRO WOMAN ON HORSEBACK
ATTACKED BY WOLVES":
Mrs. [Polly Coker] Wiggins [dau. of Charles Coker] said that while her uncle
Joe Coker lived at the Big Spring below Lead Hill, Ark., his negro slaves
would visit the negroes who belonged to ["massa"] Ned Coker who lived on the
river and Ned Coker's negroes would return the visit and thus they would
exchange visits with each other. ...
Ned also supported his relatives, as talked about in Turnbo's "THE LAST
HOURS OF MIKE YOCUM":
... In 1850, while [Mike] Yocum lived at the mouth of Little North Fork and
owned the mill there, he was a candidate for representative of Marion
County. His opponent was Captain Henry, whose given name is forgotten. Both
men were influential and had many friends which made the canvass hot. Ned
Coker, who espoused the cause of Yocum, was one day talking with one of
Captain Henry''s friends and during the conversation relating to the race
between the two men, the latter remarked to Coker that "Captain Henry was a
very nice man and ought to be elected." "Yes," replied Mr. Coker, Captain
Henry looks nice enough, but he is a terrible liar." Mr. Yocum succeeded in
defeating Henry and his friends rejoiced at the opportunity of sending him
to Little Rock to represent in the legislature. ...
Jake Nave was Ned's son-in-law as mentioned in S.E. Turnbo's article "PLENTY
OF SUGAR AND BEAR MEAT":
On the opposite side of White River from the mouth of Shoal Creek in Crocket
township, Marion County, Ark., is the old River Bill Coker farm which was
settled by Jess Yocum. A-large number of sugar maple trees were on this
bottom and in the bluff when Mr. Yocum came here and he and wife made plenty
of sugar and syrup out of the sap of these trees. Yocum collected the sap
from the troughs and vessels that he had placed under the spouts to catch
the water in by using a one horse sled and barrel. During one winter season
he and wife filled three 50 gallon barrels with nice cakes of sugar made
from the sap of the sugar maples. When Yocum left here he was succeeded by
Jack Nave, son in law of Ned Coker. ...
Ned had a slave named John as referred to Turnbo's "KILLING THREE BEAR IN A
FIELD OF CORN":
... I [Jake Nave] went across the river to Ned Coker's to get help and
Coker sent his negro man John with dogs and gun with me. ...
>From Turnbo's "DEVOURED BY WOLVES":
... To make the story more complete, we will state that when the war broke
out, Ned Coker and his son William--"River Bill" they called him, to
distinguish him from "Wagoner Bill", Yellville Bill" and "Prairie Bill"
Coker--lived on the south bank of White River in Marion County, Ark. The
former's named residence was on the farm on the right bank of the river just
below the mouth of East Sugar Loaf Creek. The latter lived on the farm
opposite the mouth of Shoal Creek. Both these men were slave-holders and
possessed about fifteen negroes each.
viii. MARY JANE COKER, b. Abt. 1805, Tn.; d. November 19, 1878, Osage,
Carroll Co., AR; m. CHARLES SNEED, 1824, Carroll Co., AR.
ix. NANCY COKER, b. 1810; d. 1860; m. GEORGE W. WOOD, 1832.
x. MINERVA COKER, b. 1794.
----- Original Message -----
From: Marlene <marjbar(a)oregontrail.net>
To: <nick-calvert(a)home.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2001 12:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Coker] RE: Leonard Coker ARK
> Hi Nick and thanks so much for the info on Leonard. Have been canning
> peaches today and just no time for my computer or e-mail. Had to rest
some,
> then checked my e-mail before going to bed. May I have the siblings of
> Leonard and any further info you have on them? I did have that info, but
> when my computer crashed in Dec, I lost everything - and silly me, I had
not
> made charts on them, just put it in the computer. Won't make that mistake
> again! Thanks again, Marlene (Oregon)
Descendants of Charles Coker
Generation No. 1
1. CHARLES2 COKER (CHARLES1) was born 1740 in Va., and died Abt. 1769 in
Marion County, Arkansas. He married JUDITH WALKER MOORE, daughter of JOHN
MOORE and JUDITH WALKER. She was born Abt. 1765 in Flavainia County,
Virginia Colony.
Notes for CHARLES COKER:
Our Coker Kin: In abt 1780, Charles & Judith (MOORE) COKER left VA along
with Judith's brother, Jesse MOORE who m. Alley JOHNSON, her sister who
md Abraham STRANGE, they went to Burke Co and left there abt 1805 when John
Moore died. Charles & Judith settled about 12 miles from Mollie, in the
Grove
Settlement, 5th Co. and abt 1795 they sold the property and moved away.
Charles was given a land grant 1770-80 in Caldwell Co., Morgan's 5th Dist.
It also mentions James Coker.
1790 NC Burke Co. Census=1 m over 16, 1 m under 16, 2 females
Colonist during Rev. War at Roanoke, VA, to Knoxville, TN after 1783 w/ bro
Wm
& his family; Were in Burke Co.(now Caldwell Co.) 1785-96 Greenville Co.
S.C.,
Ga in 1800 Tn 1801-1814
Ancestor of J.B. Coker and Mrs. Pauline Swanson
Ancestor of Tom Coker, d. date/place; known kids b. NC, William admin. of
his
estate, to TN in 1795, lived near Knob Creek in Knox Co.
Children of CHARLES COKER and JUDITH MOORE are:
2. i. WILLIAM COKER, b. 1769, Flavanna, VA; d. 1855, Lead Hill, Marion
County, Ark.
ii. CHARLES COKER, b. Abt. 1760.
iii. THOMAS COKER, b. Abt. 1761.
iv. JOSEPH COKER, b. Abt. 1764.
v. LEONARD COKER, b. 1767, Burke, North Carolina; d. 1791, Jefferson, South
Carolina; m. MARY LOVING.
Generation No. 2
2. WILLIAM COKER (CHARLES, CHARLES) was born 1769 in Flavanna, VA, and died
1855 in Lead Hill, Marion County, Ark. He married NANCY LEE, daughter of
EDWARD LEE and JUDITH MOORE.
Notes for WILLIAM COKER:
The Turnbo Papers say that his wife took sick in the first years of their
hard, frontier life in Arkansas and died. Turnbo gives an account of her
burial at http://207.160.233.22/turnbo/v25/st721.html, stating in
particular:
Just below the river bottom known as the Jake Nave Bend in Boone County Ark.
is a tall bluff where a precipice reaches high up to the summit. Here one
day recently I had a fine view of scenery along White River for several
miles which includes a birds eye view of the Nave Bend. At the lower end of
this bottom is where Buck Coker pitched his tent January 8, 1815. Here on
the bank of the river he and family sheltered in this tent which stood in
the midst of tall cane until he could build a small cabin to protect them
from the cold wintry blast. In the course of a few years Cokers wife
sickened and died and she was buried near by where the dwelling stood. This
was the start for a grave yard there which we have referred to so often in
other sketches.
The GEDCOM of Coker researcher and cousin Carole Malin says:
Remained in NC until at least 1792 since his third known child, Catherine
"Katie" Coker, was born there during that year. By 1800, he was in Georgia,
where his sixth known child, Charles Coker, was born. One year later he was
in TN, where he remained until he migrated into the Arkansas District of the
Missouri Territory.
"Buck was one of the first white men to settle in the wilds of Northwest
Arkansas 80 years ago. He landed on White River the day the Battle of New
Orleans was fought." That would have been January 8, 1815. The area was
later Boone Co., AR.
Notes for NANCY LEE:
No one seems to know her first name, and the name Nancy comes from Todd
Coker's website.
The surname of his wife, Lee, comes from Stan Coker via GenForum.
Specifically: http://genforum.genealogy.com/coker/messages/111.html
Info from S.C.Turnbo has her name as Molly Lee
Children of WILLIAM COKER and NANCY LEE are:
i. JOSEPH4 COKER1,2,3, b. Abt. 1787, Burk Co., NC4,5; d. 1862, Lead Hill,
Boone Co., AR6,7; m. (1) MARY ANN BROWN; m. (2) ANEY; m. (3) CYNTHIA
ROGERS8,9,10, WFT Est. 1824-186511; b. Abt. 181612; d. WFT Est.
1824-191113,14.
Notes for JOSEPH COKER:
Excerpt from ...LIVING IN A BAD SENSE
By S.C. Turnbo
In the long ago when Joe Coker the famed character lived in the neighborhood
where the town of Lead Hill, Arkansas now stands he was accused of living an
immoral life or in other words he was charged with having too many wives.
Mr. R.S. Holt, a resident of Lead Hill and who was personally acquainted
with Coker for many years said that while Joe was living with Miss
Margarette Phipps sister of Ben Phipps he pretended to keep her for his
housekeeper and that he had hired her to stay there and care for his
household goods but most everyone knew that he was violating the law and
kept the girl there as a wife and refused to marry her. Every time court
was in session at Yellville Coker would make an effort to evade the law but
in this he was put to a great deal of trouble in trying to shun the courts
and beat them. The girl was industrious and good looking and Coker kept her
dressed very nice. On a certain time just before court convened Coker hired
a young man to take the girl away like he had stole her from him and keep
her away until after circuit court was dismissed. Unfortunately for Coker
the young fellow did not make a mock of stealing her but fell in love with
her and she returned his affections and he did steal her sure enough and
left the country with her and never did come back which almost broke the old
man's heart.
The writings of W. Flippin of Marion Co., AR:
Joseph Coker had married in Tennessee, his wife [Mary Brown] died before he
came to Arkansas. He had several sons and daughters, I do not know the
number, by his first wife. When I first saw him he was living near where
Lead Hill now stands. A white man and a Cherokee Indian, a very fine looking
half breed, I took him to be, came to the county to buy cows for the Indians
who had lately immigrated to the Cherokee Nation. . . . We sent up the
military road to Georges creek a path turned off there going up the creek to
Joe Coker's. There was at that time not a man living on the route, we
traveled from Georges creek to Coker's. . . . When we [apparently Flippin
& another Indian] got to the residence of one of his [Coker's] Indian wives
(we had been told he had two) we asked where Mr. Coker was, we were told he
was at his mill a short distance down the creek. This Indian woman [probably
"Aney"] was a stout healthy looking woman, quite dark skinned. . . . Mr.
Coker entertained us royally, as he was better prepared than common, had
better buildings and another small active Indian woman [probably Cynthia
Ann], about I judged half breed for a wife. By these two women, I learned he
had quite a number of sons and daughters; as the state had been admitted
into the Union and as it was illegal to have two wives, this woman [probably
Cynthia] soon left and went back to the Nation. She was what might be called
a good looking woman.
The Raven, by ______, ____________ [information on this book will be shown
as soon as I can find it]. The Raven is the story of Sam Houston, husband of
Talihina "Tiana" (Rogers) Houston, the aunt of Cynthia Ann Rogers. Chapter
XII "The Wigwam Neosho," page 152:
A great many young Rogers attended the Dwight School. Cynthia, a niece of
Tiana, was "active" and "amiable," but "for want of parental . . . example
she was vain, giddy, fond of dress and impatient of wholesome restraints. .
. . She absconded with a most worthless and abandoned white man [Joe Coker]
who had another Cherokee wife."
>From S.C. Turnbo's "Chased By a Band of Indians ":
One mile west of Elbow Creek in Taney County, Mo., is a bald hill called
"Poor Joe." There is nothing remarkable in the formation of this moundlike
hill, but it possesses a name which it has borne since the early settlement
of the country. . . .
There is an old time tradition in connection with this bald hill which the
old settlers said was true. But the occurrence of it was so long ago that it
is almost impossible at this late day to obtain an accurate account of it.
But the story was told about this way.
Joe Coker . . . who we have said elsewhere was among the first settlers on
White River. He had married in Alabama and his wife died in that state. The
issue of that marriage was two sons and two daughters. William (Prairie
Bill) and Herrod were the names of his two sons and Sally and Betsey were
the names of his girls. Coker''s wife was a daughter of Bob Brown, another
old time settler on White River. Soon after the death of his wife Joe
married a Cherokee Indian woman named Aney (not Annie), but during the year
previous to his marriage to this woman he sent his children and Negro slaves
to White River in charge of his brother, Charles Coker, who reached the
Sugar Loaf country in 1813 and as we have said before Joe Coker himself came
here in 1814. His father, William (Buck) Coker, pitched his tent on the
north bank of White River January the 8th, 1815. The spot where he located
is now the Dave McCord farm in Jake Nave Bend and is embraced in Boone
County, Arkansas. It was told by the settlers that after Joe took up his
abode on White River he was not contented with one Indian wife and took unto
himself another one of the name of Cynthiana. She was a daughter of John
Rogers, a white man who had married a full blood Cherokee woman. Many years
after the occurrence of the story we have in mind Aney lived on the river
and "Cyntha" lived in the Sugar Loaf Prairie. It was said that after Coker
showed his affections for the second Indian woman the Indiana, who were
numerous here at that time but were friendly, become greatly incensed at
Joe''s conduct for having one too many wives of their kindred and made up
their minds to put him out of the way. But Coker understood the enmity they
held against him and was constantly on the lookout for them to prevent them
taking the advantage of him and thus it went on for some time when finally a
bunch of the Indians got the drop on him and thought his scalp was in their
grasp. It is told that Coker and others had went to Elbow Creek to kill
bear. The majority of the men were afoot. It appears that a small band of
Indiana were hunting here at the same time which was unknown to Coker and
his friends. The Indians were all afoot and carried their bows and arrows
and tommyhawks. One day while Uncle Joe was hunting alone on the west side
of the creek the Indians discovered and recognized him. He in turn knew that
they were his enemies. Joe had his rifle and hunting knife. The band of
Indians raised the war whoop and charged toward him. Knowing he had no
chance for his life in contending against so many Coker reserved his fire
and fled. The woods were open--that is it was divided into belts of trees
and prairies without undergrowth or thickets or bresh. Coker was in the
prime of life and stout and vigorous and he bounded along through the tall
grass like a deer pursued by a pack of hounds. As he ran he looked back and
perceived that the yelling band was gaining on him. This was not a good omen
and he did his utmost to accelerate his speed. On came the noisy Indians who
were thirsting for his blood and scalplock. Uncle Joe was not ready to
surrender his life and he knew that his safety depended on his legs and he
made good use of them. The pursuing Indians yelled like demons and let fly
several arrows at the retreating form of Coker but they went wide of their
mark. The fast racing white man had no time to stop and exchange shots with
the red men for his business lay rolling from there and that in a hurry. It
was not long before the man drew near this bald hill. It lay directly in his
course but he kept straight forward up the slope. Coker was afraid to turn
to the right or left for fear the Indiana might head him off. By this time
the white man was becoming tired and his breath was coming and going at much
shorter intervals than common and before reaching the summit the Indians
gained on him rapidly and as the pursued and pursuers went rushing along
over the top of the knob the latter came near overhauling their intended
victim. Thinking he would have to face death Joe thought he would stop and
sell out to his enemies as dear as possible, but at this moment the red men
thinking he was a a good as theirs yelled the louder which put new life in
Joe''s system and without halting he renewed his running power to keep in
advance of his foes. A few of the fleetest Indians had dashed forward ahead
of their companions and were almost in the act of striking him with their
tommyhawks, when Coker threw down his rifle which impeded his progress and
cried out in a loud voice as he ran, "Poor Joe", "Poor Joe" a half a dozen
times or more for he believed he was a goner this time sure. By this time
the white man and the foremost Indians had reached the slope on the opposite
side from where he ran up and being relieved of his rifle he was now in
better running order and he bounded along down the hillside like a rubber
ball and soon outstripped the angry savages. Part of the Indians stopped to
pick up Joe''s rifle and exult over the possession of it. Of course when
these Indians halted it gave the man some advantage and he made good use of
it. When the other red men stopped the fleetest ones clacked their speed and
slowed up. Very soon Coker looked back again and seen the Indians far in the
rear. But he kept up the race when finally he lost sight of them. But on he
went as fast as he could run over the rough ground and across glades, small
prairies and wooded ridges. It was a desperate race. He looked back again
but his pursuers if they were still following him were not in his sight. His
strength was nearly exhausted and he could run but little further until he
rested. Seeing a fallen tree a few yards ahead which had been blown down by
a windstorm during the summer and he sought its friendly shelter of limbs
and dead foliage and lay in concealment until his almost exhusted organs of
respiration could equalize the circulation of blood then he poked his head
out of the tree top and finding the coast was clear left his hiding place
and went on and escaped. No doubt the Indians could have followed him to his
place of refuge in the treetop for he had left a plain trail behind him in
the rank grass, but fortunately for him they abandoned the chase and turned
in another direction. This bald hill was called Poor Joe from that day and
retains the name to the present time. More than likely this name will never
be changed as long as the little brooklet which flows on the east side of it
is called Elbow Creek.
Excerpt from S.C. Turnbo's article, "Finding a Panther Guarding a Dead
Bear":
In the cemetery at Lead Hill, Ark., is an unmarked grave in which the mortal
remains of Joe Coker were deposited. We have made reference to him in
several other sketches. Joe was the eldest child of Buck Coker and was a
noted character. He has lived on the bank of White River and in the Sugar
Loaf Prairie and on East Sugar Loaf Creek. While he lived at the Big Spring
below where the town of Lead Hill now stands he built a little mill and the
settlers visited this mill far and near to have their corn ground. He also
put up a whiskey still where he manufactured corn whiskey to supply those
fellows that were "dying for the want of a dram." I was told that at the
time of his death which occurred in 1862 he was living at what is now the
Brice Milum residence at Lead Hill. It is said that at the moment of his
death he was alone. There was no one in the house to smooth his dying moans
with a word of consolation and hope for the future welfare of his soul. A
negro woman, one of his slaves, was the only one in the house just before
the cold icy hand of death came to him. Perceiving that the life of her
master was nearing to an end she hurriedly left the house to notify a
neighbor. When she returned back Mr. Coker had passed over the deep and dark
valley to his long home. He had lived to a great age and had lived in this
country 48 years.
I wonder if some of Joe's slaves were also his children? On the 1850 Marion
Co., AR slave index he had the following slaves (no names listed):
1 45-yr-old black female
1 18-yr-old mulatto male
1 16-yr-old mulatto male
1 14-yr-old mulatto male
2 12-yr-old mulatto females
1 12-yr-old black male
1 7-yr-old black female
1 10-yr-old mulatto male
1 3-yr-old black female
1 11-yr-old black male
1 5-yr-old black male
1 28-yr-old black female
1 1-yr-old black female
1 20-yr-old mulatto female
1 6-yr-old black male
1 13-yr-old black female
1 9-yr-old black male
On the 1860 Marion Co., AR slave index, he had the following slaves:
1 19-yr-old mulatto male
1 17-yr-old mulatto female
1 60-yr-old black female
1 5-yr-old black female
Notes for CYNTHIA ROGERS:
Census: 1880, #704 Coo District Cherokee Nation
1851 Old Settler roll: Saline, 34 as Cynthia Crump
1880 Census [CN]: Cooweescoowee, 701 as Cynthia Crump
ii. LEONARD COKER, b. Abt. 1790; d. Bef. 1850, Bear Creek, Marion Co., AR.
Notes for LEONARD COKER:
Very little is known about Leonard, but he was apparently named after
Leonard Coker [Sr.], brother of William "Buck" Coker.
Leonard [Jr.] was married and had children, but the majority of names are
unknown. Only one or two childrens' names have been mentioned with some
certainty, and it is known that Leonard raised his nephew, William "Thrasher
Bill" Yocum, his sister Sally's son.
Another Coker researcher has compiled his own research and stated that early
census records indicate Leonard Coker had several children. Among those
named as children:
1. Joseph Coker, b. ca. 1811 Knox Co., TN, m. Lucinda Matney.
Lived in Taney Co., MO in 1840. Had sons: William, Solomon, Irvin and Allin.
(Was Joseph related to the Trimble family?)
2. Seaborn S. Coker, b. ca. 1828, m. Amanda J. Tucker, probable dau. of
Edward. (Seaborn was allegedly killed by Bushwackers, and buried at the
mouth of Becca Brown's hollow.)
Note the difference in years between Joseph & Seaborn -- 17 years. That
seems to be consistent with the above statement that Leonard did have
several children. Others named as possible children: Susan; Dr. George
Washington Coker b. 1814; John Coker; Nancy Coker; Edward Coker; Dicy Coker;
and probably at least one more male child and three or more females.
It is also suggested that Leonard's wife may have been Frances Coker, who
was listed as a widow on the 1860 Carroll Co., AR census. Does anyone have
any other ideas?
Hi Laura; thanks for your message about the Coker family. My connection is
Dicey Coker, dau of Leonard. She mar'd John L Goates sometimes spelled
without the 'e'. (Goats) If anyone wants my line thro Dicey, I will gladly
share that info. Marlene (Oregon)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Laura D. Coker-Garcia" <liberty(a)neosoft.com>
To: <COKER-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2001 3:20 PM
Subject: [Coker] RE: Leonard Coker ARK
>
> >
> >Children of LEONARD COKER are:
> > i. STRAND5 COKER, m. JANE WOOD.
> > ii. SEABORN COKER.
> > iii. JOE COKER.
> >
>
> The Strands Coker above---is my line. I've long been trying to confirm
that
> he is Leonard's son, but have been lost as to how to do so.
>
> The name probably isn't as above--if you look at the 1860 Marion County,
> Ark census it looks a lot more like Strander. And his name probably isn't
> that either--as he's also found as "Dud" (which some have told me is short
> for Dudley, but I haven't found that either yet.) His wife is certainly
> Jane Wood--who is the daughter of George Washington Wood and Nancy Jane
> Coker.
>
> S.C. Turnbo has a tale "How "Dud" Coker Was Slain," that concerns
Strander.
>
> If I could link Strander Dud to Leonard son of William "Buck" I'd be one
> happy researcher!
>
> Laura Coker-Garcia
> liberty(a)neosoft.com
>
>
>
>
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> Coker Message Archives
> http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/Coker/
>
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>
>
I think my fathers brother was John W. Coker. 1880 census Delta Co.. Texas
for Calvin Cokers family shows him to be 13 years old. born in Texas so must
be a different family. Need to do further checking.
Thanks for the mail. I am getting ready to leave very early tomorrow for
Boulder Co. then Monday I am leaving for Jamestown Ca. I should be back by
the 13th. There are a lot of Cokers. Keep in touch. James S. Coker
Hi, also have Coker's from AR. Looking for info on Leonard Coker and
family - do not know his wife's name. Marlene
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tess" <tessaundra(a)prodigy.net>
To: <COKER-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 12:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Coker] Re: Coker
> I have Coker's around Arkansas as well.
> Tess
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <SmithL03(a)aol.com>
> To: <COKER-L(a)rootsweb.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 11:45 AM
> Subject: Re: [Coker] Re: Coker
>
>
> > tell us about your cokers, i have them in arkansas also. brenda
> >
> >
> > ==== COKER Mailing List ====
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> >
> > ==============================
> > Ancestry.com Genealogical Databases
> > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist2.asp
> > Search over 2500 databases with one easy query!
> >
>
>
> ==== COKER Mailing List ====
> Coker Message Archives
> http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/Coker/
>
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>
>
This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: COKER, PRICE, TURNER, JACKSON
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/BVJ.2ACIB/957
Message Board Post:
If anyone recognizes these Cokers please let me know.
Thanks
pdunne(a)satx.rr.com
Descendants of William Franklin Coker
1 William Franklin Coker b: Abt. 1861 d: Abt. 1894
+Mary F. Jackson b: May 1860 d: July 18, 1900
..... 2 Hattie Green Coker
..... 2 Antonia Toni Coker
..... 2 John Coker b: February 1885 d: Abt. 1929
......... +May Unknown
..... 2 Claud Coker b: December 1887 d: May 05, 1946
......... +Myrtle Margaret Turner b: September 30, 1892 d: July 15, 1982
..... 2 Elijah Coker b: February 27, 1888 d: April 12, 1972
......... +Ethel Angeline Anderson b: April 08, 1894 d: April 21, 1965
..... 2 Lenzy Coker b: March 28, 1894 d: January 27, 1966
......... +Hetty Fugitt b: March 01, 1890 d: November 27, 1967
..... 2 Charley Coker b: November 24, 1895 d: August 17, 1911
This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: coker
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/BVJ.2ACIB/54.70.246.2.1
Message Board Post:
I am just amazed at how many Coker's there are out there, and it looks like I am not related to any of them!! My family is from Oklahoma and Arkansas, and I know there is a lot of Cherokee blood in our past. Thanks for the reply.
This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: coker
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/BVJ.2ACIB/54.70.246.1.1
Message Board Post:
I have been to my grandfather's grave in Shamrock, Oklahoma. So, we must be talking about a different John Henry Coker. I know very little about him. I know he had a number of half-brothers and half-sisters that I know nothing about. I don't even know what his parents names were. Thanks anyway.
This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
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Message Board Post:
My great-great grandfather, John Henry Coker, was born in Alabama in January, 1844 and died in DeWitt, Ar in May, 1912. He is buried in an unmarked grave in Forks LaGrue Cemetery beside his son Ziba Z. Coker.
This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Coker
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
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Message Board Post:
YES!! This is the same John Henry Coker. He is burried in Forks-la Garue Cemetery, Dewitt, AR. My grandmother goes to his grave often, he was her great-grandfather. There are many Cokers buried in that cemetery.
My father had a brother named John but I think he was born in Texas but I
think they came from Arkansas before that. My fathers parents were Calvin
Coker and Martha Melvinia Rippetoe Coker from Delta Co. Texas.
Information
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