The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-04-23
CAPT. OCTAvlUS COKE,
The New Secretary of State Who sue
ceeds Col. w. L. Saunders.
Goes
-

One of Governor Fowle's last public
acts was the appointment of Capt.
Octavius Coke, of Raleigh, as Secretary
of State of North Carolina, to fill the
vacancy caused by the death OF Col.
w. l.. Saunders. The new Secretary
is man of ability and is we'll known
all over the State. The appointment
is received with satisfaction and is
pronounced good one. The follow
ing sketch of his life and services to
the State and the Democratic party
is taken from the State Chronicle
Captain Coke was born in Williams
burg, Va, Oct. 4th, 1910. In 1861
he joined the 3snd Va, infantry,
Pickett's division, and served with
gallantry. He was twice wounded:
at Sharpsburg and at Five Forks
After the war he studied law and made
his home at Edenton, this State, be-
coming citizen in August 18th 1868.
The eighth day after he adopted Eden
ton as his home, Capt. Coke made a
Democratic speech before the Seymour
and Blair club of that place. In 1871
he was the Democratic candidate in
Chowan county for the Constitutional
Convention, but OF course was not
elected in that strong Republican
county. In 1862 he was the Demo-
cratic presidential elector from the
first district, and made a through can
vass which gave new hope and courage
to the Democracy.
In 1876 he was one of the Demo
cratic candidates for the Senate in the
first Senatorial district. He did not
desire to make the ca mpaign, but
when the party called him earnestly
and unitedly he answered the call,as he
has always done, and made aglorious
canvass aud won a glorious victory
in that negro-ridden section. His
majority $40. In the Senate of 1877,
which was the first to see Democratic
executive, Capt. Coke was an &C
knowledged leader. He led the fight
tor the present system Of county govern
ment which has been such a blessing
to the people of the Eastern counties.
In his campaigns throughout the State
he,has been an able defender of his
system. In the same session he stood
IN the leadership against the resolution
OF instruction to the North Carolina
congressman to vote for the bill to
approve the Infamous electoral coun,
by which Hayes was seated.
In 1850, Capt. Coke was elected
chairman of the Democratic State
Executive Committee, and it was il
this position that he has rendered mos
ethcient service to the party. 1t wa!
4 time when the lines were closet,
drawn and the Republicans wer,
exerting their best efforts to win
Every inch of ground was closely con
tended. Capt. Coke's time, his ser
vices, and his purse were freely at tn
disposal of the party, and neither wa
spared in the close struggle. Th
victory in that year was more largel
due to Capt. Coke's efforts than hav
every been acknowledge.
In 1854, Capt. Coke's name wa
presented to the Democratic State Con
ventlon for the nomination for Cover
nor. There was a close fight for tn
nomination but Gen. Scales won. Il
that campaign Capt. Coke's voice wa
often heard on the hastings, and h
contributed every effort to secure tn
election of Gen. Scales. For the las
three or four years Capt. Coke has NO
been in public or professional lite, bu
has devoted himselfentirely to farming
and is member of the Farmers
Alliance of Wake county. Capt. Cox
has been twice married. His first wifi
was Miss Carrie Coke, of Edenton AN,
his present wife Miss Katie Fisher, {
Raleigh.