Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1895-09-06
OCTAv|OUS COKE DEAD,
The Secretary of State
of NORTH Carolina,
TYPHOID FEVER, FROM WHICH HE
HAD BEEN SUFFERING FOR
FIVE WEEKS, ENDS LIS
HONORABLE AND
BRILLIANT
CAREER.

last FIlday afternoon, capt. DC
tavious Coke, Secretary of State
of North Carolina, died at his
home at Raleigh, after over five
weeks illness of typhoid fever
during nearly all Of which time
he was delirious.
Thus ends the life of a noble
man, a genial companion, de-
voted to his friends as we'll as to
the State, and always ready to
serve them when in his power.
He was born in williamsburg,
Va, in 184I, his father being a
wealthy planter there. At the
beginning of the war he entered
the Confederate service and
served gallantly throughout the
war, attaining the rank of Cap.
tain. He was twice wounded: at
Sharpsburg and at Five Forks.
After the war he studied law and
made his home at Edenton, N.
C., becoming a citizen in Aug.
2Sth, 1862. Capt. Coke was the
Democratic candidate in ChoWan
county for the Constitutional
Convention, but was defeated,
the county being strongly Re-
publican. In 1872 he was the
Democratic presidential elector
from the First District, and
made a brilliant canvass which
gave new hope and courage 70
the Democracy. In 1870, he
was one of the Democratic can
dldates for the State Senate in
the first senatorial distrist and
was elected by majority of 5Io,
though the district was usually
Republican by very large ma
jority. In the Senate he was an
acknowledged leader and led the
fight for the system of county
government which has proved
such a blessing to the people of
the Eeastern counties. III the
same session he stood in the
leadership against the resolu>
ton of instruction to the North
Carolina Congressman to vote
for the bill to approve the in
famous election count, by which
Hayes was seated. He was an
intrepid and fearless leader, i'm
bued with the love of Democracy,
and his career in the Senate
showed him to be a warm parti-
san of the highest type. His
resolution and aggrcsslveness and
Won for HIM a host of
friends in all sections of the
State, and when he made one
Capt. Coke was the type of
man whose friends were linked
to him with hooks of steel. He
had nothing too good for them,
and he made them always feel
the warmth Of his regard. He
began the practice of the law in
Raleigh, a short while after his
term in the Senate, and appear
ed in SOME noted causes, but pol
itics absorbed so much of his
time that he ultimately aban-
doned the law. and devoted him.
selfto the cultivation of his farms.
His purse was always freely at
the disposal of his party, and it
may be safely said that no man
in the State, in proportion to his
means, has given SO literally to
his party in this generation.
In 1880 Capt. Coke was elect
ed chairman Of the Democratic
State Executive Committee. and
it was in this position that he
rendered most efficient service to
the party. It was at time When
the lines were closely drawn and
the Republicans were exerting
their best efforts to win, and the
victory for the Democracy that
yea1 was very largely due to the
chair,nan's efforts. In 1884 Capt.
Coke's name was presented to
the Democratic State Conven-
ton for the nomination for Gov
ernor. There was close fight
for the nomination but Gov.
Scales won.
In 1891 Capt. Coke was ap-
pointed Secretary of State by
Gov. Fow1e to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of the Ia
Col. William L. Saund-
ers. The Democratic State Con-
vention the year following nomi>
mated him by acclamatlon for
Secretary of State, and he was
by a large majority. II
he had lived he would have been
renominated in 1896.
Captain Coke was twice mar
ried. His first wife was Miss
Bette Wood, of Edenton, to
whom he was married in 1867.
She died in 1876, leaving two
children, Caroline Wood and DC