The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1895-09-05
SECRETARY COKE DEAD.

ter an illness OF several weeks. Follow
ing are excerpts from the Neps e Oh
seruers' sketch OF his life
"Willlam and Mary College took the
boy from his parents, at Williamsburg,
Virginia, the town Of his birth, the
alma mater of Jefferson, and the school
ing-place of great spirits that have FOL
lowed 1t was fit environment tor
the chivalric heart and ambitious
mind of the youth, whose parents sent
him forth dynamic with that which
was best and truest in the home-rearing
of the Old Dominion.
From the classroom Of patriots be-
fore bin, he came, cavalier as he was,
quick to hear the bugle OF Pickett's
Division. Just at manhood, he Joined
the 32nd Virginia Infantry, and served
with gallantry.
He was twice wounded at Sharps-
burg and at Five Forks. After the war
he studied law and made his home at
Edenton, n. c., becoming a citizen on
Aug 2Sth, 1862. Capt Coke was the
Democratic candidate in ChOwan coun-
tv for the Constitutional Convention,
but was defeated. the county being
strongly republican. In 1872 he was
the Democratic presidential elector
from the First District, and made a
brilliant canvass which gave new hope
and courage to the Democracy In
1876. he was one of the Democratic
candidates for the State Senate In the
first senatorial district and was elected
by majority of 319, though the dis
trict was usually Republican by a very
large majority. In the Senate he was
an acknowledged leader and led the
fight for the system of county govern
ment which has proved such blessing
to the people of the Eastern counties.
In the same session he stood In the
leadership against the resolution of in
structlOn to the North Carolina Con
gress1nen to vote for the bill to ap-
prove the Infamous election count, by
when HAYES was seated. He was an
intrepid and fearless leader, imbued
with the love of Democracy, and his
career in the Senate showed him to be
warm partisan of the highest type
His resolution and aggressiveness and
ability won for him 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 il
the Senate, and appeared IN some o.
the noted causes. but politics absorbed
50 much Of his time that he ultimately
abandoned the law and devoted him
self to the cultivation of his farms. Hi:
purse was always freely at the dispose
of his party, and it may be safely sale
that no man in the State, IL proportion
to his means, has given so literally t.
his party in this generation.
In 1880 Capt. Coke was elected chair
man OF the Democratic State Executive
Committee, and it was in this position
that he rendered most efficient service
to the party. 1t was at time whe1
the lines were already closely draw
and the Republicans were exertins
their best efforts to win, and the victo
ry for the Democracy that year wa
very largely due to the chairman's eff
forts. In 1884 Capt. Coke's name wa
presented to the Democratic State Con
ventiOn for the nomination for Govern
or. There was a close fight for the
nomination but Gov Scales won.
In 1891 Capt. Coke was appointed
Secretary of State by Gov. Fowle to fiji
the vacancy caused by the lamentec
death of Col. William L. Saunders
The Democratic State Convention the
year following nominated him By &C
clamatlon for Secretary of State, and be
was elected by large majority. If he
had lived he would have been renomi
mated in 1896.
Capt. Coke was twice married. Hi
first wife was Miss Bette Wood, O
EdentOn, to whom he was married il
1867. She died In 1876, leaving two
children, Caroline Wood and Octayius
who lived with their father at tn,
time of his death.
In 1879, Capt. Coke married Miss Kat,
Fisher, daughter of the late Charles F
Fisher, Of Raleigh. Mrs. Coke survive
! her husband, the issue OF the marriae
being two daughters, Kate and JUL;
and two sons, Jeff Fisher and Richard
=
Hoods Sarsaparilla gives great bodi
ly, nerve, mental and digestive strength
simply because 1T purifies, vltalizes anC