The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-11-01
JUDGE M. |. COKE
PASSES AWAY.
Was a Gallant Soldier and for
Twenty Years County
Judge.

non. Martin /. Coke, for twenty
years the efficient County Judge Of
Putnam county and candidate of the
democratic party for his sixth tern
In that office, passed peacefully away
at his home in this city last Monda1
afternoon after brief illness, though
following several months of decline
owing to a fall he sustained early ir
the year.
The funeral was held from Saint
Marks Episcopal church at 3 O'Clock
Tuesday afternoon, Venerable Arch,
deacon Wyllie, officiating. The in
terment was at West View cemetery
The services at the grave were in
charge of Palatka Lodge, No. "a. F.
& A: M, 46 members of which attend
ed the services at the church and ac-
companied the body of their deceased
brother on the march to the tomb.
The pail bearers were Henry Hutch
inson, Sr., P. NJ Hagan, DR.. w. H.
Rosenberg, j. II. Haughton, George
E. Gay and W. M. Curry. The church
was crowded to the doors with the
sorroWing neighbors and friends of
the dead jurist.
There was most beautiful display
OF floral tributes to the memory of
the veteran Judge; these came from
county officials, the Bar Association,
the Order of Eastern Star, Daughters
of the Confederacy, the Masonic
Lodge and many from neighbors and
friends in private life.
Judge Coke was a native of Mariet
ia, Ga, and was born February 7th,
1885. He came to Florida as a Young
man and at the breaking out of the
war between the state in 1861 enlist
ed in the Confederate army, and was
Captain of Company A, First Florida
Cavalry, serving throughout the four
years of that sanguinary strife. At
the close of the war he returned to
Florida and engaged in turpentining
and lumber operations in Columbia
and adjoining counties for sometime
before moving to Jacksonville, where
he resided some years.
Judge Coke came to PaIatka in 1883
and engaged in the practice of law,
and also served as justice of the
peace. In the spring of 1892 he re-
ceived the Democratic nomination for
county judge and was elected, taking
office the following January. He
served with dignity and ability in
this office for five terms of four years
each, and at his death was the nomi-
nee of his party for the sixth term,
given him unanimously at
the hands of the people. Such also
was his popularity throughout the
county that none of the other parties
put up a candidate against him.
Judge Coke received a fall last
spring while coming down the stair
way of the court house, sustaining in
juries which compelled his contine-
ment to the house for many weeks.
His hip bone was fractured. He had
had an earlier fall which had also had
a more or less weakening effect on his
nervous system. His fatal illness no
doubt, according to his physician, was
largely due to these injuries.
Judge Coke was a most lOvable |
man; his humanity was seen in his |
court sentences. He had a greater
regard for justice than the techni-
calities of the law. If this good man
ever had an enemy he hasn't been
heard from. His death will compel
tears from the eyes of many an old
and friend in all parts of the
county and state
He is survived by his wife, to whom
ne was united in marriage in 1875,
,hree daughters, Mrs. A. L. Glass of
Gainesville, Mrs. A. E. Adamson of
Jacksonville and Miss Rosalou Coke
If this city. All were present at the
'uneral.
Judge Coke was conscious to the
asst, though unable to speak. When
he end came he quietly closed his
yes, folded his hands and went out
nto the unknown with the same abid-
ng faith in his Heavenly Father, as
he little child whom Eugene Field
as saying to his mother
so, mOther-my-Iove, let me take your
dear hand,
And away through the starlight
we'll wander
Away through the mist to the beauti-
full land
The dreamland that's waiting out
yonder."