Brigadier-General Ellison Capers, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 5, South Carolina
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

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[511] paper and fiber mill on Black creek. Major Coker has seven living children. The oldest, Margaret, is the wife of J. J. Lawton, son of the late Dr. Ben Lawton, of Barnwell. The oldest son, James Lide Coker, Jr., is a graduate of Stevens institute of technology, Hoboken, N. Y., and is married to Vivien Gay, daughter of Edward Gay, a distinguished artist of Mt. Vernon, N. Y. The second living son, David R. Coker, is a graduate of the South Carolina university, and is married to Jessie Richardson, a daughter of Rev. S. M. Richardson, of Sumter, S. C. William Chambers Coker is a graduate of distinction of the South Carolina university, and the other children at this writing (1898) are at school.

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Captain William Caleb Coker

Captain William Caleb Coker was born near Society Hill, S. C., June 8, 1839. He was educated at the schools of his native town and at the South Carolina college, graduating there in December, 1859. He commenced teaching in the St. Evans academy of Society Hill and was thus engaged when the war broke out. He enlisted April 13, 1861, in Company F, Eighth South Carolina infantry, commanded by Capt. W. H. Evans. He served as sergeant until March, 1862, when he with his captain and fifteen members of the company reenlisted for the war and were sent home to recruit the company. The company thus formed was mustered in as company M, Eighth South Carolina infantry, T. E. Howle captain, and W. C. Coker first lieutenant. At the battle of Sharpsburg Captain Howle was killed and Lieutenant Coker was promoted to the captaincy, serving as such until the battle of Gettysburg, in which engagement he was wounded in the foot; and on the retreat, in a hospital at Williamsburg, Md., was captured by the Federals and taken to Johnson's island, where he was kept until March, 1864. From Johnson's island he was taken to Fort Delaware, and thence to Richmond, where he was paroled in February, 1865. Captain Coker participated in the following engagements: First Manassas, Williamsburg, Malvern Hill, Chancellorsville, Maryland Heights, Sharpsburg and Gettysburg. At Malvern Hill he was wounded by a fragment of shell and disabled for thirty days. After the war he farmed in Darlington county and was admitted to the bar, but did not enter active practice. He is engaged in mercantile pursuits,