Dempsey Fields Coker (1825 - bef. 1881)

Born 1825 in Arkansas Territory, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Jane (Marler) Coker — married about 1848 in Arkansas, United States [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth Emaline (Sigmon) Coker — married after 1860 in Arkansas, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 26 Mar 1881 before age 56 in Cooweescoowee District, Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lorie McElhaney [send private message]

Biography

Long Island Surnames Genealogy website details that Dempsey Fields Coker's Father was Edward "Ned" Coker b. 1801 in TN d. 1865 in MO; Mother was Winnie Yocham b.1805 TN d. after 1860. I do not find in my research this to be correct.^[1]

Spouse 1: Eliza Jane Marler (circa 1827-after 1850 census)

1850 U.S. Census, Marion County, Arkansas, population schedule, p. 321A, dwelling 168, family 169; NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 28.

Dempsy Coker age 25 born [circa 1825] Arkansas

Eliza Jane Coker age 23 [born circa 1827] Arkansas

Lewis Cass Coker age 1 born [circa 1849] Arkansas

Spouse 2. Elizabeth Emaline Sigmon (1839-1922)
Married after the 1860 census, likely in Arkansas.

"Other Genealogy sites show that Dempsey Fields Coker had another wife, Elizabeth E. (Sigmon) b. 1841. It is documented that Sigmon was the mother of John Randolph Coker (b.1869), David Nicholls Coker (1868), Cynthia Jane Coker (1871), and Josephine Alice Coker (1876)."^[2]

He has not been located on an 1860 or 1870 census. He is said to have arrived in Indian Territory in 1869.

Tiawah, Indian Territory resident Dempsey Fields Coker was councilor and solicitor for the Cooweescoowee District in the late 1870s.^[3] The sum of $100 was ordered appropriated out of the treasury of the National Council to pay D. F. Coker for warrant no. 1739, recorded in his favor 19 May 1879 on his salary as Solicitor.^[4]

"Reverend Dempsey Fields Coker was a native of Arkansas. He served the South as a Confederate soldier during the Civil War and in 1869 came to the Cooweescoowee district in the Cherokee nation, locating on the Verdigris river about five miles from the present home of his son Lewis (Lewis Cass Coker). There he resided for several years, after which he located near Claremore, his death occurring at his home four miles east of that place in 1881. He was a Baptist minister and his influence for good was most widely felt. He laboured untiringly for the uplifting of the people among whom he lived and his Christian precepts and example was a potent influence. He also served as prosecuting attorney for the Cooweescoowee district for two years and was afterward a member of the Cherokee national council. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eliza Marler, was a white woman and died in Arkansas before the family came to the territory. She represented an old family of Tennessee."^[5]

The following transcript of the 1880 Cherokee Census was used by the Dawes Commission for verification of citizenship in the Cherokee Nation for purposes of allotment of land. Notations made by the Dawes Commission include Dawes enrollment card numbers, Dawes denied card numbers. The notation “DEAD” stamped beside the names of individuals was added later for those who were deceased at the time of enrollment for land allotment.^[6]

1880 Schedule 1, Cherokee Census, Cooweescoowee District, Cherokee Nation, p. 87. Persons Entitled To And Exercising Citizenship

DEAD. D. F. Coker age 55. Male. Race prior to Nationality: Cherokee. Minister. Married.

E. E. Coker age 39 [born circa 1841]. Female. White. Married. No. 4764

L. R. Coker age 20 [born circa 1860]. Female. Cherokee. Married. No. 4723

DEAD. M. L. A. Coker age 17 [born circa 1863]. Female. Cherokee. Unmarried.

M. E. Coker age 15 [Martha born circa 1865]. Female. Cherokee. Unmarried, No. 4686

D. R. Coker age 12 [David born circa 1868]. Female [sic]. Cherokee. Unmarried. No. 4785

J. R. Coker age 10 [John born circa 1870]. Male. Cherokee. Unmarried. o. 4850

S. J. Coker age 8 [Cynthia Jane born circa 1872]. Female. Cherokee. Unmarried. No. 4852

J. A. Coker age 4 [Josephine born circa 1876]. Female. Cherokee. Unmarried. No. 4765

Dempsey F. Coker executed his will 17 March 1881 and it entered probate on 26 March 1881 in Cooweescoowee District, Cherokee Nation, Record of Wills, Vol 45, 1872-1897, p. 15.^[7]

Cherokee Nation, Cooweescoowee District

In the name of God Amen, I Dempsey Coker of Cooweescoowee District, Cherokee Nation, being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life, do therefore make ordain publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament. That is to say first after all of my lawful debts are paid & discharged, the residue of my Estate real and personal I give bequeath and dispose of as follows To wit -it is my request that my wife Elizabeth remain on the place as long as she remains my widow, but in case she marries again for the place to [illegible word] to my children, and for her and her children to keep and have for theirs two mares and one colt, a white cow called Pink I give to my youngest child Josaphine, and her calf to my daughter Martha, a bay filley called Bet & black colt I give to my oldest set of Children, and that my son Lewis act as their Guardian, one red cow & calf to be left on the place for the benefit of the family, one cow & calf at D. L. Denneys I give to my wife Elizabeth, one Feather Bed I give to my grandchild Milam in Arkansas one small Feather Bed I give to my daughter Martha, all stock hogs I give to my youngest Children, with the exception of those that belong to my daughter Martha. The place known as the Long Gourd place. I want sold and the proceeds to go for the use of the family. Also the Mill I want sold and the proceeds to be used for the benefit of the family. All the farming utencils tools, harness sadlery household & kitchen furniture I want to remain on the place for the use & benefit of the family. Likewise I make constitute and appoint Dr B F Fortner and J. C. McCoy executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills by me made, in witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of March 1881. D. F. Coker

Attest: E. Taylor, M. T. McCoy & J. C. McCoy.

Recorded in the Clerks Office on this this 26th day of March 1881 and is a true copy, C. C. Lipe, Clerk of Cooweescoowee District C.N. [Cherokee Nation]

Sources

1. ↑ Lorie Coker McElhaney citing ‘’ Long Island Surnames’’.
2. ↑ Noted by: Lorie Coker McElhaney -GGGrandDaughter of Lewis Cass Coker - GGrandfather Arthur Lee Coker - Grandfather Douglas Turner Coker - Father Lesley Howard Coker.
3. ↑ The National Museum of the American Indian (https://blog.nmai.si.edu/main/2013/07/cara-cowan-watts-cherokee-nation-tribal-council.html).
4. ↑ Wednesday, 28 April 1880, Cherokee Advocate (Tahlequah, Oklahoma), p. 1, col. 5; Newspapers.com.
5. ↑ D. C. Gideon, Indian Territory, Descriptive, Biographical and Genealogical (New York: Lewis Publishing Company, 1901); digital edition, HathiTrust, “Lewis Coker” pp. 749-750, the sketch about Lewis includes the material quoted above about Lewis’s father Dempsey Coker.
6. ↑ “Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Indian Censuses and Rolls, 1851-1959,” digital image, Ancestry; citing The National Archives at Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Record Group Number 75, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1793-1999; NARA Series 7RA-07.
7. ↑ “Oklahoma, Wills and Probate Records, 1801-2008,” digital image, Ancestry; citing Oklahoma Historical Society, Indian Archives Division; Oklahoma County, District and Probate Courts.

• See https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Coker-141.

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Coker-239 created through the import of export.ged on Jul 19, 2011 by Chérie Woodlief.