DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker tells it this way, and I'm just the voice carrying it down the road. Now, some names carry a whole era on their shoulders. Richard Coke is one of those names.
Born in Virginia in 1829, Coke made his way to Texas and planted himself deep in the political soil of the state. When the question of secession came, he didn't stand on the sideline — he led the movement. That tells you something about the man right there.
When war came, he joined the army and rose to the rank of captain, commanding a company in the 15th Texas Infantry. His outfit served in Louisiana, Arkansas, and chiefly — chiefly — in the Tennessee campaigns. Whatever those fields asked of a man, Coke gave it.
Then came the aftermath. In 1866, he was elected to the state supreme court. Now here's where the story turns.
Reconstruction military authorities removed him from that seat. Elected by the people, removed by the occupying authority. That tension was going to have to resolve itself one way or another.
And it did — in 1873. That year, Richard Coke defeated Governor E.J. Davis.
What followed has been called a bloodless controversy, and that word bloodless is doing a lot of work. Davis retired under protest. But he retired.
And historians mark that moment — that exact moment — as the political end of Reconstruction in Texas. One election, one stubborn exit, one chapter closed. Coke went on to serve as a United States Senator from 1877 all the way to 1895.
The Virginia native who led a secession movement and outlasted military removal lived until 1896. This marker was erected by the State of Texas in 1963 as a memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy. Richard Coke's name sits at the top of that story — a man who shaped Texas before, during, and long after the war that defined his generation.
What the marker says
(1829-1896) Virginia native. Leader Texas secession movement. Joined army, rose to captain 15th Texas Infantry company serving in Louisiana, Arkansas, chiefly Tennessee campaigns. Elected to state supreme court 1866, removed by Reconstruction military authorities. Defeated Governor E.J. Davis 1873. Bloodless controversy ensued, Davis retired under protest, marking political end Reconstruction in Texas. U.S. Senator 1877-1895. A Memorial to Texans who served the Confederacy Erected by the State of Texas 1963