The Marion County Census of 1850 lists four Cokers: Charles, William, George W., and Washington. William Coker was one of the first settlers of Arkansas from Alabama. He was a farmer as was his son, William L. Coker.
William L. Coker was engaged in the mercantile business, in farming and stock raising. He married Elizabeth Hudspeth. They were the parents of four children: John W., James M., Margaret, who married Thomas Raidsbeck, and Martha, wife of James Gilley. Margaret died soon after her marriage, and Martha and James Gilley went to Texas. William L. died in Boone County in 1871 and his wife, Elizabeth, died in 1892.
John W. Coker, the eldest child of William L. and Elizabeth Coker, was born in January 1852 and spent his entire life in Marion County. He owned a 640-acre farm on Hampton Creek, where he was engaged in farming. He was very active in politics. After having served as a justice of the Peace for ten years in Hampton Township, and several years as Notary Public, he was elected sheriff of Marion County in 1893. He married Josephine Methvin, daughter of John and Cora Methvin. They were the parents of: Nancy B., John W., Alonzo C., Eliza, Edward, Arthur, Ansel, Garvin, and James R., the eldest who is married and was a farmer. He lived four miles south of Yellville.
James M. Coker, the second in the family of William L. and Elizabeth, was born in April 1853. He passed his youth on the home farm near Yellville. At the age of 22 he began to study medicine and began practicing in 1880 near Yellville. In 1887 he opened an office in Yellville and was for many years a successful physician. He married Martha Cantrell, the daughter of W. P. Cantrell. They became the parents of eight children: Edna A., who married a Mr. Woodruff; Ewaltus A. (Wallie); Virginia, wife of Hosea Perkins; Charles W.; John M., who married Nina Wickersham; James H. (Herbert); and Bascum. The Cokers were Democrats.
Another Coker, Randolph, married Jenetta Burnes. They were members of the same family. This family lived in Yellville for several years, then moved to Oklahoma and Arizona. The children were: Lorenzo, Oscar, Della, Hester, and Helen. Della married Perry Jenkins. Both of them were teachers in Oklahoma for many years.
Reprinted with permission from History of Marion County edited by Earl Berry, copyright 1977.