Compendium of History Reminiscence & Biography of Western Nebraska - WILLIAM S. COKER

William S. Coker, residing in section 32, township 24, range 49, is one of the prominent citizens of Box Butte county. He has devoted his entire career to agricultural pursuits, has gained considerable property, and the esteem and respect of his fellowmen by his integrity and upright character.
Mr. Coker was born in Morgan county, Illinois, in 1857. His parents were of American stock, the father a farmer, and they moved to Missouri after the close of the Civil war, settling in Mercer county, where our subject grew to manhood. He assisted his parents in carrying on the home farm, and during all his young manhood was afflicted with the malady known as fever and ague, so prevalent in new countries. In 1878 he left home and went to Iowa, but only remained for a few months, then to Kansas, where he spent about eighteen months. There he lived in Ness county, which was an entirely undeveloped part of the state, and he went through pioneer experiences, later removing to Ellsworth county, but did not like the new country and decided to try a new location, so he moved to Missouri, near his old home, and lived there one year. He first struck Nebraska in 1882, locating in York county, and remained there for two years, following farm work. From there he came to Box Butte county, driving from York county with a team, making the trip overland, as had on all his other journeys in this part of the west, from Missouri to Kansas and back again. When he landed here he had a yoke of cattle, which was almost his sole capital. He immediately filed on a homestead and "batched it" for about three years, during which time he did all the work of breaking his land, hauling and freighting with a team of oxen. He went through the usual pioneer experiences, saw the surrounding country settled, railroads put through, towns started, and was an eyewitness of all the incidents which took place in connection with the Indian uprising, etc., in this region.
Mr. Coker is now owner of a four hundred and eighty-acre ranch, all fenced and complete, with good buildings, etc., engaging principally in stock raising, and has made a great success of his work.
In 1890 Mr. Coker was married to Jane Alexander. Mrs. Coker was daughter of Stewart Alexander, a Scotchman, who lived and died in his native land. She and her mother, who was Miss Margaret Kerr, also reared in Scotland, came to America when the former was an infant of nine months, settling in Nebraska, and Mrs. Coker was a homesteader in Box Butte county prior to her marriage. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Coker, namely: Clyde, Lyle, Roy, Dora, Eldin and Helen. The family occupy a handsome home and are well liked by all who know them.