William Coker was educated in Society Hill schools and the South Carolina College, graduating there in Dec. 1859. He then taught in the St. Evans academy of Society Hill. The Civil War changed his plans. He enlisted on April 13, 1861, in Co. F, 8th SC Infantry Regt. under Captain W. H. Evans. He served as a sergeant until March 1862, when he, his captain, and 15 other members of the company reenlisted and were sent home to recruit for the company. The new company was formed as Co. M. with Captain T. E. Howle as captain and Coker as first lieutenant. When Howle was killed Coker was promoted to Captain, serving as such until the Battle of Gettysburg, where he was wounded in the foot. During the retreat from Gettysburg, in a hospital in Williamsburg, Maryland, he was captured and taken to Johnson's Island. In February, 1865 he was taken to Richmond and paroled. He had participated in the following engagements: First Manassas, Williamsburg, Malvern Hill, Chancellorsville, Maryland Heights, Sharpsburg and Gettysburg. After the war he farmed, was a merchant, and, starting in 1885, was President & Treasurer of Darlington Manufacturing Co. In 1877 he was elected to fill an unexpired term in the State Senate, and was twice re-elected, serving as Chairman of the Finance Committee for 6 years.
William Coker was educated in Society Hill schools and the South Carolina College, graduating there in Dec. 1859. He then taught in the St. Evans academy of Society Hill. The Civil War changed his plans. He enlisted on April 13, 1861, in Co. F, 8th SC Infantry Regt. under Captain W. H. Evans. He served as a sergeant until March 1862, when he, his captain, and 15 other members of the company reenlisted and were sent home to recruit for the company. The new company was formed as Co. M. with Captain T. E. Howle as captain and Coker as first lieutenant. When Howle was killed Coker was promoted to Captain, serving as such until the Battle of Gettysburg, where he was wounded in the foot. During the retreat from Gettysburg, in a hospital in Williamsburg, Maryland, he was captured and taken to Johnson's Island. In February, 1865 he was taken to Richmond and paroled. He had participated in the following engagements: First Manassas, Williamsburg, Malvern Hill, Chancellorsville, Maryland Heights, Sharpsburg and Gettysburg. After the war he farmed, was a merchant, and, starting in 1885, was President & Treasurer of Darlington Manufacturing Co. In 1877 he was elected to fill an unexpired term in the State Senate, and was twice re-elected, serving as Chairman of the Finance Committee for 6 years.
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