The T. A. Cocke Family

Facts provided by Mildred Cocke Arnold

A quote from a letter dated June 15, 1901, from Thomas Augustin Cocke to a brother-in-law, J. B. Thornton, in Mississippi, reads:

Thomas Augustin Cocke, born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, came to Texas from Mississippi in 1886, with his wife, Addie Thornton Cocke, and their three children. He was an educator, an 1858 graduate of Mississippi State University and a Confederate colonel.

In 1893, the Cocke family moved to Jacksonville and occupied land where three churches, St. John's Methodist, First Christian and Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, now are located. A large holly tree on Beaumont Street, then known as "The Big Road," still stands as a Cocke landmark.

Prior to 1900, Mr. Cocke and Rev. A. M. Stewart founded Lone Star Institute in Lone Star Community of Cherokee County, near New Summerfield. T. A. Cocke was a member of the Methodist Church from age 23 and for sixteen months as a prisoner during the Civil War, taught a Bible class in his barracks. He also was a Mason.

After the death of his wife, Mr. Cocke married Miss Mary Marshall of Jacksonville. Following her death, he married Miss Cordelia Williams. Children by his first marriage were two sons and a daughter, Virginia, who was married to Henry Evans of the Griffin Community. They were parents of nine children. Descendants of Mr. and Mrs. Evans now residing in Jacksonville include G. L. Evans, Hayden, Hulon and Edwin Brown. One son died in early childhood.

The other son was Thomas Brooks Cocke, who married Lucy Selkirk of Grapeland, both being school teachers. T. B. Cocke attended Orr College at Omen and Alexander Collegiate Institute. Their children were Evelyn and Thomas Selkirk Cocke. Evelyn graduated from Alexander College, now Lon Morris, and taught school for several years. Thomas S. Cocke married Helen Hunt, who still resides in Jacksonville. He was for a number of years owner of City Cleaners. He was an usher for 42 years at First Methodist Church and a member of Odd Fellows Lodge. For 18 years prior to death, he was associated with Beall Department Stores. A daughter, Sue, married Jimmy Meador and, with their two daughters, Karen and Susan, are residents of Dallas. A son, Thomas William, married Fayetta Chandler and they have two sons, James Thomas and John William, and live in Garland.

Children of T. A. and Mary Marshall Cocke include two sons, who remained bachelors, and a daughter, Mattie, who married W. H. Stowe. The Stowe family settled in Arizona, where their descendants still reside.

Children of T. A. and Cordelia Williams Cocke were two sons and two daughters. One daughter died at an early age and the other daughter, Mildred Cocke Arnold, resides in Jacksonville. A son, Thomas Augustin, married Julia York and moved to West Texas, rearing three daughters and one son. The other son was Benjamin Wilkins Cocke, who married Mattie Earle. Their children were Mildred and B. W. Cocke, Jr. After the death of Mattie Earle Cocke, Benjamin Wilkins Cocke married Winnie Wilmoth, who still lives in Jacksonville.

Mildred Lucille Cocke married Bardwell Odom, who retired after 25 years with the F. B. I., and now is chief counselor for H. R. Gibson of Gibson Discount Stores in Dallas. Of their five children, two sons and two daughters reside in Dallas and one daughter lives in California.

B. W. Cocke, Jr., upon graduation from Texas A. & M. University, became associated with the Space Agency, and now is with NASA at Newport News, Virginia, where he resides with his wife, the former Miriam Johnson, and their three children.

Many descendants of T. A. Cocke have seen the realization of the statement made years ago in his letter to his brother-in-law!

The Cocke family in front of first home. House was located behind where present St. John's church is situated.

Cocke children (about 1898). Wilkins, Thornton and Mildred.