Coker Cemetery Association, San Antonio, Texas

Coker Cemetery History #17 - April 2007

by Bob Battaglia

My Father had always told me that Joseph Coker was digging a well and this bully was throwing rocks down on him, so Coker got out of the well and shot him. This was a little hard to grasp. The unraveling of this story came about purely by accident. At the time, my wife and I were editors of the San Antonio Genealogical Society's quarterly publication, this was in 1970. I was doing a series of local interest stories extracted from a local newspaper published in the 1870's - the San Antonio Herald. This article in the April 17, 1870 issue caught my eye:

*****Information Wanted*****

Mr. Joseph Coker, an old citizen of Bexar Co., who was convicted of murder in the second degree and who escaped from the guard on the 13th of June, 1869 has been pardoned by Gov. Davis, and his return to his family is anxiously desired. When last heard from, he was in Bowie Co., TX. He is perhaps 70 years of age. The papers in Austin, and all over TX are requested to copy this notice. (this is on Page 3, col. 2 of the San Antonio Herald of 4/17/1870).

Come to the Coker Cemetery Association annual meeting on May 6 and hear the “rest of the story”. It will be entertaining and factual.

Top

************************************************************************ Amos Dickens Jones was a prominent figure in the development of the Coker Community. He had ten children who grew up in this community. His obituary says a lot: (San Antonio Gazette Newspaper Dec. 27, 1906, Page 8, 4th column):

Amos D. Jones

Amos D. Jones, a resident of Bexar Co. for past 61 years, died yesterday afternoon at his home on the Salado, about seven miles north of the City, aged 80 years. He was a confederate veteran and an old member of the masons. He is survived by 9 children, as follows: Taylor Jones, John Jones and Henry Jones of this City, Lee and Ed Jones of the Salado and Seaborn Jones of NV; Mrs. Kate Van Riper, widow of the late Capt. James M. Van Riper; Mrs. Martha Shannon of this City and Mrs. Jennie Nicholson of Glasscock Co. Another daughter of the deceased was the late Mrs. W.H. Van Riper. The funeral will take place this afternoon from the family home on the Salado, interment being in the Cem at that place

The following portrait of Amos and his six sons was taken about 1884:

Standing left to right: Amos Henry, James Seaborn, John Monroe and Lee Bee.
Seated left to right: Amos Dickens Jones (father), Marion Taylor and Charles Edward. Note – no known photo exists of his wife and four daughters, but tradition says such a picture did exist.

Henry Amos Jones married Ada Montgomery; both buried Coker Cemetery
James Seaborn Jones married Rebecca Frances Kesterson; Seaborn buried Coker Cemetery. Rebecca buried Martin Cemetery, Hays Co.
Jonathan Monroe Jones married Mary Ann Maltsberger; Monroe said to be buried in San Antonio
Lee Bee Jones married Florence Davison; both buried Coker Cemetery
Amos Dickens Jones married Jane Maria Coker; both buried Coker Cemetery.
Marion Taylor Jones married Clarissa Ann Hopkins: Marion buried Coker Cemetery. Clarissa buried Rialto, San Bernardino CA
Charles Edward Jones married Matilda Bellzora Capps; both buried Coker Cemetery

Amos Dickens Jones and Jane Maria Coker had 52 grandchildren!

Final note - above Belle Capps' mother's maiden name was Jones, she was a daughter of Samuel C. Jones - no known relation to Amos Dickens Jones. Descendants of Charles Edward's children are therefore descendants of both Amos and Samuel's lines.