James Lide Coker
Encyclopedia
Major James Lide Coker Civil War veteran, founder of Sonoco, Coker College
, businessman, merchant, banker, railroad man, industrialist, philanthropist. Affectionately known by all as "The Major" after his service in the Confederate Army.
James Lide Coker was the son of Caleb and Hannah Lide Coker and the great-grandson of Revolutionary War Captain Thomas Coker, who moved to South Carolina from Virginia in 1742. Major Coker married Sue Armstrong Stout in 1860, and they were the parents of nine children, six of whom survived childhood: Margaret, James Lide Jr., David, William, Jennie, Charles Westfield, and Susan.
, he attended Harvard University
to study the scientific principles of farming. After answering the call to defend his state when the Civil War began, in October 1863, he was wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga
, and after a time as a prisoner of war, returned home to spend the rest of his life nursing a shattered hip.
His wounds did not dampen his ambition. He entered into the plantation economy of the day with the stubborn conviction that the South's future hinged on the introduction of scientific principles to farming, coupled with the development of industry.
In March 1865, Coker set out with a large box of food supplies for the Confederate forces in Richmond. On his return to Hartsville, he learned that General Sherman's army was in the Pee Dee
, but Sherman's troops had already destroyed his plantation, the livestock driven away or requisitioned, and everything of value in their home had been taken away. Operation Anaconda devastated the local economy.
and a pair of oxen borrowed from an uncle. He planted 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) of cotton and 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of corn, which yielded 25 bales of cotton and 300 bushels of corn. At the prevailing prices, 25 bales of cotton brought $1,700, a small fortune in that time.
Using those funds and others derived from mortgaging some of his land, he founded other businesses which were highly successful. Sonoco and Hartsville, South Carolina have enjoyed lasting benefits from his decision to build his own railroad spur (at his own expense) when other town merchants wouldn't agree to help fund construction. In 1881, he became the largest stockholder and first president of a bank in Darlington, the only bank in the area.
In 1890, Major Coker and his eldest son, James, began a search for a way to turn Southern pine trees into pulp for papermaking, and three years later, they had perfected a process. Shipping costs for the pulp made this business unprofitable, so Coker purchased his own papermaking equipment. That resulted in the formation of Carolina Fiber Company. With precious few nearby customers for paper, in 1899, the Major organized the Southern Novelty Company, later renamed Sonoco Products Company, to use some of the paper to produce cone-shaped yarn carriers.
in 1908; he gave the college a $50,000 endowment, which has played a large part in ensuring its continued existence.
Coker served his community as mayor
of Hartsville and as a member of the state House of Representatives, where he introduced the state's first legislation seeking free public schools.
Of all that has been said and written about Major Coker, the words that best describe his philosophy came from his grandson, Charles W. Coker
. "Major James L. Coker had some pretty definite ideas about a variety of things. His strongest principle, however, was an absolute inflexibility between what was right and what was wrong. He believed very strongly in the dignity of human beings, and this has been one of the basic philosophies of Sonoco's employee relations policy, customer relations policy, and our stockholder relations policy throughout the years."
He was inducted into the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame in 1986
Coker College
Coker College offers a four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review...
, businessman, merchant, banker, railroad man, industrialist, philanthropist. Affectionately known by all as "The Major" after his service in the Confederate Army.
James Lide Coker was the son of Caleb and Hannah Lide Coker and the great-grandson of Revolutionary War Captain Thomas Coker, who moved to South Carolina from Virginia in 1742. Major Coker married Sue Armstrong Stout in 1860, and they were the parents of nine children, six of whom survived childhood: Margaret, James Lide Jr., David, William, Jennie, Charles Westfield, and Susan.
Education and War Service
Educated at The Citadel, prior to starting his career in agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, he attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
to study the scientific principles of farming. After answering the call to defend his state when the Civil War began, in October 1863, he was wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
, and after a time as a prisoner of war, returned home to spend the rest of his life nursing a shattered hip.
His wounds did not dampen his ambition. He entered into the plantation economy of the day with the stubborn conviction that the South's future hinged on the introduction of scientific principles to farming, coupled with the development of industry.
In March 1865, Coker set out with a large box of food supplies for the Confederate forces in Richmond. On his return to Hartsville, he learned that General Sherman's army was in the Pee Dee
Pee Dee
The Pee Dee region of South Carolina is the northeastern corner of the state. It is the area of the lower watershed of the Pee Dee River, named after the Pee Dee Native American tribe. Its center is Florence...
, but Sherman's troops had already destroyed his plantation, the livestock driven away or requisitioned, and everything of value in their home had been taken away. Operation Anaconda devastated the local economy.
Business Acumen
At the cessation of armed hostilities in April 1865, the Coker family began rebuilding. Although Sherman's army had left no work stock, Major Coker had cotton seed and seed corn, which he planted with the use of an old muleMule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
and a pair of oxen borrowed from an uncle. He planted 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) of cotton and 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of corn, which yielded 25 bales of cotton and 300 bushels of corn. At the prevailing prices, 25 bales of cotton brought $1,700, a small fortune in that time.
Using those funds and others derived from mortgaging some of his land, he founded other businesses which were highly successful. Sonoco and Hartsville, South Carolina have enjoyed lasting benefits from his decision to build his own railroad spur (at his own expense) when other town merchants wouldn't agree to help fund construction. In 1881, he became the largest stockholder and first president of a bank in Darlington, the only bank in the area.
In 1890, Major Coker and his eldest son, James, began a search for a way to turn Southern pine trees into pulp for papermaking, and three years later, they had perfected a process. Shipping costs for the pulp made this business unprofitable, so Coker purchased his own papermaking equipment. That resulted in the formation of Carolina Fiber Company. With precious few nearby customers for paper, in 1899, the Major organized the Southern Novelty Company, later renamed Sonoco Products Company, to use some of the paper to produce cone-shaped yarn carriers.
Philanthropy and Altruism
Major Coker was the driving force in the establishment of Welsh Neck High School, which later became Coker CollegeCoker College
Coker College offers a four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review...
in 1908; he gave the college a $50,000 endowment, which has played a large part in ensuring its continued existence.
Coker served his community as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Hartsville and as a member of the state House of Representatives, where he introduced the state's first legislation seeking free public schools.
Of all that has been said and written about Major Coker, the words that best describe his philosophy came from his grandson, Charles W. Coker
Charles W. Coker
Charles "Charlie" Westfield Coker is the former president and CEO of Sonoco Products Company of Hartsville, South Carolina, U.S.A.. He also serves as a director of Bank of America, HanesBrands Inc., Springs Industries, and Carolina Power & Light Company...
. "Major James L. Coker had some pretty definite ideas about a variety of things. His strongest principle, however, was an absolute inflexibility between what was right and what was wrong. He believed very strongly in the dignity of human beings, and this has been one of the basic philosophies of Sonoco's employee relations policy, customer relations policy, and our stockholder relations policy throughout the years."
He was inducted into the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame in 1986