Coker, M. O.
Mansel Owen “M.O.” Coker was born October 15, 1820, in Georgia. His parents were Robert Coker and Elizabeth Lake
About 1842, M. O. married Elizabeth Anne McGuire, daughter of William Spencer McGuire and Sarah Burton . From about 1842 to 1855, M. O. farmed and preached the word of God in the area of Gordon, Whitfield and Murray Counties of Georgia.
In 1855, guided by his brother-in-laws, James Martin McGuire and Daniel W. “Doc” McGuire, M. O. relocated his family to Bell County, Texas. While in Bell County, M. O. was ordained to preach with the Methodist Church by Reverend Homer S.Thrall.
In 1858, M. O. moved his family to Comanche, Texas, to spread the word of God and help establish the Methodist Church in Comanche County. He helped establish the first five Methodist churches in the county, one of which was the Indian Creek Methodist Church. During the Civil War, he served as the County Judge.
M. O. and Elizabeth had seven children: Annis Titrena Caroline married Andrew Jackson Stewart; Martha Sarah Elizabeth married Thomas Haynes Holcombe; Alfred C. married Ruth Ann Chancellor; Mary Ann Francis married John FountainAlbin; Lenard James W. married Sarah Carolyn Jones; Joseph W. Petyon married (1) Parthenia Ann R.E. Fagan and (2) Cora Lee Robertson.
M. O. died June 12, 1903.
