Blog Tour: Richard Coke: Texan by Rosser Coke Newton, Sr.

RICHARD COKE: TEXAN
By Rosser Coke Newton, Sr.

History / Biography
Publisher: Stoney Creek Publishing
Pages: 300
Publication Date: November 4, 2024

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SYNOPSIS

Richard Coke played one of the most crucial roles in Texas history. His leadership of his beloved Texas still resonates today—150 years after he became governor. Richard Coke: Texan weaves a rich mosaic of real people and events, immersing the reader in the life and times of Richard Coke.

Coke brought Texas out of Reconstruction following the Civil War and is often credited with restoring democracy to the state after this perilous time. Richard Coke: Texan tells the story of a young Virginia lawyer who emigrated to a Texas frontier village and changed history. It follows Coke as he starts a new life in Waco, Texas, serves in the Civil War, endures the hardships of Reconstruction, and is called to serve as governor to rebuild the state and restore rights to local government and the people of Texas. The story of Coke and his legislature taking office is one of the more dramatic moments in Texas history, with Coke’s predecessor, Edmund Davis, engaging armed forces to occupy the Capitol in an attempt to remain in office. But the true story lies in the leadership Coke demonstrated as a committed citizen, an honored soldier, a dedicated governor, and later as a respected senator—the effects of which still influence the government of Texas today.

Before the advent of digital technology, much of the record of this time was inaccessible to researchers. Written by Rosser Coke Newton Sr., an indirect descendant of the governor, the book is enriched by first-person accounts, Coke family records, Richard Coke’s direct correspondence, and documented events from journals and debates of constitutional conventions, the Secession Convention, and legislative sessions. These are supplemented by newspaper articles, census records, city directories, and a myriad of other sources compiled at the time. These sources have been combined into Richard Coke: Texan, which not only delivers a rich history of the era but also offers a personal look at one of Texas’s greatest leaders.

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REVIEW

If you’re at all interested in Texas history, this is a book that you will enjoy reading, but it does get a little heavy in places. Also, be aware that since this is a detailed historical account of the times before, during, and after the Civil War, there is mention of slavery and lynching, as well as details about fighting during the various wars that affected Texas through the years. But that is all part of the reality of the time period, and even though Richard Coke was a confederate and a slave owner, he played a significant role in the shaping of the state in those early years.

And I do think it is important for an author to lay the historical facts out there instead of trying to hide them or sugarcoat them. Kudos to Newton for telling the truth, even when it wasn’t pleasant truth to read.

Also, keep in mind that the pleasant truths outweighed those unpleasant ones.

There are a number of interesting little details of history that I didn’t know, such as when Robert E. Lee was in Texas on his way back to Washington, DC during the time when Texas was in the process seceding from the Union shortly before the Civil War. Somebody warned him that he could be in danger, so he changed into civilian clothes and then made his way to Virginia where he ended up in the Confederate army.

Those kinds of little-known details were quite interesting, but relaying the exact numbers of armaments taken during a conflict seemed overdone and didn’t seem necessary to the overall story. Picking up the book, I thought it was going to focus primarily on the life of Coke and his influence, but the narrative veered away from his story for rather long stretches. Since I know a Coke family in East Texas that has deep roots in the state, and in state law enforcement, I was eager to find out if there might be a connection to the lineage from Richard Coke, but I couldn’t find anything.

Once the narrative focused on Richard Coke after the war when he got involved in politics, I found the book a much more enjoyable read. As Governor he appeared to truly want to help the people of the state, and the nation, and hints of that altruism were sprinkled in his early years as an attorney who often championed an underdog. So it wasn’t a surprise to find that he was a good man in that respect, and certainly one to be admired.

I recommend this book to students of history, as well as folks who’d like to know more about an important man in Texas’s past, whose vision helped shape the state’s future.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rosser Coke Newton Sr., a native Texan and prominent Dallas businessman, is an indirect descendant of Richard Coke, the 15th governor of Texas. From an early age, he developed an interest in Texas history and 19th-century frontier life, a period in which Richard Coke played a crucial role.

Newton connects his love of history with philanthropy, serving in key positions with the Dallas Historical Society and the Alamo Letter Society. He is a founding member of the Dallas Arboretum Foundation, a director emeritus of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, and a supporter of many cultural and civic organizations.

He holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. In 2002, he founded Petro Capital Group and has held leadership roles in numerous petroleum-related companies.

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STONEY CREEK PUBLISHING:

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