James Lide Coker facts for kids
James Lide Coker (born January 3, 1837, in Society Hill, South Carolina – died June 25, 1918, in Hartsville, South Carolina) was a very important person in South Carolina's history. He was a successful businessman, a merchant, and a generous helper of his community. He also fought in the Civil War. People often called him "The Major" because of his military service.
Major Coker started two big companies that are still around today: Sonoco Products Company and Coker College. His family had a long history in South Carolina, with ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War.
Early Life and War Service
James Lide Coker went to school at St. David's Academy and The Citadel in Charleston. He also studied at Harvard University to learn about farming in a scientific way. In 1860, he married Sue Armstrong Stout, and they had nine children, though six lived to be adults.
When the Civil War began, Major Coker joined the Confederate Army. He fought in many important battles, including First Manassas and Antietam. In October 1863, he was hurt during the Battle of Chickamauga. He was also a prisoner of war for a while. After the war, he returned home with a serious hip injury that affected him for the rest of his life.
In March 1865, Major Coker was returning home when he learned that General Sherman's army had been in the Pee Dee area. His home had been destroyed, and his animals and valuable items were gone.
Building Businesses and Community
Even with his war injuries, Major Coker was determined to rebuild. He believed that the South could recover by using scientific methods in farming and by developing new industries.
After the war ended in April 1865, the Coker family started fresh. Even though they had no farm animals, Major Coker managed to plant cotton and corn using an old mule and some oxen borrowed from an uncle. From this, he earned a good amount of money, which was a lot back then.
Using these funds, he started many successful businesses. These included a cotton and trade post in Charleston, the Darlington Manufacturing Company, the Hartsville Cotton Mill, and the Hartsville Oil Mill. He also started the Pedigreed Seed Company. Major Coker even paid to build his own railroad track to Hartsville, South Carolina, which helped the town grow a lot. In 1881, he helped start the Darlington National Bank and became its president.
In 1890, Major Coker and his oldest son, James, began working on a way to make paper pulp from Southern pine trees. Three years later, they had a successful method. Because shipping the pulp was too expensive, Coker decided to buy his own papermaking equipment. This led to the creation of the Carolina Fiber Company. Since there weren't many customers for paper nearby, Major Coker started the Southern Novelty Company in 1899. This company, later called Sonoco Products Company, used the paper to make cone-shaped carriers for yarn.
Helping Others and His Legacy
Major Coker was a big part of creating Welsh Neck High School, which later became Coker College for Women in 1908. He gave the college a lot of money, which helped it continue to exist. He also paid for the construction of buildings like Davidson Hall and Memorial Hall.
He also served his community in other ways. He was the mayor of Hartsville and a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. There, he introduced the first bill to create public education for everyone in South Carolina.
Major Coker's grandson, Charles W. Coker, once said that Major Coker strongly believed in doing what was right and treating all people with dignity. These ideas became important values for Sonoco's relationships with its employees, customers, and shareholders.
In 1986, Major Coker was honored by being added to the South Carolina Business Hall of Fame.
